This document provides guidance on determining if an agency is needed to build a tech product, how to search for an agency, and how to evaluate different agency options. It recommends starting by asking friends for agency referrals, searching websites like CSS Mania and Dribbble for portfolio work, and considering factors like location, capabilities, and client reviews. The document outlines steps for getting bids from 2-3 agencies and setting a timeline for selecting one to work with.

1. How to find & pick a
tech
agency
TM

2. Agenda
1. Do you need a tech agency?
2. How do you find an “agency”?
3. Making the big decision

3. 1 Do you need a tech agency?

4. Defining “Need”
• You have an idea but no product
• You need to build something fast
• You need to build something custom

5. Mobile or Web?

6. Remember:
• App doesn’t just mean a mobile app. It can be WEB or mobile.
• And mobile isn’t just for phones, mobile apps can also be for
tablets and iPads.

7. Lets talk “Users”
• What do your “users look like”?
• Who are they?
• How will they use your app?
• Demographics & Psychographics?

8. What are you product goals?
• Save the world?
• Get lots of downloads?
• Have fun? Make money?

9. Start small, build right away
The longer your scoping process, the more expensive and far
away launching will be.
How fast can you get started?

10. Why waiting hurts…
• Someone else can get to your niche market 1st.
• You spent all of your investment or personal money
already and you never quite launched.

11. Why wait that long?
We built your MVP in 2 months. You don’t start marketing it...
...until one year later

12. Okay, so you need an Agency...

13. 2 Searching and finding an agency

14. Starting “The Hunt”
• Ask friends of websites that you like
• Search online for agencies or MVP info
• Ask agencies for other referrals

15. How do you FIND the right one?
• Search on CSS Mania & Dribbble
• Choose a nearshore agency
• One that does Ruby on Rails

16. CSS Mania & Dribbble
• Dribbble is for graphic designers
• Browse their work & view the agency that
designed it.
• You can even hire them right on the spot.

17. Do you know the
language needed?
*Remember you don’t have to know this
• Java
• C++
• Ruby
• Php
• Python

18. The Process
1. Contact
2. Scope
3. Get Bid
4. Get Started

19. Pick the agency who you like working with in the
early stages
TRUST

20. “If you think beautiful looking interfaces with fancy
buttons is good UX, you are in for a rude shock:
User eXperience (UX) is really about being useful,
usable, and meaningful”
-Ripul Kumar

21. What is your budget?

22. Big MVPs Cost & Time estimation (TNW)
Instagram:
100 - 300K
3-6 months
Facebook:
500K
9 months
WhatsApp:
250K
9 months
Pinterest:
4 months
120K

23. What is an MVP?
Minimum Viable Product
The version of a new product which allows a
team to collect the maximum amount of
validated learning about customers with the
least effort.

24. Car & App comparison
(DarwinApps)

25. I just want an app and I want it to work...
1994 Honda civic 1 - 5k

26. I want something that works well on one platform...
2007 BMW 335i 20 - 25k

27. I want this to be the best …
Lamborghini Aventador 400k

28. How to get a niche product
• Find a problem to solve
• It’s more engaging and later profitable
• Kitchen cabinet software, niche eh?

29. What are the next steps?

30. 3 Comparing agencies

31. Nearshore?
Pick an agency in the same time zone as your
main office or product owners.

32. If you want agile web
development, then you
need Ruby on Rails

33. Who uses Ruby on Rails?
• Amazon, BBC, CNET, and Yahoo
• Business Insider says “The frowing demand for
RoR has been driven by successful companies
who benefit from the speed and agility of building
applications in Rails.

34. There are things you can look
for on the agency website.

35. Agency Website Checklist
A reliable location & communication schedule.
Contact phone # (Hint if not, they can be outsourcing)
Are there testimonials of past clients?
A portfolio?
Do they do only web or mobile?
Development, design, or both?

36. 1 Research portfolio clients and check their websites.
2 If there’s mobile apps, test them out.

37. Do you enjoy it?

38. Yes? Good.

39. Making the BIG Decision
• Get bids from 2-3 agencies
• Set a timeline for a final decision
• Sign NDAs will all agencies

40. Why second opinions help
• Get advice from agile experts and you will be on
your way to a MVP app.
• Koombea is happy to help you figure out which
agency is best .

41. Get a fast quote
• Upload whatever documents you have for a
estimation and fast follow-up.
• We’ll give you what you need for your process.
www.koombea.com/mvp/

42. Highlights
About Us
• Information Architecture and wireframes.
•Personal design and user flows.
• Graphic design.
• Branding and composition.
• Responsive web design.

43. Have any questions?
We are here to help.
Tweet us or email us.
TM
386 Park Ave South, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10010
625 2nd St., Suite 280
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cra 53 # 79-01 L-301
Barranquilla, Colombia