**BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do. I am a co-founder of a company named Constant Health, which operates as a digital platform. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What issue were you aiming to tackle with MindSea? We have a physical establishment known as Bariatric Medical Institute, where we have been providing medical weight management services for 17 years. While we have a strong grasp of the clinical aspect of weight management, we were eager to delve into technology. However, we were quite hesitant about the tech realm due to the challenges of creating a quality app. Although app development itself can be straightforward, creating a high-quality app is much tougher. We needed to find professionals who could assist us in developing an app we’d be proud of. **SOLUTION** What was the extent of their involvement? Their team played a role in various aspects of this multifaceted development project. It has five components: the Android app, the iOS app, a clinical portal, a patient web portal, and a service-side portal. This was a large endeavor, so we divided the project into manageable segments. We wanted to collaborate with a team that was flexible and could adapt as we progressed. Initially, we planned for just the iOS version due to two reasons: the high cost of building an app for multiple platforms natively and our desire to identify mistakes through testing to learn for later builds. Focusing on one platform first allowed us to avoid similar errors on the second. We started with some design work with a local firm in Ottawa that specialized solely in design. They were collaborating with another development agency, but we opted to end that partnership out of concern that the designs might not align with the development phase, having two distinct partners. After reviewing their designs with MindSea, we realized that substantial rework was necessary. Our prior partner had designed a solution for a hybrid platform rather than a native one, which only offered a vague representation of the project's direction. **TEAM COMPOSITION** I am quite involved, so I initially met with the whole MindSea team at their office, including ten members: three developers, four designers, the CEO, and others. Since then, my primary contacts have been a project manager, who is also the lead designer, and over time, I’ve become more engaged with the developers as well. I have had the fortune of working with the same lead developer responsible for both the server and iOS work. I mainly interact with the project manager and lead developer. **HOW WE CAME TO WORK WITH MINDSEA** We might have discovered them on Clutch. I subsequently met their former CEO, whom I still maintain a friendship with. He was excellent at his role, even though his tenure with the company was brief. They appeared to have a better understanding of our goals compared to other teams we evaluated. We consulted five different agencies, and MindSea was the best match. At that time, Bill (the former CEO) had experienced significant weight loss himself and resonated with the challenge we were addressing. They not only had the capability to create appealing solutions but also genuinely believed in our mission, which solidified our decision to collaborate with them. **INVESTMENT** How much have you invested in them? We’ve invested around $400,000 to $500,000 so far. MindSea also holds a stake in Constant Health as part of our agreement. They contributed their services at cost to help develop the app due to its extensive scope. Our collaboration has developed further; thanks to government funding we secured, MindSea has even lent us some of their employees to work on our payroll. This genuinely feels like a collaborative venture. **STATUS OF ENGAGEMENT** I engaged them in September 2020, and the project is still underway. We continue to utilize them for Android development, while two of their employees are also contributing to our internal operations. We handle all server, iOS, and web portal work internally. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence do you have that demonstrates the engagement's impact? Our app serves as a tool for clients to communicate with clinicians seamlessly. In weight management, tracking progress and addressing issues between appointments is challenging. Typically, outcomes can fall into three categories: individuals who succeed, those who struggle but their clinicians remain unaware until the next visit, and those who don’t return out of embarrassment. Thanks to MindSea's contributions, we've minimized embarrassment and feelings of failure by facilitating real-time feedback on a client's challenges for clinicians. As a result, our program has been incredibly effective, with a typical attrition rate of 40%, whereas we currently maintain only 14%. **PROJECT MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE** How did MindSea perform in terms of project management? Communication has been excellent through Slack, posing no issues. I’ve found that working with technology is akin to constructing a house. Changes to scope and new insights often complicate matters. I accept some accountability for delays, as sometimes new information or desired features arise. Their performance regarding deadlines has been average, and I wouldn't attribute any delays solely to them—factors such as staff turnover or multitasking could also contribute. **IMPRESSIONS** What impressed you most about them? The team I work with is outstanding. Warren (Senior Product Designer & Design Team Lead) is fantastic, and I couldn’t be happier with him. We’ve developed a genuine friendship, along with the team member who onboarded us. My connection with the team is more of a friendship than just a business relationship, which is essential to me as I value true partnership. Many claim to offer partnership, but not all deliver, and MindSea truly has. **AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT** Are there any aspects where they could improve? Pricing has occasionally been an issue due to significant discrepancies between their initial hour estimates and the actual hours required for the project. They did lower costs given their estimations were off, but that was challenging. Ultimately, they rectified this issue to the best of their ability. I also understand that they are a business and can’t work for free, which has been the only major concern we've had. **ADVICE FOR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS** What advice would you give to potential customers? Stay engaged. I’ve consistently sought ways to support the team and enhance their efficiency. Having someone from the company involved regularly is a game changer. I maintained a Slack channel and participated in meetings frequently, responding to any issues promptly, usually within a couple of hours. This approach fosters quick answers and facilitates progress. It was beneficial for me as well, as it helped me grasp the process and the challenges they faced, turning issues into collaborative discussions rather than isolated problems.