blockchain development companies 2022

Top Blockchain development companies in Europe

by Uncategorised

With the Web 3.0 and the hype generated around NFTs, surely blockchain technology is gaining popularity on a fast pace. Besides financial transactions, we’re beginning to see how blockchain is now advocated for a variety of corporate uses, making this presumably utopian technology touch upon many aspects of the way business operate.

From increased security to faster information sharing while maintaining decentralization, blockchain is truly the future, but many organization leaders don’t know where to start when it comes to its implementation.

The first course of action should be to seek out a blockchain development company in order to get insight and access to professional developers. However, not every blockchain company or startup is going to be able to give you what you need and on an agreeable budget. That’s why it’s vital to do your research on the best blockchain development companies out there before making an investment.

In this article, we’ll break down what blockchain development and web 3.0 development actually are, providing you with our take on Top Ten Blockchain Development companies in Europe that are becoming major players in the world of blockchain technology.

What is Blockchain Development?

Blockchain is a decentralized public network, an open market that does not comply to any governmental or private entity power, where both people and institutions can store and securely transfer information and currency in seconds.

Core developers and app developers are the two primary sorts of developers in this technology. The developer builds the code for a blockchain client in core development. Blockchain clients are written in low-level computer languages. App developers are a bit different.

Blockchain clients include the Bitcoin blockchain, the Binance smart chain, and the Ethereum blockchain.

Most blockchain developers, on the other hand, work on developing web and mobile apps, and this is what most people think of when they hear the term “blockchain development.” Instead of constructing an entire blockchain from scratch, they create apps on top of a blockchain client in blockchain app development.

Essentially, blockchain development involves the work of core developers and app developers to create blockchain web and mobile apps. Organizations in a wide range of niches can benefit from seeking out the services of blockchain developers.

Why consider Blockchain Development for your business?

There are numerous things to consider when integrating blockchain into your business, providing new blockchain-based goods to your consumers, or investing in blockchain application development.

This cutting-edge technology has the potential to have a significant influence on how your company runs. Specifically, blockchain technology can be used to construct everything from digital wallets to more user-friendly applications and more effective advertising.

By incorporating blockchain technology into their companies, businesses will have access to automated execution, digital asset management, improved business networks, and greater security.

Let’s break down the benefits a bit more.

To begin with, organizations can benefit from the decentralization of blockchain technology. Blockchain eliminates the need for a middleman. This means there will be no government money and no third-party verification. Furthermore, transactions are distributed among thousands, if not millions, of machines, with only your blockchain network having access to them.

Basically, data is never lost as a result of this decentralization. In addition, blockchain technology is unchangeable. A blockchain’s data structure is based on an append-only format. Data that has already been recorded cannot be changed or deleted by ill-intentioned persons. This, of course, adds an added layer of protection.

Improved security is probably one of the most significant advantages of blockchain for enterprises. To keep everything extra secure, blockchain uses cryptography to encrypt the data stored within blocks. Blocks can only be added to the chain after undergoing a verification process that necessitates agreement among ledger participants. Another advantage of blockchain technology is more transparency. Everyone in the network has access to the same documentation because blockchain is a distributed ledger. You don’t have a dozen unique copies of sensitive information because all of these digital copies are linked to the same digital information.

What should you look for in a blockchain development company?

The agency you decide to work with must be able to demonstrate good knowledge of most, if not all, of the programming languages utilized in blockchain development. Developing commercially effective blockchain technology, smart contracts, or complicated products necessitates knowledge of a number of unusual technologies. Your preferred blockchain development firm should have teams who are knowledgeable with blockchains, cryptocurrencies, EVM, distributed ledgers, consensus techniques, decentralized technologies, IoT, and cybersecurity.

A good blockchain development company will also have its thumb on the pulse of current trends. Today, people all around the world are actively experimenting with blockchain technologies in order to get the most out of them. That is why it is critical to have a skilled and dependable team of developers on board that are up to date on all blockchain industry developments. These advancements might be beneficial to your blockchain project. Ascertain that the organization is up to date on the current software development industry trends, and learn from them what tools are popular now for trend adoption. When it comes to business solutions, this is always crucial.

A competent blockchain development firm will also have contract terms that are compatible with your business strategy. If you are unable to pay pricey blockchain-based services owing to a restricted budget, you should request that your preferred blockchain provider create a contract tailored to your business model. Blockchain technology engineers will be better equipped to comprehend your preferences and design a tailored solution to match your business demands once you discuss your business goals and initial financial resources. If you are unable to pay for the full project, you can enter into an agreement with the firm in which you will be charged a defined proportion of the earnings. This implies you’ll split the earnings with the developer to cover the cost of the contract.

Check with the contractor to see what they know from the above and if there are any issues. This must be done because it has an impact on the end product’s functioning or safety. After you’ve established that your contractor has the bare minimum of expertise required to produce a commercial blockchain product, you’ll need to ask yourself a second, equally essential question: Does the developer have prior experience developing the sort of blockchain product you require? If the answer is no, you should certainly avoid becoming affiliated with this firm, as you may come to regret it later.

What are the approximate costs of blockchain development?

Because blockchain is a feature-dependent technology, the ultimate pricing will vary depending on the project specifications. One can claim that the cost of developing a blockchain app ranges from $5,000 to $200,000. However, there are several things to consider. One thing to think about is project management. The cost of project management is also included in the creation of a blockchain app. A corporation can, for example, utilize an agile approach to hold regular meetings or daily scrums, track the current sprint, testing, deadline, defects, and deliverables, and so on. Confluence, Trello, and Jira are some of the technologies they utilize to help with the agile process. The cost of such software tools is also factored into the cost of implementing blockchain.

Basically, there are a few things outside of just paying a developer that will contribute to the cost of blockchain technology. Consulting, designing, development, quality assurance, deployment, maintenance, and management will all be factors that cost money in a blockchain project. Migration and upgrades, in addition to third-party tools, will also contribute to the cost of blockchain development. Because the cost of blockchain development can be a little steep, it’s vital to invest in the workforce of a top-notch blockchain development company.

Top 10 Blockchain Development Companies in Europe

RebelDot (Romania)

RebelDot is a digital product company that helps brands around the world accelerate their process towards digitalization and innovation. The team of ~200 people work together to build web and mobile apps for global brands and startups, covering product strategy, product design, mobile app development, web app development and blockchain development.

With over a decade of experience in building products for over 50 companies in multiple industries, RebelDot has proven experience in building web and mobile apps from the idea phase to a thriving digital product.

With 3 offices in Romania and one in Copenhagen, RebelDot offers a comprehensive spectrum of development services for startups and enterprise-level businesses, all of which are based on blockchain technology. Lautec, Grundfost, Carecircle, Samba Communications, or Pivot Sport are just some of RebelDot’s more well-known clients.

As part of the blockchain development services portfolio, RebelDot can help you with Smart Contract Development, Blockchain Development Consulting, Decentralized Apps Development, Asset Tokenization, Crypto Wallets Integration or Security Audits. 

Eligma (Slovenia)

Eligma is a global platform that enables smooth and safe crypto payments in both physical and virtual establishments. Eligma uses blockchain technology to create crypto payment network communication standards. Its goal is to make cryptocurrency a part of everyday life and trade. Eligma was founded in 2017 with the goal of improving the way people purchase and pay today.

They chose to seek the support of future users through a public crowd sale at the beginning of 2018, supported by corporate investors and almost 1,500 Eligma believers, after receiving stamps of approval from numerous renowned businesspeople and entrepreneurs who eventually became Eligma’s advisers. Eligma created a crypto payment infrastructure that allows retailers to accept cryptocurrency in exchange for their local currency, as well as a client app that allows for immediate cryptocurrency payments.

Zfort Group (Ukraine)

The Zfort Group offers a diverse development portfolio that focuses on challenging technologies like AI and Blockchain. The company’s headquarters are in Ukraine, but it also has offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Israel. On projects of any scale, a big number of highly qualified programmers work. Small individual websites to huge ERP systems and decentralized trading platforms are among them. There are projects for decentralized exchanges, NFT minting, crypto bots creation, cryptocurrency development and ICO, and many other smart contract projects in stock.

This firm can fit those who require a blockchain-based project or people who want to incorporate a blockchain to their project because the development team can perform projects in any way. For example, if you currently have a product but want to add the ability to generate NTF tokens from it, Zfort Group can assist you.

Ledger (France)

Ledger uses a patented technology to offer security and infrastructure solutions for cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications for consumers and businesses. With over 1,000,000 units sold in over 165 countries since its launch in 2014, Ledger has swiftly established itself as a worldwide leader in the hardware security device sector.

Ledger announced the Vault, a fully managed SaaS solution for organizations and corporations that addresses the requirement to preserve a huge number of numerous cryptocurrencies while minimizing both IT and physical attack threats. The firm also has a presence in the industrial IoT industry, where it uses its secure hardware technology to connect sensors and machinery to smart contracts or blockchain-based assets. Ledger is based in Paris, with headquarters in San Francisco and a production site in Vierzon.

Intellectsoft (Ukraine)

Intellectsoft is a multinational firm with operations all over the world that has its beginnings in Ukraine. Excellent programmers who work with emerging technologies are employed by the organization. Innovations, blockchain technology, AI, and other technologies are always being worked on. In the public sphere, the corporation consistently ranks top in lists of the finest companies, with revenues increasing year after year.

In terms of technology, the company works on mobile, web, and application development, as well as eCommerce solutions for major businesses and blockchain systems. Intellectsoft was created in 2007 and has a long list of satisfied customers, so we wouldn’t consider them “new” in the realm of blockchain technology in Europe. However, this company has been steadily gaining an excellent reputation when it comes to blockchain development.

Aave (Finland)

Aave (from the Finnish word “ghost”) is a non-custodial open-source Ethereum protocol for decentralized lending and borrowing. The protocol issues ERC20-compliant aTokens to lenders in a 1:1 ratio to the assets they supply. Interest begins compounding immediately, as seen by a constant increase in the number of aTokens held by the lender. Separate from the aTokens that represent the underlying principle, this interest stream may be routed to any address.

Aave offers flash loans, which are trustless, uncollateralized loans that must be borrowed and repaid in the same transaction. This functionality, which is aimed at developers, might lead to new DeFi applications. As blockchain-based transactions, lending, and borrowing grow increasingly commonplace in the coming years, this is a startup to keep an eye on.

OTR (Eastern Europe)

OTR is a collection of development firms based in Eastern Europe, the European Union, and the United Kingdom that was founded in 2000. While its headquarters are in the United Kingdom, they have clients all around Europe. The major focus is on the financial and banking sectors, where blockchain technology is already well-established. More than 2,400 full-time staff work on front-end and back-end development projects using Java, PHP,.Net, React, Vue, and Angular technologies.

As with the previous ones, blockchain technology is not the primary corporate technology. They did, however, integrate it into banking systems and financial initiatives for mutual settlements and digital banking with great success.

Blaize (Ukraine)

Blaize is another firm on our list that is primarily focused on blockchain and bases all of its operations on it. However, they also offer additional development options, allowing the organization to work on any project. Decentralization is their major emphasis, and they have a lot of expertise with decentralized banking, decentralized autonomous platforms, decentralized exchanges, and other things.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tezos, EOS, Substrate, Near, Hyperledger, Tendermint, Solana, Corda, TRON, Dash, PIVX, and others are among the technologies they support. Despite the fact that this firm is still relatively new, having been founded in 2016, it is creating a lot of interest in the blockchain development community.

WISeKey (Switzerland)

WISeKey is a worldwide cybersecurity firm that uses a proprietary technique to establish large-scale digital identification ecosystems. For the Internet of Things, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence, WISeKey’s Swiss-based cryptographic Root of Trust (“RoT”) delivers safe authentication and identity in both physical and virtual contexts. The WISeKey RoT acts as a shared trust anchor, ensuring the integrity of online transactions between objects and between humans. Their vertically integrated trusted platform combines a variety of chips with software applications to meet the security and business objectives of their customers.

WISeKey’s software contains company-developed proprietary technology including RoT and Public Key Infrastructure (“PKI”). These technologies are available as stand-alone solutions as well as part of the completely integrated new Vertical Trusted Platform, which allows WISeKey customersto manage their digital identity, information, and communications in a smooth process backed by complementing technology. They give their customers the ability to adapt to a shifting device environment without jeopardizing their digital security. The connectedness of digital gadgets was triggered by the fast expansion and spread of internet-based devices, as well as people’s reliance on them for personal and business requirements.

OpenLedger (Denmark)

OpenLedger is a startup that produces its own blockchain apps on popular blockchain platforms, in addition to providing blockchain technology and development services. As a result, it has a lot of expertise with blockchain technology. The firm was established in 2014 and has a large number of satisfied customers.

This company can create decentralized projects on current blockchains or create totally new blockchains using OpenLedger. As a result, I would suggest this company’s services to anyone looking for basic blockchain solutions.

At RebelDot we’re constantly on the look for talented, passionate and beyond all, nice people. Should you consider developing or even just starting a career in Blockchain Development, our team is excited to get to know you and build amazing digital products with you. 

If we sound like a fit for you, consider visiting our careers page to learn more about the culture, growth opportunities and specific vacancies we have available. 

.NET development companies

.NET Development companies – 5 trusted product agencies in Europe

by Uncategorised

.NET is an open-source and cross-platform introduced by Microsoft in the 1990s. Developers can create different applications that run on Linux, Windows, and macOS. It has a wide range of tools, libraries, and programming languages. You can develop .NET apps using programming languages such as C#, Visual Basic, or F#.

.NET Framework is one of the implementations of .Net that supports desktop apps, services, and much more on Windows. Without sufficient funds for licenses and platforms, .NET is an excellent place to launch your startup.

Besides, more than 17 million websites have been developed using ASP.NET and more than 10 million unique domains. Other estimates put the number of live websites using ASP.NET at more than 41 million.

Therefore, ASP.NET is ideal for a startup because it provides a wide range of benefits when developing commercial applications ranging from simple websites to complex web applications.

The advantages of using .NET, particularly for startups.

1. Interoperability– Interoperability refers to the ability of various computerized systems or products to connect and communicate with each other, even if entirely different manufacturers developed them in totally unrelated industries. The systems can exchange information between databases and applications.

Following Microsoft’s release of two editions of Windows 10 Internet of Things (IoT), it has significantly improved the platform’s efficiency, allowing business owners to grow their businesses. As a result, .NET has become the best platform for startups wishing to use the technology.

2. Scalability – The ASP.NET framework is robust for any commercial application. All organizations ranging from small-scale to large enterprises have utilized the framework for technical strategies. It is highly scalable, making it easy to meet the requirements of a rapidly expanding organization. As a result, your business application evolves and grows as the startup grows.

3. High Security – ASP.NET comes with top security features making it one of the most secure platforms in the market. The shopping cart for eCommerce solutions would not have survived if there were gaps. .NET is essential in identifying and covering any of those gaps.

What to Look for in .NET Development Company?

If you need a company to develop a project for you, here is what you should look for:

  1. Professionalism- These are often known as soft skills. They should respond to questions promptly and be available to explain their end-to-end development processes. The company should be ready to listen carefully to your needs and understand what you aim to accomplish with your project.
  2. Credibility – You have to do extensive work to determine potential vendors. Your search should include reviews from past clients, their duration in business, and their online presence. Do they have an authoritative blog?
  3. Skillset – The company you choose should have the necessary technical skills to accomplish your project. You can inquire about the samples of projects with similar scope, size, and functionality. If possible, the samples should be from the same industry.
  4. Value – Cost is typically one of the main factors to consider. However, don’t make a decision solely on the pricing. Focus on the value you’ll get.
  5. Support – The company you choose should provide support after the project development, especially if you have a complex application.  

The Cost of Building .NET Application

Building a .NET development application is much cheaper than a website development because it takes a short time to build. However, the time and cost to develop a .NET application can increase significantly depending on the organization’s requirements.  

Typically, the following factors will determine the cost:

  • Features
  • Functionality
  • Deadlines

On average, a simple application with essential functions can cost between $2.000 and $5.000. However, a complex .NET application such as an eCommerce could be as high as $10.000 or even more.

Five .NET Application Companies

1. RebelDot

Location: Romania, Denmark, UAE

Hourly Rate: $50 – $100/hr

Employees over 150

RebelDot is a digital product company, helping brands around the world accelerate their process towards digitalization and innovation. With over a decade of experience in building products for over 50 companies in multiple industries, RebelDot comes with proven experience in building web and mobile apps from the idea phase to a thriving digital product.

Since 2012, our team has designed and built digital products that bring people together, products that redefine the way we do work and play, products that revolutionize the way cities work and products that power global change.

Alongside React Native, Flutter and Blockchain Development, .NET has gradually became our field of expertise, as more than half of our clients request that we use .NET frameworks to implement various features, from basic CRUD operations, to security and cloud third party integrations.

Being a highly performant, modern and trusted platform, it provides a multitude of libraries and tools, which we take advantage of to facilitate the development and support of applications.

As proof of its focus on delivering the highest quality services to customers worldwide, RebelDot holds the following accreditations: 

  • ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management Systems
  • ISO 27001:2018 – Information Security Management Systems
  • Microsoft Gold Application Development
  • Microsoft Gold Cloud Platform
  • Microsoft Gold Application Integration

2. Iflexion

Location: The United Kingdom and the US

Hourly Rate: $25-$49/hr

Employees over 850

Inflexion is one of the most experienced .NET development companies. It has provided software solutions to businesses and organizations across multiple industries for over two decades. Since 1999, the company has helped thousands of companies optimize their processes by developing custom software solutions using .NET frameworks. With their experienced team, Iflexion offers software development services to customers in different countries worldwide despite their geographical location, operation domain, and organization specifics.

Iflexion provides IT services to all types and sizes of organizations, including startups and large corporations. They also have expertise in custom software development, mobile apps, and enterprise web. They offer services on all aspects of software development. They handle straightforward and complex software development, integration, and support projects.

You can choose Iflexion for your next .NET project because of their experience offering their customers trending technologies such as Blockchain, Augmented and virtual reality, and Artificial intelligence.

3. ITGeeks

Location: The United Kingdom and the US.

Hourly Rate: $100 -$149/hr

Employees 50 – 249

ITGeeks is one of the leading .NET development companies in the United Kingdom and the US, working over numerous platforms. In the UK, they sell their services in eCommerce platforms such as Shopify for business owners to embed their businesses globally.

Popularly known as the “Shopify experts,” ITGeeks offer specialized services such as website design, web hosting, marketing, and analytics. They’ve served over ten thousand clients worldwide and still counting.

Throughout the over seven years they’ve served in the software development industry, ITGeeks have completed over 5000 projects, designed over 2600 online stores on Spotify, and offered over 300 successful store migrations on Shopify, hence the title “Shopify experts.”

You can choose ITGeeks if you’re in the eCommerce industry because of their skillset. Their top additional services include:

  • Shopify store setup
  • Shopify customization
  • Speed optimization
  • Store migration
  • SEO
  • Store redesign

4. Instinctools GmbH

Location: Germany

Hourly Rate: $40/hr

Employees 250 – 499

Instinctools has offered software development and consultation services for digital transformation in Germany and Central and Eastern Europe for over two decades. The IT company helps clients optimize their businesses with a primary focus on reducing development costs while improving speed to market using a transparent engagement model (IT staff augmentation, Offshore development center, and dedicated teams)

Instinctools is among the most experienced .NET development companies, and their services include:

  • UX and design
  • Business analysis
  • DevOps
  • Quality assurance and automated testing
  • Project management
  • Support services

If you want a company with solid experience in a wide range of industries, Instinctools should be the company for your next project. Instinctools has won numerous prestigious industry awards.

5. Selleo

Location: Poland

Hourly Rate: $45/hr

Employees 50 – 99

For more than ten years, Selleo has offered professional software development services to clients from Europe, Australia, Canada, and the US, designing and developing numerous applications across a wide array of business domains, industries, and technologies.

Different projects have a wide range of features and require specialized staff with industry expertise and specialized skills to handle your new project. Selleo has a team of full-stack developers to handle your project needs while ensuring an increase in your overall business productivity.

If you want a company with a small team for your .NET development project, you can approach Selleo. Besides, they offer a wide range of mobile and web application development and provide cloud-based business process management tools and custom SaaS development services, among many others. And with their small, versatile workforce, they can deliver all kinds of technologically challenging software solutions.

Sello developers boast expertise in .NET development projects, and they also specialize in the following areas:

  • Digital dashboards
  • Custom SaaS and cloud-based business process management tools
  • AdTech and marketing platforms
  • Processing solutions
  • Data analytics
  • LMS and e-learning solutions

Conclusion

.NET is one of the most productive development platforms and is suitable for startups. It enables developers to build high-quality applications much faster. Besides, it comes with a wide range of standard APIs, libraries, support different programming languages, and other powerful tools the Visual Studio family provides.   

It supports applications running on Android, iOS, Enterprises server, Windows server, Linux, and microservices running in the cloud, among many others.

🚀Ready to start working on your next .NET project? Get in touch and let’s explore your product idea together!

MVP Development companies

MVP Development Companies to launch your next digital product idea

by Uncategorised

When it comes to running a tech startup, the leaders and teams within often have incredible ideas that could result in major success. However, having an idea is not enough– that idea must translate into a product that works for the businesses and that users actually want. This product would be considered the minimum viable product, or MVP.

Startup founders looking to release their digital product idea into the market must do so in the form of a minimum viable product. Most of them rely on their tech partners to take care of this important aspect, but since it can be a bit tricky, it is always a good idea to ensure that you outsource your MVP development to a company that can really help you get the ball rolling.

In this guide, we’ll break down what tech startup leaders need to know about when looking for an MVP development company, as well as a few agencies worth looking into.

What is an MVP in Tech?

A minimal viable product (MVP) is a development strategy that involves creating a new product or website with only enough functionality to satisfy early users. Only after incorporating feedback from the product’s early consumers is the final, comprehensive set of features planned and built. An MVP comes to help you validate your idea early in the process of product development. In the case of Agile Development, it should help your product team validate and iterate your product based on input. MVPs include things like product demos, crowdfunding initiatives, and landing sites. In other circumstances, the MVP might be a patchwork of current technologies to demonstrate viability before becoming a new tool or program. Having an MVP, as well as a minimum viable product strategy for startups is vital. A minimal viable product has three basic characteristics:
  • It is valuable enough that people are willing to use or purchase it at first.
  • It exhibits enough long-term value to keep early adopters.
  • It creates a feedback loop that may be used to influence future growth.
An MVP’s development team will be concerned with the feature prioritization of a digital product, looking to not waste time on anything above the basic minimum, instead assessing the customers’ needs and preferences as they use the product and building every other feature over time. Such MVP development companies or teams can also be outsourced. This tutorial will deconstruct several significant MVP players worth considering as a tech startup.

Why should you consider MVP Development for your startup?

There are so many reasons why you should consider an MVP development firm, or MVP development in general, as a tech startup leader. The benefits of MVP development include the following:

  • A minimum viable product will help your team focus more on core functionalities rather than concepts.
  • Your strategy development approach will benefit from a minimum viable product.
  • It’s difficult to devise a strategy. It will be simplified with a minimum viable product, ensuring your startup’s long-term success.
  • It’s easier to clarify your vision or idea via MVP development.
  • Research won’t provide you a long-term growth strategy without client input.
  • Your plan will be hampered if you sacrifice the Minimum Viable Solution in favor of a feature-rich product.
  • You can gain a better understanding of your customer, client, and market needs.

What should you look for in an MVP Development Company?

Not all MVP development firms are equally lucrative. There are a few things to consider when looking into firms to hire. Consider these factors when searching for your MVP development team of choice:

  • Top-notch reviews, testimonials, and ratings of the company online. An MVP development company with an excellent reputation is worth considering.
  • A lean website that showcases the firm’s talent.
  • Proof of experience working with startups in a similar market as your startup. For example, if your startup is involved in healthcare app development, your MVP firm of choice should also have a history working in this niche.
  • A willingness to sign a non-disclosure agreement on behalf of your startup to keep your project safe.

What are the approximate costs of MVP Development?

MVP development costs can vary quite a bit. Let’s consider MVP costs in the context of tech. Despite the fact that it is sometimes referred to as an “initial version” of a product, outsourced MVP prices are comparable to that of a standard mobile app.

On average, they cost between $17,000 and $55,000. When it comes to MVP development expenses, each company or expert will offer you a different estimate. The estimates will change even if you describe your project in the same way.

This occurs because the cost of MVP software and development is determined by a number of variables. The scope of design and development, tech stacks required, the type or size of team required, and hourly pay rates are the most critical considerations.

8 MVP Development Companies worth watching

1. RebelDot

Location: Romania
Team size: Over 150 employees
Date established: 2018
Key clients: Grundfos, BP, Lautec,

For the past decade, at RebelDot we’ve been interacting with an impressive number of entrepreneurs looking to bring innovation to their sector. We’ve met established businesses looking to grow through digital transformation, enthusiast startup founders at the beginning of their career investing all their time and money into building a digital product, as well as serial entrepreneurs already accustomed to the startup scene, trying to make their way through the competitive world of technology startups.

We’ve launched a series of successful MVP’s for founders looking to develop telemedicine apps, fintech, power and gas apps, daily progress reporting apps, livestreaming apps and even blockchain, launching a sustainable NFT marketplace which we’re yet to discuss about.

The clients that chose to collaborate with us on MVP development do it to achieve faster time-to-market and allocate budget wisely into creating a product that users enjoy using. This happened due to working iteratively based on the constant feedback acquired from the marked which helped us articulate a visually-appealing product that met the needs of both users and businesses.

By default, most of the web and mobile applications that we develop integrate the MVP development stage within the development process, as this is something that our designers, engineers and product strategists strongly recommend. Still, as an agile partner we can always adapt to our clients specific requirements and only develop an MVP or sometimes skip this stage and jump straight to the 1.0 version of your digital product.

2. Intelivita

Location: India
Team size: 11-50 employees
Date established: 2014
Key clients: AwayBack, FormAssist

Intelivita is a software development firm that specializes in creating effective MVPs for companies. It works with a variety of technologies, including machine learning, augmented reality/virtual reality, and blockchain. Intelivita can produce a variety of software for you, including mobile apps, mobile games, web apps, and more. If you’re looking for an MVP development team that can offer additional bells and whistles, this is the company to look into.

3. Classic Informatics

Location: India
Team size: Over 150 employees
Date established: 2002
Key clients: Condexo, MarketMeter

For startups and companies, Classic Informatics provides unique software development and scalable digital solutions. The firm also provides digital commerce solutions for the creation of online storefronts. It also provides content management systems, inbound marketing solutions, and MVP development. To offer high-quality products, the firm uses a variety of technologies and platforms. eCommerce tech startups could benefit from working with this firm.

4. Northell

Location: Ukraine
Team size: Over 30 employees
Date established: 2019
Key clients: Finxflo, SecureFlag

Northell is a small firm with a small staff of highly qualified employees. They create, grow, and sustain both b2b and b2c businesses. They specialize in creating MVP products that help businesses expand faster. Product design and web development are their primary areas of competence. Northell’s product development strategy focuses on producing scalable products that meet corporate needs. They keep track of the product’s dynamics and watch its progress to guarantee that it is constantly delivering beneficial outcomes. The firm is also ranked in the top 20 on Clutch and the top four on Manifest, indicating that they’ve had positive outcomes. Despite its small size and youth compared to more established MVP companies on this list, Northell has proven to be a successful MVP firm worth considering.

5. FATbit Technologies

Location: India
Team size: 51-200 employees
Date established: 2004
Key clients: Gearflow, Superlivery

FATbit Technologies is an MVP development firm that helps budding entrepreneurs validate their internet business concepts. FATbit, with its rapid development methodology, is a trusted partner for businesses looking to enter the eCommerce market. It has developed eCommerce MVPs for a variety of areas, including real estate, ridesharing, food delivery, education, and so on. If you’re looking for a trusted, tried, and true MVP firm, this is the one.

6. Digiteum

Location: Belarus
Team size: Over 50 employees
Date established: 2010
Key clients: DXRX, Printique

Digiteum is a company that creates MVPs. It provides web, mobile, and Internet of Things (IoT) development services. They also include AI and chatbots into their software solutions. They use a diverse set of technologies in their initiatives. The firm guarantees on-time project completion by starting early and responding quickly to any adjustments that may be necessary. Clients from all around the world use the services of the organization.

7. Confianz

Location: United States
Team size: Over 50 employees
Date established: 2008
Key clients: Element Designs, WhooCan

Confianz provides SMBs with cost-effective and scalable products. It provides clients with end-to-end comprehensive solutions. The company creates Android and iOS mobile apps, as well as provides web development and ERP solutions to businesses. Confianz has a global clientele of more than 50 nations.

8. UIG Studio

Location: Poland
Team size: 11-50 employees
Date established: 2013
Key clients: Audiobook, Printbox

UIG Studio is an MVP development firm based in the United States that champions and develops software solutions for a variety of organizations. Along with MVP, the UIG Studio team is also skilled in prototyping. Mobile app development, web development, and GIS software creation are some of the other services it offers.

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RebelDot 2020

A rebel 2020 in retrospective. Ready, set, remote!

by Uncategorised

A rebel 2020 in retrospective.

Few months into 2020, we wouldn’t have believed that this year was going to lead to so many positive changes in our company. It was hectic, indeed, but we managed to ride the wave together.

We had ups and downs and fought the inner battles between anxiety and excitement, two common emotional states amid a series of big changes.

Even with all this hassle going on, 2020 turned out to be the year when we reinvented the way we work and play.

We are now remote-first.

In 2019 we were proud to have opened an office in Copenhagen and extend our reach overseas.

This year, however, embracing the future of work, we left our main headquarters in Cluj and started working from home.

Being scattered in no less than 15 locations around Romania, we kept on building web and mobile apps with the same drive and commitment, (if not even higher) from each of our improvised personal offices situated in the living room, on the balcony, or even in the garden somewhere at the countryside, far from the noise of the city.

What initially seemed like a temporary safety measure, in a matter of weeks culminated into a wise decision that was going to impact our long-term growth.

RebelDot Work From Home

We turned two & had our first online party.

Having turned two years old, we couldn’t stand the thought of being apart, so we had to find a way to celebrate together and bridge the distance gap between us.

With 3 different virtual rooms, where each of our rebels could share hilarious stories, play games, or even throw dance battles, our first online anniversary party was an epic way to transcend distance and celebrate together while showing off our cool rebel t-shirts that we have received as a gift.

RebelDot 2 year anniversary

We have onboarded 27 new rebels. 

Working from home didn’t stop us from expanding our team. In fact, we continued to grow on a much higher pace than before.

Adapting to the new work environment, we also had to optimize our recruitment process. We knew that each applicant had a certain energy which we used to feel when meeting them and we wanted to give them the chance to manifest that same vibe in the online interviews as well.

Looking at the numbers now, we can say our efforts proven successful. We have onboarded 27 new rebels and had an attrition rate of 5.5% which means that, even at distance, people could still feel and enjoy the company culture.

rebeldot caricatures

Bringing back the small moments at the office is impossible, but worth trying.

Those early conversations in the kitchen while sipping our coffee or the random interactions resulted from a trip to the water dispenser. These are only a couple of those little magical moments that we miss.

Still, while there’s no point in claiming that technology could replicate the beauty of these serendipitous moments, we feel fortunate to have discovered novel means of getting in touch with each other.

We have cooked together, where those of us with chef-like skills managed to impress through their technique, while others simply brought a smile to everyone’s face through their excessive use of pepper or other ingredients. We kept on having the coffee dates so rebels in different departments could get to know each other too, only this time online. We even had a mental health webinar to teach us how to deal with the unknown in the uncertain times brought by the current pandemic.

Strengthening our team-spirit with initiatives that reached far beyond into our hearts than the actual work, this was yet another year filled with laughs and stories that bonded us on a deeper level, creating priceless memories in and outside work with friendships to last for a lifetime.

cooking night

We pivoted Visidot, our internal startup.

In 2020 we launched Visidot, a contact tracing and digital visitor log, developed to support businesses in keeping track of their guests, gather statistics, and visualize real-time data in a 100% GDPR compliant environment.

Soon after launching it, COVID-19 kicked in, impacting not just the business offices that this product initially targeted, but also many other industries.

Having noticed this, we took the pandemic as an opportunity to get back into development and work on pivoting the app to those industries in need.

Pivoting Visidot to the HoReCa industry seemed like an intuitive move, like the next logical step forward. It happened as we recognized the market need for such software and decided to support the local community, helping organizations survive the tough conditions.

We are now confident that Visidot could touch upon many other industries in the upcoming year and represent a step forward in Romania’s digitalization.

We left our HQ behind.

Perhaps this was the decision that wrapped up the whole year.

Being more or less forced by the context, we had to finally wave our goodbyes to the Buftea Street office. We gradually got used to the idea of finding productivity no matter the setting and got excited at the thought that the office would become a social space, an environment where we would catch up rather than work.

This is why we started to look for a new office, one that would fit this new set of needs, a house that looks more like a residence than an office. It was obvious that this change was going to take place eventually, but, to most of us, it was, indeed, a sudden transition.

Although we had a few specific requirements in mind, in less than a month we found the perfect space, added a splash of yellow, and quickly populated it with our rebel spirit.

Now we got ourselves a brand new Rebel Playground where we can meet to take the edge off a challenging project and chat about anything not work-related in front of the chimney or outside, enjoying the beautiful weather in our spacious garden.

RebelDot farewell old office

New clients acquired.

Looking back, we will remember 2020 as the year in which business became virtual. Companies started looking at technology as a way to streamline their business processes and make them more available to their customers. It’s funny how reflecting back at the year that just passed, technology has found its way into every possible business sector out there.

It kind of reminds of the joke below, that was roaming around LinkedIn feeds at the beginning of the pandemic.

LinkedIn Covid transformation

2020 was also the year in which businesses were forced to think outside of the box, more into the real lives of their user, finding clever ways in which to blend technology into the daily lives of their customers.

From pivoting existing digital products to create new experiences for users, this year we acquired over 10 new clients building web and mobile apps in new industries, some of which are: Influencer Platforms and Networking, Bills and Utilities Management, FinTech, LiveEvents, Parking Management and InsurTech.

You can see the entire product index of web and mobile apps we have built since 2008, on our website.

nova app

We invested in 3 technology startups from Romania, Amsterdam and UAE.

Today, technology helps us stay safe by bringing our favorite events to us. It gets our groceries delivered to our doorsteps and helps us get in touch with our families and friends’ miles away. It helps businesses remain in touch with their audiences, and gets the news where it needs to be, in little to no time. If we ever dared to question technology’s potential, 2020 proved the contrary. Technology is here to stay, and we are here to facilitate its way into the hands and pockets of people.

One of the startups we have proudly invested is Eventmix, a Cluj based startup aiming to revolutionize the industry of events, bringing event organizers a new way of starting engaged with their communities.

” I am thrilled to let you know that I have joined Eventmix as an investor, closely collaborating with them to build a platform through which event organizers can easily set up online events directly on their website. 🎉

Eventmix is a startup co-founded by Sergiu Biriș and Andrei Dunca, two entrepreneurs who are not new to the #techstartups scene, having already built Trilulilu, acquired by  Digitap, and LiveRail, acquired by Facebook.

The two successful exits brought them a lot of media traction that they have wisely used to push the local startup ecosystem forward.

What excites me the most about Eventmix is that it makes it super easy for me and even my kids to host whatever online interactive events we want, be it a game streaming or a business conference.

From the early days of RebelDot we devoted to supporting startups in their journey towards innovation. While we collaborated with visionaries from all over the world, we were driven by a desire to support the local scene.

I am happy to see entrepreneurs from Cluj create products like Eventmix, that are a reference standard for what it means to be #Agile, and adapt to the ever-changing business environment. Thank you for placing Romania and #Cluj on the #startupecosystem map! ”  – Tudor Ciuleanu on LinkedIn.

Giving back to the community.

Besides the internal remote initiatives and regular “pulse checks” carried out by our People and Culture department to ensure that every team member is being taken care of, just like in 2019, this preoccupation with caring was a major element in our external efforts this year too.

Being fortunate enough to be part of a community that has been nurturing our growth for years now, we wanted to keep on giving back so that the support is mutual.

We continued to support the young techies by joining various student hackathons and defining potential career paths for them, but we also glanced at the ones in need, offering a helping hand.

From supporting organizations like ELF, Un Sigur Cluj & CERT, to making more conscious decisions when it comes to sustainability and the way we care about our planet, 2020 has made us more aware of the world around us and the impact the business ecosystem can have over the world around.

RebelDot CSR

Opening our Christmas gifts together.

Having already got used to spending time together online, Christmas was not going to be any different than that. Still, we wanted to add the essential element of surprise, bringing joy and warmth into the homes and hearts of each of our rebels.

The presents were delivered in advance and, to make things even more exciting, we asked everyone that they would hold on until our latest company meeting of the year, so we can unwrap the gifts together and see the reactions in real-time, just like we used to when we were at the office.

And that was fun!

RebelDot presents

The idea behind this bundle of presents was to offer something that would keep both our soul and our body warm.

We all got a small box of Christmassy tea, some beautifully designed cups to enjoy it properly, a funky pair of socks and, perhaps the best element of this bundle, a (hipsterish) hoodie, coming in 3 different colorways.

RebelDot Christmas
RebelDot cup

Thank you for being part of our journey, see you in 2021!

RebelDot Video Live Streaming

How to build a video streaming application for your business.

by Innovation and TechUncategorised

The big picture.

Video content is king, there is no doubt about this. We have reached the time when video content is in high demand and it seems that this is not going to stop here. Companies around the world are exploring this niche especially now as we are making efforts to socially distance. Events that once happened on big arenas now are happening remote, on Zoom, WebEx, Whereby and other video streaming platforms. eLearning apps are taking the place of onsite learning opportunities and everything that used to happen in person, is now happening thorough a screen via video streaming.

The social distance is not the only decisive factor that creates this increased need for video streaming. Communities are more engaged to use video streaming platforms as a form of expression and communication with their peers. Platforms such as Twitch,Tiktok, Instagram (Reels) are coming to support this need of the market and to offer suitable streaming solutions.

Video streaming, either live or on-demand, is happening right now, while you are reading this.

So today, regardless of the sector you are operating in, if you plan on starting a stream into the virtual world, delivering quality content to millions of people you have 2 obvious options:

  1. Use an existing video streaming platform and comply with their terms, conditions, and prices.
  2. Build your own custom streaming platform using a reliable partner.

Let us focus on the second option and see what it takes to create your own streaming platform, what services you can use to achieve that and what could be the estimated cost. We will go forward in this article with a use case of Microsoft Azure and its related services to achieve our purpose.

Building a video streaming app.

You should know that there are 2 types of video streaming:

  • Live Streaming: a live event which is simultaneously recorded and broadcasted almost in real-time.
  • Video on-demand: broadcasting an existing video when this is requested.

For this specific matter, Microsoft Azure offers support via Microsoft Media Services for both mentioned streaming possibilities.

Let’s dive deeper and look at the operations that must be performed so you can deliver video on-demand streaming, what are the must know terminologies when it comes to videos and how the overall simplified architecture looks like.

Microsoft Azure Video Streaming
Fig. 1.0 Simplified Steaming Video on Demand Components Architecture

Source: Scenarios and availability of Media Services features across datacenters

Concepts and Services.

A video file contains multiple components such as an audio track, caption track, metadata about the video and many more. All of this are stored in a structured manner inside a container which is described as the video format which can be MP4, AVI, or other types of format. In Azure Media Services any digital video file is described as an Asset. For example, when you upload a new video file this will be stored as an asset item inside the platform.

Before being able to stream a video, an operation called encoding must be done. The encoding operation is responsible to compress the initial file and to prepare multiple quality versions of it. The encoding process is based on a specific algorithm which is called codec such as H264. For the encoding process, Azure Media Services offers an integrated system which helps you process the raw digital files by offering a set of encoding presets and the possibility for custom defined ones.

Now we are a couple of steps away until we can stream a video. But first let us see if you and your business have the need to deliver the content in a secure way, to be able to restrict access to specific streams and to decrease the possibility of copyright infringement and piracy. For this specific matter, there is an integrated technology which helps to achieve all of this called DRM (Digital Right Management). Azure Content Policy Service allows you to manage DRM licenses in a convenient way with 3 biggest DRM providers:

  1. Widevine: proprietary technology owned by Google
  2. PlayReady: proprietary technology owned by Microsoft
  3. FairPlay: proprietary technology owned by Apple

Now, when you want to start streaming a video, you are in the position where you have a big video file. This must be sent in small pieces since you do not want to force the user to download all the video file at once. Here, the streaming protocols are coming into the picture and there are 2 approaches:

  1. Progressive download: send small chunks of data to the user
  2. Adaptive streaming: send small chunks of data to the user and select the best video quality based on multiple factors such as network speed. Some of these protocols are HLS, DASH or Smooth Streaming.

After the previous steps has been decided an output locator has to be created and a streaming endpoint. The output locator identifies which asset do you want to stream and under what policies (streaming policy and encryption policy). The streaming endpoint will stream your content to the clients and will provide the streaming URLs. For an easy integration, Azure offers its own player, which has an embed mechanism for the DRM licenses, called Azure Media Player.

How much does it cost?

Now that you have a clear overview on what are the technologies and services that will be used, we can look at what costs you might expect. The following scenario has been taken into consideration and it consists of:

  1. Usage of 1h of HD quality encoding services (done only one when the video is uploaded).
  2. 10GB of assets distributed around the globe using Content Delivery Network for a better network management and availability.
  3. Usage of 10000 DRM protection licenses for each of the 3 provides (Widevine, FairPlay and PlayReady).
  4. The usage of Azure streaming services.

All of these yield an estimated cost which starts from $135.08/month for a scalable and easy to integrate a streaming solution.

DIY Video Streaming Platform Costs

Next Steps.

After the overall picture is painted and the estimated costs are known, most of the unknown variables seem to get more clarity. As a business that wants to get into the video streaming sector, now, you can easily assess if this a suitable solution that satisfies your needs and enables you to provide quality video and audio content for your audience at a large scale.