Up2Code

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director for VeloChair. We’re designing a hybrid wheelchair that allows people to actively workout while being seated.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Up2Code?

We hired them to provide web design support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team was responsible for developing the frontend of the website, adding various features like a purchasing option. Once the site was launched, they began providing online advertising support. They help out with our Facebook Ad campaigns, too. Their team established our Google Analytics account and continue to make updates to our site whenever it’s needed. 

What is the team composition?

Around 2–3 people helped us with the website, including a designer and developers. 

How did you come to work with Up2Code?

I met them at the NYU Entrepreneurial Festival and we set up an initial meeting. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $7,000–$10,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2017 and our engagement is ongoing. They help us make any updates and are in constant communication since things are always changing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been monitoring the traction on our site and social media channels and have seen a large amount of growth on both. They’ve been a huge help in kicking off those efforts. 

How did Up2Code perform from a project management standpoint?

Dan (Co-Founder, Up2Code) has been great at communicating, always reaching out to check-in on how we’re doing. When there are so many moving pieces, it’s nice to know he’s on top of the project’s status. They’re really good at touching base. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Being a young startup themselves, they fully understand what we’re trying to accomplish so we don’t have to explain it. Their communication makes them stand out from others, especially based on the experiences I’ve had at other companies. Over-communicating is better, and they’re always reaching out to us to maintain that form of interaction. I’ve really appreciated their communication approach and I’m excited to see them continuing to grow. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m really happy with the work they’ve done. If anything, it’d be helpful for them if they continued spreading the word about their services and expanding their client base. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Layout the scope of your interests very clearly. Cast a wide net and shoot for the stars, since it might surprise you what else they can help you with. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of a company called Yes Yogi. It’s a site where a yoga instructor can create a profile that serves as a resume so that they can find paid opportunities in the yoga space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Up2Code?

I initially went to them with my designs and business requirements, and they helped me develop the site from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Once I gave them my design mockups and explained what I was trying to do, they went and did their own research on the yoga market that I was trying to serve. They brought their own insights from their experience in web development, explaining what they thought I should add or change the designs in terms of usability and the features they thought were most important.

They developed the site from scratch on AWS and built a lot of custom features, including the ability to add videos to instructor profiles and designation between the interface for those using the site as instructors and those posting jobs.

What is the team composition?

I work with one project manager, one user experience person, and two developers from their team.

How did you come to work with Up2Code?

I found them on Upwork, and they were the first team to really take up the idea of making a custom website rather than using a template build. Knowing that I would be working with a team instead of one person, combined with the excitement they clearly had for the project as well felt really good.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost about $11,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the project together from April 2018–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within the first few months, we got 100 people on the site, and our feedback so far has been extraordinarily positive. People really like the experience of being on the site, and they think it provides a very unique service to a lot of the other sites in the same space. You can tell that it was designed specifically with yoga instructors in mind.

How did Up2Code perform from a project management standpoint?

We missed a lot of our deadlines throughout the process, but I think it was just because it took a lot longer to develop the website than we expected. They were very good at constantly communicating what was going on, maintaining a weekly call throughout the prototype phase and keeping me updated while they were working on development as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

A lot of people told me not to try to build a custom website because they had bad experiences trying to do something similar. A lot of businesses will take your money and not deliver what they promised, but with Up2Code I never felt a sense of that at all. They were constantly professional, excited about my project, and welcoming to my ideas. That made it a really enjoyable process for me as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As of right now, I don’t have anything I think they should change or do differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have some experience with website development, because developers at their level can often speak in terms that are very difficult to understand and that can cause delays or miscommunications. The better a grasp you have on the lingo they’re using, the quicker you’ll be able to get the project up to speed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of a dating app for bars.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Up2Code?

We needed a partner to develop our app including software, testing, etc.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

From the ground up, Up2Code developed our app for iOS. Their team built the UX/UI as well as the platform’s location-based and matching features. To support our goals, they also helped us find accelerator programs.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with six–seven people including developers and project managers.

How did you come to work with Up2Code?

We found them on UpWork.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the course of our collaboration, we spent about $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between September 2017–October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They created a really good UX/UI. Their team was really great to work with.

How did Up2Code perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team kept us on track with weekly phone or video calls and monthly reports. Development was a bit slow but other than that, Up2Code did a really good job. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re personable, helpful, and responsive. Up2Code is a good company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could've communicated timelines better. I would’ve liked to have had a better idea of when features would be completed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Establish set deadlines for features and payments in a contract.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the founder of Loudscore. It was a side project and not connected to my full-time job as a lawyer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Up2Code? 

I had the idea for a review app for restaurants and other businesses. I needed a partner to do the actual app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Up2Code created a beta version of the app in iOS. They were involved in every aspect of the planning process. They helped me figure out what the app should look like, including the name and the logo. 

The initial phase of the app was focused on New York University (NYU). Up2Code conducted a survey of various students to get their input on what the content should be. The intent of the app was to encourage more regular reviews than other sites so users wouldn’t see months-old reviews.

How did you come to work with Up2Code? 

I was introduced to Dan (Co-Founder, Up2Code) by his father, who is of one of my partners at my law firm. 

How much have you invested with them?

I think I spent about $55,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

I don't remember the exact dates, but it was around May 2017–September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Up2Code created a simple, clean UI so that users could complete a review in less than five seconds. They tested the beta non-release of the app with students, and the feedback was mixed. I wasn't prepared to devote the amount of time and money necessary, so I decided not to go forward with the app.

How did Up2Code perform from a project management standpoint? 

Up2Code did a very nice job. They were so organized throughout the process. Dan put together a list of steps and kept me on task.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were attentive to my needs. As a busy lawyer, it was hard for me to go to them so they would come to my office. Up2Code was super responsive, even at night or on weekends. I could always send them a text or an email with an idea or a question. They're good people to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

No, I'm not aware of anything that they could have done differently. The app not being finished wasn’t due to their efforts. I wasn't prepared to invest the time and money that was needed to go forward. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

I wouldn’t know how to answer that question.