AppMakers USA

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder/CEO of Number Hive

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Math app for school age kids.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Makers USA to accomplish?

• Build a world leading mathematics app for students
• Collaborate with strong edtech-minded professionals

SOLUTION

How did you find App Makers USA?

Referral

Why did you select App Makers USA over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from App Makers USA were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

App Makers LA played a pivotal role in the development and success of Number Hive, a globally recognized app for building math foundations and confidence. From the initial ideation phase to delivering a product now available in over 150 countries, App Makers LA has been an integral part of the journey. Their scope of work encompassed various stages of app development, including ideation, collaboration, UI/UX design, monetization strategies, and continuous refinement of the product. A main deliverable for them was the development of a cross-platform app, available on both Android and iOS devices, as well as accessible through web browsers. Here's a detailed summary of their key deliverables: Ideation: App Makers LA actively participated in brainstorming sessions to conceptualize Number Hive, contributing ideas for features, functionalities, and overall direction of the app. Collaboration: They worked closely with us throughout the entire journey. This collaborative approach helped in shaping the app's content and user experience. UI/UX Design: App Makers LA designed the user interface and user experience of Number Hive, focusing on intuitive navigation, engaging visuals, and interactive elements to enhance learning and usability. Monetization Strategies: They helped devise monetization strategies for Number Hive, considering various revenue streams such as in-app purchases, subscriptions, or advertisements while ensuring the app remained accessible and valuable to its users. Refining Product: App Makers LA continuously refined Number Hive based on user feedback, analytics, and emerging trends in educational technology. They implemented updates, optimizations, and new features to enhance the app's performance and relevance over time. Overall, App Makers LA's comprehensive scope of work, including the development of a cross-platform app, contributed significantly to the development of Number Hive into a world-leading educational app trusted by teachers and students globally.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

User Engagement Metrics: Monitoring user engagement metrics such as active users, session duration, and frequency of app usage can indicate the level of interest and satisfaction among teachers and students. An increase in these metrics over time demonstrates growing adoption and continued use of Number Hive. App Downloads and Installations: Tracking the number of app downloads and installations across different platforms (Android, iOS, web) provides insight into the app's reach and popularity. An upward trend in downloads signifies increased awareness and interest in Number Hive among educators and learners worldwide. User Ratings and Reviews: Regularly monitoring user ratings and reviews on app stores and other platforms can offer valuable feedback on the app's performance, usability, and content quality. Positive ratings and favorable reviews indicate high user satisfaction and endorsement of Number Hive as an effective educational tool. Retention Rate: Analyzing the retention rate, or the percentage of users who continue to use the app over time, helps us assess the app's ability to retain and engage its audience. A high retention rate suggests that Number Hive effectively meets the needs of its users and provides ongoing value in building math foundations and confidence. Monetization Metrics: Recently, tracking monetization metrics such as revenue generated from in-app purchases, subscriptions, measures the app's financial success. Educational Impact: Assessing the educational impact of Number Hive through surveys and teacher feedback helps us see the impact we're having and also make adjustments where necessary. Overall, these measurable outcomes provide tangible evidence of progress and success in the development and implementation of Number Hive, affirming its position as a world-leading educational app for building math foundations and confidence.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

App Makers LA effectively manage the project, consistently delivering items on time and remaining responsive to our needs. They demonstrate flexibility, patience, and helpfulness, accommodating changes and iterations as we work together on Number Hive. Their commitment to understanding our vision ensures a collaborative and successful partnership, contributing significantly to the ongoing development of the app.

What was your primary form of communication with App Makers USA?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What I find most impressive and unique about App Makers LA is their commitment to trust and honest communication. They prioritize transparency and openness in their interactions, fostering a trusting relationship that allows for effective collaboration and problem-solving. Their willingness to communicate openly, share insights, and provide candid feedback demonstrates a genuine dedication to our project's success. This commitment to trust and honesty sets them apart and has been invaluable in our ongoing partnership.

Are there any areas for improvement or something App Makers USA could have done differently?

While our experience with App Makers LA has been overwhelmingly positive, there are always areas for improvement in any project. As this is our first app development endeavor for Number Hive, we recognize that there are learnings to be gained and adjustments to be made for future projects. However, it's important to emphasize that any potential areas for improvement are more about our own learning journey rather than shortcomings on the part of App Makers LA. Additionally, managing time zones can indeed be challenging, but App Makers LA has consistently made efforts to accommodate our schedule and maintain effective communication despite these logistical hurdles. Overall, we're grateful for the partnership with App Makers LA and look forward to applying our learnings to future collaborations.

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was published September 25th, 2022

Chris Hogbin
Founder, Number HiveEducation

Guildford, England

1-10

Apr 2022 - Oct 2022

$10,000 to $49,999

Verified

Project summary
App Makers LA developed a mobile app for an education platform. Working in TestFlight, they held discovery sessions, created wireframes, implemented the client's designs into the app, and provided QA testing.

Feedback summary
App Makers LA delivered a fully functioning app that received very positive feedback through the beta phase. They also took the client's ideas into consideration when developing the app. Their team was professional, flexible, and communicative via Slack and email.

Quote
"The team was both relaxed and professional from the outset."

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder/director of Number Hive. We are an educational company specialising in Math education.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire App Makers LA, and what were your goals?

We wanted to develop a game that embodied all our research into math anxiety and deploy this game on a global scale.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

The vendor came highly recommended by respected colleagues in my field. After numerous conversations with Dan at App Makers, we felt confident that the match was a solid one.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

App Makers have walked with us on the journey from from the very beginning. They helped with ideation, brainstorming sessions with multiple iterations with potential wireframes as scaffolding.

They took our ideas, theories and sketches and turned them into designs and then finally a working app. We brought many complicated problems to them and they always found creative and practical solutions. The app has been iterated on numerous times with thorough QA taking place throughout the entire journey.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We have had ongoing collaboration mostly with Dan the CEO and the project lead assigned to our app. We have had a few interactions with some of the engineers working on the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Within 6 months we have a working app in the TestFlight environment and are very close to a hard release of our MVP. We have had Beta testing with most feedback being extremely positive.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The team were both relaxed and professional from the outset. They were willing to share experience but never overbearing. Both the CEO and the project lead were always willing to have a conversation whenever clarification was needed. Both email and slack were implemented effectively. The team at App makers always gave estimates for both cost and time whenever we decided to shift the goalposts.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

There have been a few aspects that have impressed me greatly. Firstly, the willingness for Dan to pick up the phone and have an honest conversation. He always wanted to make sure we were happy with the service being provided. I have also been impressed with the teams ability to solve some rather abstract problems. For example, developing an AI player for a game that they'd previously never seen before.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I'm sure if we were to start to project again, it would look differently. But that has been the journey, it needed to be fluid and flexible. App Makers have been agile with the ability the adapt at short notice. Time zones are always tricky to negotiate.

Overall rating:    5.0

Quality:    5.0

Cost:    5.0

Schedule:    5.0

Willing to refer:    5.0

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

iPermit offers a start-to-finish solution for contractors that includes: permit expediting, Title 24 verifications (HERS), and Energy Upgrade California rebate processing. I’m a customer success manager at iPermit and manage the permit department.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire App Makers Austin, and what were your goals?

We have been using our old portal that was built more than a decade ago and was not stable anymore. The goal was to create a user friendly portal that can be used by our clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We showed App Makers Austin our old portal and gave them our requirements. They were amazing with putting our vision into specs doc and then a design. They were really good with simplify things we explained to them and bring it to reality with the design. We loved the communication with them and knew we are in good hands to continue moving forward.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

From the first meeting we explained to them our requirements and showed then our new portal, they created a specs docs with all the details and then they moved to the design phase. During the design phase we were giving them feedback and they made the changes immediately and offered their perspective. They shared the figma file with us so we could see online the changes they are making and be part of it. After the design phase they started building our portal. We had access to the portal staging environment and we collaborated with them during the testing phase.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We’re working with:

• 1 project manager
• 3 engineers
• 2 QA
• 1 UI/UX designer

And we also interact with their CEO occasionally.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We got an amazing feedback from our clients! They love the modern design and how easy it is now for them to follow up and create new orders on our portal.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We have a weekly meeting with them, on these meetings they give us updates on where are we standing with the timeline. In addition to the weekly meetings, they initiated a demo to show us new features that are ready so we can give our feedback and test it. We have an "open line" with them and they are available for us anytime we call or email them.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We never worked with this professional team before! They are communicative, always straightforward with us, and give us updates regularly.. The entire process was easy and they took care of everything we needed.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No, I wish we found them earlier :)

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an outdoor gear online store.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Makers LA?

We were using third-party apps to do some work processes, but it became saturated because many companies use the same technique, so we needed help developing our own custom software that could do that work for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

App Makers LA created our own proprietary software that could help us find what products to launch on our site. The app searches through online platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and Target and finds products that are in high demand.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Daniel (Principal), but three engineers and a QA person were also involved.

How did you come to work with App Makers LA?

We found them through Clutch.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $200,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–October 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After utilizing their services, we finally became profitable, which was a huge step in the right direction for us. Also, we found all of the products we currently offer through their proprietary. Overall, the most impressive metric for me is that we did over $2 million in revenue thanks to their work, so their involvement already paid for itself.

How did App Makers LA perform from a project management standpoint?

They stuck to schedules and deadlines and went under the established budget for the project. Their team was also communicative along the way and handled a fun and straightforward process. In terms of tools, we used Monday.com, Slack, texts, and phone calls. In addition to that, they were proactive in addressing the bugs that arose throughout the project.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

They acted like a premium firm that gets the job done — they were a talented team that listened to our vision and collaborated with us to develop it. Also, the most exciting part for me about their work is that the product they created is scalable, so we can add more coding without any issues.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on. 

Any advice for potential customers?

You should work with App Makers LA if you’re serious about building tech; It’s not the cheapest option on the market, but you’ll get what you pay for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of ClassCalc and we produce a suite of mass education products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Makers LA?

We needed someone to provide us with web and mobile app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

App Makers LA helped us develop a web app using Mongo and React, while they used Swift and Android SDK for the iOS and Android versions.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a product manager, designer, and several engineers.

How did you come to work with App Makers LA?

I found their Clutch profile while researching on Google. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July 2017–March 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

 App Makers LA helped us gain over 100,000 customers and achieve about 2–3 million sessions per month on our app. They were also very transparent in mitigating risks and coming up with solutions to fix bugs — their coding was so strong, that the process to bring the outsourced project in-house became a very smooth transition.

How did App Makers LA perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management, communication skills, and budget tracking were always on point. They had this efficient system of monitoring the original features of the app and expanded on them based on our needs.

We mainly used Airtable to manage the project and communicated through email, phone calls, and text messages.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were really impressed with how they were able to communicate, set expectations, and exceed them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could improve on, but I will say is that they were always open to learning from our feedback.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you have a budget and you’re looking for the right company to get your project right the first time, then I would highly recommend going with App Makers LA.

They specialize in making things lean and breaking the project down into its most important parts, so I would also advise you to take advantage of their expertise.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Chief Technology Officer of a business services company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A platform to build bridges and help facilitate connections between medical providers and attorneys, fostering a network where patient referrals flow seamlessly.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Makers USA to accomplish?

• Develop an App
• Develop a Website
• Make sure payment processing is integrated

SOLUTION

How did you find App Makers USA?

Clutch Site

Why did you select App Makers USA over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from App Makers USA were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

I hired App Makers to create a website, iOS app and Android app that was all integrated with private profiles but open search bar to the public.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

I got to see each step from wireframes, to testing the website and app, to the finished project.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They delivered on time and met my needs.

What was your primary form of communication with App Makers USA?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Great communication skills. Always on top of my project. Always communicating about progress of my platform.

Are there any areas for improvement or something App Makers USA could have done differently?

None.