Rootstrap

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an audio technology company. We offer a platform that does real-time speech recognition of live audio streams.

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

We received series seed funding and were racing to get the product out on platforms that our target market used. We needed expertise in delivering the Android Auto version of our app.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our platform uses Android’s built-in voice recognition function and expands it to speech recognition. It delivers a speaker’s works to our search engine so that others can search for the audio while the speaker is still talking.

Rootstrap helped extend our in-house team’s expertise for two assets: one for our web extension, and another for Android Auto.

What is the team composition?

We worked with four people, including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

One of our early investors introduced us to Rootstrap. We had heard about their reputation for masterclass work and knew that their clientele matches our size and needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent just over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from May–August 2019.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Rootstrap’s work allowed us to launch on Android Auto, which was a big success for us. I think it’s rare for a startup with the resources we had to make it on so many platforms so quickly.

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

Rootstrap was extremely responsive. They’re a great extension of our in-house team. They folded right into our Jira board that our engineering team uses.

What did you find most impressive about them?

If you have an in-house team that you need to expand for special projects, Rootstrap is the team to grow with. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Rootstrap is used to having to take over a project with clients that have no design expertise. However, we have in-house designers and wanted to work together with their team rather than give up all control. However, because Rootstrap’s project managers are so easy to work with, we overcame it. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Be super clear about your expertise and what you need and don’t need from Rootstrap—their team can do so much and is eager to help.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an online video storytelling platform.

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

I wanted to meet with a development firm to cultivate and refine our product design.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with them for a full development cycle to build an MVP. Rootstrap helped me design the UX/UI of the platform and we mapped out everything step-by-step from a user perspective. The fronted uses React.js, S3, and AWS CloudFront. The backend uses Rails API, a PostgreSQL database, and deploys into Heroku.

What is the team composition?         

I worked with their VP of strategy, a tech lead, a UX designer, and a scrum master.

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

We met Rootstrap while we were developing a road map for the solution. They had the technical capabilities to assist us with the project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested more than $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in October 2018 and completed the project in January 2019.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’re happy with the team overall and the MVP they created.

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

They were always available, despite one of our designers who was working from Uruguay. We used Slack for communication and they were never late for a meeting. Collaboration might have been smoother if we were all in the same room but overall, I was pleased with how effectively the team managed our project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team leadership was phenomenal and the VP of strategy was very professional. When I had an issue or complaint, they addressed it directly and adequately. I felt comfortable speaking to their leadership about anything.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they could’ve assigned a more seasoned designer for one of the positions on my team. Additionally, I think the communication could have been better about what I could expect in terms of graphic design and art.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the VP of operations and acting product owner of a marketing agency. 

For what projects/services did your company hire Rootstrap?

We worked with Rootstrap in Q2 of 2018 to expand our proof of concept—a SaaS platform for e-commerce companies—into a fully developed solution. 

Describe the project in detail.

Rootstrap developed our platform using Ruby and React. They used a detailed process that helps startups like ourselves. 

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project went well, and we've been working together since. The Rootstrap team have been engaged throughout the process, responsive to our needs and collaborating on business goals and solutions.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

All the staff for our project is located within the same office. They act diligently and professionally. There were no issues with time differences, language barriers, or scaling as necessary. The team is always accessible and friendly.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a traditional matchmaking application. We’re bridging the gap between dating apps and traditional high-priced matchmaking services.

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

I hired Rootstrap to build my product. I had an idea about what I wanted the app to look like and do, but I’ve never made one before. I knew that talking to them and having them take a look was the best way to make my vision a reality.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a six-week onboarding process that laid out the best ways to develop and design the app. Rootstrap recommended a native iOS application. I wanted the design to be sleek and high-end, using black and gold to give the app a classy look. I discussed how I wanted the designs and layout to be. They improved upon my ideas.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a team of four. There was a scrummaster, frontend developer, backend developer, and a designer.

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

A friend referred them to me. I liked that Rootstrap wasn’t full of yes-men. I had met with several product developers that said they could do anything and made the process seem shiny and smooth. The team at Rootstrap was different, pushing back on some of my ideas. At first, that threw me off, but then I realized that they were helping me build a better product.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement was between September 2018–February 2019.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

It’s still new, so there’s still so much to measure, but we’re already receiving revenue, which is fantastic. The app has over 8,000 downloads.

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

Our teams communicated through Slack and worked in sprints. On Mondays, we talked about the plans for the week, and then on Fridays, we would go over what was successful and wrap up the week. It was a successful and smooth process working with Rootstrap. Throughout the engagement, they were responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Rootstrap is a creative team that’s easy to work with. I personally loved being challenged by them. If I had an idea, they would suggest other ways. Sometimes it’s hard when you have a vision and don’t see how things could be done differently. They helped me understand different options and let me choose what I thought was best.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything at the moment. It’s a learning process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Before starting the development process, clients should make sure that they thoroughly understand all of the sprints and milestones and the time it will take. Allow for extra time. While we were finished with the development phase in January, it took a month to receive approval from Apple. People think that once the app is completed, it will be the app store right away, but it’s not that easy. It’s a whole process where Apple performs a lot of testing. Clients should remember that even though development is completed, the app won’t launch the next day.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the operations manager and senior product owner for an on-demand veterinary services startup. We’re building a web and mobile app for pet owners with scheduling and telemedicine capabilities.

For what projects/services did your company hire Rootstrap?

I hired Rootstrap to audit my offshore development and UX teams to ensure they're following best practices and building a proper foundation for scalability.

What were your goals for this project?

I set out to perform a comprehensive audit of my UX and development work to ensure the app is ready for launch. If the audit results in failure, Rootstrap provides a path for the offshore teams to course correct.

How did you select this vendor?

I considered over 15 digital agencies and selected Rootstrap based on their previous work and excellent reviews, along with their leaderships' strong responses during the proposal process.

Describe the project in detail.

I hire Rootstrap at the end of each development milestone to conduct a single sprint audit of the delivered code, UX, and infrastructure. They communicate throughout the sprint and work well with my teams to provide the results of the audit and their findings. I’ve already used this information to switch to a better vendor.

What was the team composition?

We’re working with senior developers who specialize in frontend, backend, web, and mobile languages. This team is led on and off by Anthony (CTO, Rootstrap), who’s a fantastic communicator that consistently provides valuable insight into our project.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The audits have helped determine that our first development team wouldn't be able to complete the app to our standards. Thankfully, we were early enough in development that this decision saved us months and thousands of dollars.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It’s been extremely effective thanks to their ability to take initiative and communicate. Additionally, they’re able to respond quickly throughout their audit process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’ve maintained the highest level of professionalism while providing critical feedback. This, coupled with everyone’s excellent service (from the CEO on down), is the reason I return to Rootstrap over and over.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Their price was a little high for my leadership team, but Rootstrap is continually proving their value. If I had the budget, I would’ve hired them to develop our entire application.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of Photon Group, a consumer packaged goods (CPG) lifestyle company focused on sports supplements and cosmetics. Iridium Labs is our sports supplement brand.

For what projects/services did your company hire Rootstrap?

We hired Rootstrap to help with the UX design of a mobile app that assists people in the gym. It provides exercise programs and a tracking tool.

What were your goals for this project?

In addition to providing high-quality supplements, we want to help our clients reach their fitness goals.

How did you select this vendor?

They were highly recommended by a few experts who we know. We also did screening calls to see if Rootstrap was a good fit.

Describe the project in detail.

Rootstrap provided UX design services and created a development roadmap with stories and technical specs.

What was the team composition?

We were assisted by a team of three: a product lead, a technical lead, and a design lead.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project is still under development, but our team is very optimistic about the launch of the application.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Rootstrap’s team was very easy to work with. They took instructions well and knew when to suggest a different path from what we had in mind. They needed minimal guidance to reach the desired outcome.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They knew exactly what they were doing, and it showed in every interaction we had. We also enjoyed fact that they were all charismatic and intelligent.

Are there any areas for improvement?

To be honest, nothing major comes to mind.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of The Stamp and Coin Place, a company that specializes in implementing technology for an old industry. We’ve invented software for sorting and distributing a high volume of coins.

For what projects/services did your company hire Neon Roots?

Since we were starting from scratch, we needed an experienced team to wireframe our product.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a prototype that could be shown and shared with potential investors and customers. We wanted a clean and intuitive app with image storage, a forum, and other functionalities.

How did you select this vendor?

I did extensive research for a company that offered such a service, but almost everyone I talked to charged an hourly rate with no promises on performance. Meanwhile, the non-hourly rate quotes were evasive about deliverables. Fortunately, I quickly clicked with Neon Roots’ principals and their team.

Describe the project in detail.

They created wireframes for our app, which could take photos of coins and allow users to quickly share the images on social media. After discussing the project over the phone, they sent me a questionnaire and a couple of follow-up emails. I then flew to Los Angeles with my main development person to meet with their team. After only one round of ideation and two rounds of wireframe tweaking, I had the basics of what I was looking for. Eventually, we decided to develop it ourselves.

What was the team composition?

Neon Roots’ CEO oversaw the work of two people from their team.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We knew practically nothing about this type of work, but Neon Roots made it easier for us to see what the final product would look like. The experience and outcome helped us find our way much faster.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our communication was great. Poor communication makes things more complicated, but that was not the case with this company.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed with how easily they got things done. They were also a genuinely nice team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It would have been great to have the option to pay for questions even after the project was done. I had several questions along the way but felt that I would be imposing if I were to reach out.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of GiveTide, and we are building a mobile application intended to help people integrate philanthropy into their everyday lives.

What challenge were you trying to address with Neon Roots?

Our original goal was to develop a functional prototype of an app that would allow us to raise money for the app’s complete development.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our overall thesis of what we’re trying to accomplish with our mobile app is to move the entire philanthropy industry away from the concept of financial capability and more toward motivation as the only requirement needed to contribute to and participate in causes that you care about.

With Neon Roots, we began the initial drafts of the prototype while simultaneously developing our business and networking with potential clients. About halfway through the process, we raised the money for the project, so the functional prototype was no longer necessary. However, Neon Roots was still able to provide a mutually beneficial solution. Instead of making them finish a prototype that we would no longer need, they helped translate the remaining credit that we had, so to speak, and transition smoothly into full-time development of the mobile app with their development firm. We’re going to stick with an iOS version of the app first and validate the concept before we take the plunge and develop an app for Android as well.

How did you come to work with Neon Roots?

We are first-time entrepreneurs, and we didn't know anything about the industry, so we went out and interviewed several firms ranging from the big development shops to developers in India. There wasn't anything quantitative about our search process. We based our decision more on our gut feeling of the team based on the conversations we had had with them. We started out with Google searches, compiled a list of 25 companies, and then narrowed it down from there based on their interactions over email. From there, we had a list of around 10 or so, and we got on the phone with all of them. It was a little more difficult to then narrow those shops down to two or three, including Neon Roots and another firm.

We were interested in Neon Roots because they seemed to have a different approach. Instead of just being yes-men and quoting your project, they seemed to really care. Before they knew anything about us, the CEO got on the phone with us, and we had a nice long discussion. They came back to us with a tailor-made proposal based on our situation, and that really impressed us and put them over the top. We appreciated that they would take the time to focus on our needs and offer a solution. We decided to go with them because we liked their style from the outset.

How much have you invested with Neon Roots?

I’d say we invested a little less than $100,000 with Neon Roots.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Neon Roots in December 2016.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The MVP [minimum viable product] Neon Roots built for us led to our first round of financing. To that extent, Neon Roots delivered completely. We’re looking forward to that sort of execution on a larger scale. We’re still in development right now, so I can't speak yet to the quality of the product. What I can speak to is the clarity with which the developers have latched onto our ideas.

How did Neon Roots perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is Neon Roots’ bread and butter. Their company consists of incredible people, and their business offers exceptional value. For our team, it was like having a seasoned entrepreneur as a co-founder instead of a company that’s eager to please but really only interested in your money. They provided clarity where we were unsure and flawless execution everywhere else. Our project is structured so that we have a point guy assigned to our project. He’s essentially the guy who communicated all timeline and technical details to us because we don’t have a technical co-founder on the team. Additionally, you also have access to all of the individuals behind the scenes who are doing the design, coding, etc., so we have transparent, efficient communication. It’s always easy to get ahold of them; it’s not like you have to pull teeth to get them on the phone. It’s been an awesome experience. I couldn't have asked for a better partner.

What did you find most impressive about Neon Roots?

You want to choose Neon Roots because they’re not just yes-men. They’re not just going to sit there, blow smoke, and tell you your ideas are awesome when they might have other ideas. They’ll tell you what’s up. They’ll be straight with you. To that extent, it’s more like having a co-founder and less like having a third-party company performing specific deliverables that you can’t handle with the team. What was valuable in our experience was their strategy and the overarching clarity with which it was communicated to us.

Are there any areas Neon Roots could improve?

I don't have any complaints about Neon Roots at all. We were impressed by their delivery every step of the way.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Starving Artist is a new platform for musicians to connect in their local area, whether you’re a producer, singer, rapper, singer-songwriter, or an instrumentalist. My brother and I were always having trouble finding people to help complete the songs we produced, so we decided to make a platform ourselves. I’m the co-founder.

What challenge were you trying to address with Neon Roots?

We wanted to develop our idea further. We don’t know how to code and there were a lot of unknowns in the industry, so we needed people who had the knowledge to help us.

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we went through their Rootstrap process, where we talked about our idea and we refined it to the MVP [minimum viable product]. They conducted some market research in order to find the competitors in the industry. Then, we developed a plan to monetize everything. They made some wireframes that included the main features, and at the end of the process, we had a report that gave us a clear idea of who our audience was, the problem we were solving, and how we would make money from it. After that, they started development on the iOS app. They broke the project into sprints and built the frontend so we could start using it. We still have to develop the backend to allow people to connect with other people.

How did you come to work with Neon Roots?

We went to a Tony Robbins seminar in Florida and a day after we got home from that, we were on Instagram and we saw one of the Neon Roots ads. They were advertising that they had built an app for Tony Robbins. They were the first company we reached out to. We did contact other firms but we started building a good relationship with Neon Roots right away. They connected us with our favorite artist, so we were able to pitch him our idea. We saw some of the work that Neon Roots had done and liked their mindset of starting lean and working lean as you build up. It seemed like they were everything we were looking for.

How much have you invested with Neon Roots?

We have spent between $50,000 and $200,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started to work with them in April 2016 and the work is ongoing.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Since we only have the frontend built, we can access it on our phone through a platform called TestFlight. Once the backend is developed, we will do beta testing. The project so far has given us a good idea of what to show investors, and we’ve been able to start pitching to them. That’s how we were able to raise $30,000 after the Rootstrap process. Everyone we’ve talked to has given positive feedback, including our favorite artist and other big artists in the electronic music scene.

How did Neon Roots perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate through Skype and Google Hangouts. We’re usually in contact with the CEO and the development team. They keep us updated on everything.

What did you find most impressive about Neon Roots?

Their Rootstrap process is something that works for them and that’s what they have you stick to. They nail down the MVP and then build from there.

Are there any areas Neon Roots could improve?

I can’t think of anything. Their work looks good and we’ve learned a lot. They’ve been great to work with.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Skillzz LLC is a marketplace for employees and employers. I am the CEO.

What challenge were you trying to address with Neon Roots?

I had this germination of an idea, and I came to them to vet it out. They do this process called Rootstrap where they do a competitive analysis. It's a sprint – it's one week. They do a competitive analysis and develop a full-on prototype. It started with that, and we went into development 3 or 4 weeks later.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We're doing a full web app hybrid – a mobile responsive website that will be a 12-week long process with them. They use Ruby on Rails. When we first met, I wanted to develop an iOS app. That's what we Rootstrapped, and that's what we built the prototype for. Then, all of us cumulative called an audible. What's great about them is they were able to switch gears quickly and started developing a hybrid mobile responsive web app instead. That all took place very quickly. Within a week, we had a new prototype for a website.

How did you come to work with Neon Roots?

I went online and Googled Los Angeles app developers. I called five or six, and I interviewed three. What was the most impressive about Ben [Lee, co-founder and CEO of Neon Roots] and the team was how hands-on they all are. I felt like I wasn't just getting people who were going to code and develop. Instead, I was getting business minds and innovative young people who understood my vision – what I wanted to do – and could contribute in a way that wasn't just technical but also very meaningful on the business side. That's what attracted me to them. That, and I was able to go into their office.

How much have you invested with Neon Roots?

The cost was $110,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in June [2016].

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The feedback so far is that people have been impressed with the velocity. They've been surprised at the velocity that things have gone and how quickly they've been able to create what we've done so far in the span of time. It's been 6 weeks of development. They work in sprints. The quality looks great. I'm very impressed with it.

What did you find most impressive about Neon Roots?

It would be the team that has been working on my project. There's probably 10 of them in the office. They all care a lot. They believe in the product. I don't feel like they're just building another game or another app. They like the project. They come to me with creative ideas. I think if someone's looking for a big group of yes men, Neon Roots would not be their choice for development. I could not recommend them less if people just want to hear, "Yes, I will be whatever you want." They're going to be questioning you the whole way, trying to build the best product. They're an opinionated group of people – for sure.

Are there any areas Neon Roots could improve?

The only thing would've been to meet my team before Rootstrap. You go through Rootstrap and have one team. Then, when you go to development, it's a totally different team. It was different to have the people who you've been working with for that beginning sprint totally change.