As a startup founder, one of the most crucial decisions you will face is whether to build an in-house development team or hire an external agency. Having navigated this terrain myself, I believe that in the early stages, leveraging an agency can be a clever move. Here's why:

Immediate Access to Expertise

When you are just starting out, time is your most valuable resource. Hiring developers is a lengthy process fraught with uncertainties. Team dynamics, vital for productivity, can take months to establish. In contrast, an agency provides an immediate solution. They offer a cohesive team that has worked together effectively on various projects. This immediate access to a well-oiled machine can accelerate your development timelines by 30-40%.

Cost and Time Efficiency

For many startups, especially those without technical co-founders, the initial phase can be overwhelming. You might find yourself spending months trying to hire the right talent, all while burning through your limited funds. From my experience, it is more pragmatic to use an agency during this period.

Agencies bring the necessary expertise and resources without the long lead times associated with building an in-house team. While you focus on what truly matters—developing your product and refining your business model.

Time to Build Your Internal Team

While starting with an agency has clear advantages, it doesn't mean you should rely on them for everything indefinitely.

Having an internal product manager or CTO is essential to ensure that your vision and strategy are consistently implemented. As your startup grows, you should gradually build your in-house team. This allows you to benefit from the agency's expertise while creating a stable internal team, culture and knowledge base.

TL;DR

In conclusion, leveraging an agency in the early stages of your startup can provide the immediate expertise and efficiency you need to get off the ground. As you grow, transitioning to an in-house team while maintaining a strategic partnership with the agency for specific tasks can help you scale effectively. This approach ensures you can adapt to changing needs and continue to innovate and grow.

As a co-founder of Cleevio, I have seen firsthand the benefits of this approach. If you can't code and have limited time and resources, using an agency can save you crucial time and help you make significant strides in your startup journey.

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Choosing between stealth mode and overhyped marketing is crucial for any startup. As a founder, I faced early on whether to build my startup in stealth mode or embrace overhyped marketing. Both strategies offer unique advantages and disadvantages, and the right choice depends on your product, competition, and overall strategy. So, which one is better for you?

Developing in stealth mode allows you to refine your product without external pressure. During the pandemic, I launched an app that quickly started making $100k a month, completely bootstrapped. We operated in stealth mode, focusing solely on perfecting the app rather than seeking attention. Even after Apple removed the app, we had made significant money, and no one knew about it.

From my experience and observations, many successful projects operate quietly yet effectively. For instance, several companies in the Czech market, with teams of around 15 people, generate over $500k in monthly sales without any external funding. They remain relatively unknown in the broader startup community but are well-known in their niche markets.

This strategy minimizes pressure and allows them to focus on building their products. However, some PR is beneficial for hiring new talent. As a development company, we are always hiring new talents, and local PR helps us connect with potential employees.

TL;DR

Deciding between stealth mode and overhyped marketing depends on your startup's specific needs, goals and market size.

From my experience, operating in stealth mode while maintaining targeted PR efforts, especially for hiring, has been the right path. Sometimes, a hybrid approach offers the best balance, allowing for focused development initially and leveraging marketing benefits when the product is ready for the spotlight.

Still not sure what's best for your startup? Check out our Startup Program or book a call with us now to learn how you can supercharge your startup.

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As a project manager, your workload can quickly become overwhelming. From planning and mitigating risks to organizing resources and budgets, scheduling stakeholder meetings, and coordinating daily operations, the responsibilities can pile up.

Fortunately, the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence significantly simplifies the role of a project manager. By integrating AI tools into our workflow, we enhance efficiency, stay on top of project milestones and deadlines, and make more confident decisions and plans.

Let's explore how two simple tools improve our project management processes, demonstrating the transformative potential of AI in our day-to-day operations.

TLDV: Streamlining Communication and Documentation

TLDV has become an invaluable asset in our toolkit, enabling us to streamline communication and documentation processes:

• Recording Calls with Clients: TLDV automates the recording of calls with clients providing a comprehensive record of agreements and discussions. This serves as a valuable resource for reference and facilitates swift resolution of disputes or misunderstandings.
• Facilitating Clear Communication: With transcription and summarization of calls, TLDV fosters clear and uniform communication between our team and clients - ensuring that everyone is aligned and reducing the risk of miscommunication or confusion.
• Supporting Knowledge Transfer: TLDV plays a crucial role in knowledge transfer within our team. Archiving discussions and decisions ensures that critical information is preserved and accessible to all team members, promoting collaboration and continuity.

ChatGPT4: Enhancing Workflow Efficiency

ChatGPT4, another powerful AI tool in our arsenal, excels in enhancing workflow efficiency and optimising various project management tasks:

• Assisting in Workflow Optimization: ChatGPT4 integrates seamlessly with project management systems like JIRA, assisting in refining workflows and optimizing task allocation. Its insights help us identify bottlenecks and streamline processes for maximum efficiency.
• Generating Reports and Specifications: From client reports to product specifications, ChatGPT4 automates the generation process, saving significant time and effort. Its ability to synthesize complex data into clear, concise reports enhances our communication with clients and ensures accurate documentation.
• Providing Insights and Validating Tasks: ChatGPT4 offers valuable insights into legislative requirements and mandatory data, essential for tasks like invoice and receipt creation. Additionally, it validates client tasks and specifications, raising pertinent questions for consideration and ensuring alignment with client expectations.

Both TLDV and ChatGPT4 are indispensable assets in our quest for efficiency and excellence in software development project management. The time efficiency they offer, saving up to 50% of time in some cases, is a game-changer. Moreover, they fill gaps in skills or knowledge, ensuring that we deliver the best possible results to our clients.

We strongly believe in the power of innovation, which is why we not only use AI for ourselves but also to the advantage of our clients.

Do you want to be a part of the team? Do not hesitate to contact us via the contact form or directly at natalie.tovarkova@cleevio.com

Having raised over $10M+ in the past and engaged in countless meetings with VCs and angel investors, I have recently transitioned to the bootstrapping route for my latest ventures. Why? Because it makes you think five times before spending every $10,000 and forces you to find new ways to progress with a limited budget.

The Freedom of Bootstrapping

Bootstrapping, the practice of funding a business with personal savings and revenue, provides entrepreneurs with a rare degree of autonomy. Without external investors to answer to, founders retain full control over decision-making processes, strategic direction, and the company's vision.

Moreover, every dollar becomes precious, and founders must carefully consider every expenditure to ensure optimal resource allocation. When you are personally invested in every aspect of the business, from product development to marketing strategies, you become acutely aware of the value of each dollar spent.

Heightened awareness fosters creativity and resourcefulness, driving entrepreneurs to find innovative solutions to challenges with limited financial resources.

Knowing When to Raise Funds

Of course, there comes a point in the startup journey where external funding may become necessary. Whether it is to fuel rapid expansion, penetrate new markets, or invest in research and development, raising capital can provide the resources needed to scale effectively.

However, my advice to fellow entrepreneurs is to bootstrap for as long as possible and raise money only when absolutely necessary or when pursuing ventures requiring substantial upfront investment, such as hardware startups.

By bootstrapping initially, startups can prove their concept, validate their market fit, and demonstrate traction, increasing their attractiveness to potential investors. By retaining ownership and control during the early stages, founders can negotiate from a position of strength when seeking external funding, ensuring they maintain a significant stake in their success.

Ultimately, the key is to strike the right balance between independence and strategic growth, leveraging external funding when necessary while preserving the spirit of entrepreneurship that drives innovation and creativity.

Ready to chart your startup journey? Check out our Startup Program or book a call with us now to learn how you can supercharge your startup.

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Discover the highlights from our recent exclusive panel discussion featuring Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, alongside industry leader Milo Poplar and our Head of North America, Filip Orth.

The event provided valuable insights into global-scale product building and entrepreneurial success. Dive into the key takeaways and memorable moments from this engaging discussion, where experienced pioneers shared their wisdom and expertise on the AI landscape.

We were thrilled to have Roman Stanek and his impressive track record in building successful startups. His journey began with the acquisition of NetBeans by Sun Microsystems in 1999, followed by the acquisition of Systinet by Hewlett Packard in 2006. Along the way, his ventures received support from renowned VC funds like a16z, Intel Capital, and General Catalyst.

Outsourcing

During the event, our discussions delved deeply into the strategies startups can employ to enhance efficiency through outsourcing across various operational domains. We explored how outsourcing can serve as a vital tool in mitigating the challenges inherent in the dynamic startup landscape. Among others, these challenges encompass navigating a tough fundraising environment and contending with fierce competition in virtually every industry.

Agility and adaptability

Central to our discussions was the imperative for startup founders to remain agile and adaptable in the face of evolving circumstances. We underscored the critical importance of being responsive to market shifts and customer demands, emphasizing the need for continual adjustment to ensure the longevity and success of their ventures.

Operational effectively

The ability to pivot effectively is essential, particularly when considering the quest for operational efficiency. In this context, leveraging outsourcing capabilities becomes paramount, whether it is in technological development, sales, marketing, or legal compliance. This strategic approach is especially pertinent in the current landscape, where fundraising endeavors are meeting with increased difficulty, and access to capital is more constrained than it was just two years ago.

We intend to make this event a regular occurrence. We aim to host Founders’ Lounge regularly, each time focusing on a different theme and bringing in a special guest who will share insights from their entrepreneurial journey.

Are you a founder, investor, CTO or decision-maker in the technological startup environment seeking to accelerate your growth and gain a competitive edge in the market? Watch our LinkedIn for future invites!

Welcome back! As promised, we are here with the second part of the Crash-proofing series. This time, we will show you how to set up Sentry for the Android platform and some nice-to-have stuff as a bonus.

Let's begin!

Create sentry.properties file inside your Android project’s root folder

Initial setup in Sentry Admin

These are a few things you need to do before implementing Sentry Android SDK.

• Create a new project in Sentry. Give this project some appropriate name like your-project-android
• Then go to Settings → Projects → Your new Project → General Settings

• You should see the name of your project. This is your project_id. In sentry.properties, replace <project_id> with it
• Then go to Organization settings → General Settings, copy your organisation_slug and replace <organisation_slug> inside sentry.properties

• Then go to User and tokens and create new Token. You can add every permission to it for a start but its better to check every permission and decide for yourself what is needed.

• Then copy your new auth token and replace <auth_token> with it inside sentry.properties.Sentry can upload ProGuard mapping files for you and needs this auth token. Ignore this if you don’t care about ProGuard
• Your sentry.properties should be filled now.
• Then go to Settings → Projects → Your new Project → Client Key (DSN)
• Get your DSN link and save it somewhere for now.

• Now you can return to your Android Project

Adding sentry to project

A full tutorial is on this page. Sentry can set itself with a command, but if you prefer a manual approach or have problems, follow the instructions below or this page. Sentry will also give you a direct link for setup in Android Studio (https://sentry.io/organizations/XXX/projects/YYY/getting-started/)

1. Add this to your main module build.gradle

2. Open your application class and initiate Sentry

Let’s explore what each line does:

This line applies the environment to the issue. If you use several build flavors like development and production, you can then easily filter specific flavors.

These lines set the percentage value of how many traces to log. 100% means everything is logged. It’s not recommended to collect everything in a production environment; however, e.g., on development, it’s a good thing since testers could find bugs. In our example, we set the percentage on the release version to 10%.

3. Open your AndroidManifest.xml file inside your main module and insert this

If you don’t want to use CI/CD and just hardcode your DSN, replace ${sentryDsnUrl} with your collected DSN link.

4. Open app’s build.gradle and setup DSN there as well

5. Add Sentry gradle plugin to project

This code enables sentry gradle plugin. This prepares scripts for your convenience like uploading aab to sentry with proguard mapping files.

Nice things to know

Assign someone to new issue

Every issue in Sentry can be assigned to someone and you can do that manually or automatically with rules.

Create Jira issue directly from Sentry

If you setup the Jira integration mentioned in the previous article, Sentry enables you to quickly and easily create Jira issues from the issue itself.

Discover page

Discover page let’s you quickly query in all yours collected data so you can answer analytics questions or analyse potential health issues in your project. You can use predefined queries or create, edit and delete your own queries. It’s really powerful tool but it’s limited only to Trial and Business Plan.

Pluggins for Sentry

Sentry for Android offers plugins which let’s you automatically collect more specific data. For example:

Some stuff like Android Fragments, okHttp events and logcat are already logged automatically from Sentry version 3.1.0.

In order to disable them, change the sentry config in the project’s build.gradle.

OkHttp plugin

Like said above, from Sentry 3.1.0, Sentry will automatically log OkHttp event via manipulating your final bytecode and inserting SentryOkHttpInterceptor. This will create breadcrumbs which would look like this:

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If you use Sentry 3.11.0+, Sentry will also insert SentryOkHttpEventListener which will log even more data from http requests. Everything will be logged with logcat:

Thank you for diving into the second part of our series. If you have any questions, feel free to catch up or reach out.

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Hey there! Curious about what makes our backend team tick? Let me spill the beans on what keeps us running at Cleevio.

Team Contract: Our Secret Sauce

Ever heard of a team contract? It's like our BE team's rulebook but cooler. We all chipped in to create this gem, covering everything from our core values to nifty Slack etiquettes (like no-reply expectations after 4 PM). It's not just a newbie guide; even our weathered developers learn a thing or two from it.

Bringing the Team Together

With team members scattered across Prague, Brno, and beyond borders, building bonds ain't easy, but we're not ones to back down from a challenge. That's why we came up with Backend Onsite Day. Originally a monthly affair, we scaled it back to every two months to make it work for everyone. It's a chance to catch up, brainstorm, and maybe even grab a beer together.

Sharing Know-How Like a Boss

We take knowledge sharing seriously. Our weekly BE meetings aren't just about updates and project briefs - they are also our chance to pick each other's brains. Plus, we've got knowledge base packed with tech insights and project learnings. It's like having a cheat sheet for all things backend.

Reflect, Refine, Repeat

We're all about improvement. That's why we love our team retrospectives. Just recently, at the start of 2024, we huddled up for about an hour to chat about how things were going. Turns out, everyone is pretty happy being part of the team, which is great to hear - but we also came up with some ideas to make things even better next time. It's all about celebrating wins and figuring out how we can crush it even more in the future.

Growing Together

Personal growth is big on our agenda. Regular performance reviews and one-on-one chats keep us on track. And with internal training programs, education budgets, and buddy systems in place, we're all set to level up together.

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At the end of the day, it all comes down to communication. Whether it's a quick Slack chat or a face-to-face meeting, keeping the lines of communication open is what keeps our team humming.

So there you have it—our backend team's recipe for success. With a healthy dose of teamwork, communication, and a sprinkle of resilience, there's no limit to what we can achieve together at Cleevio.

When you own a significant product, releasing it to the public requires more than just hope for the best. Even with developers and testers checking the product, some mistakes usually make their way into production. To identify any user-discovered issues, a monitoring system becomes crucial. These systems play a vital role in maintaining the quality and stability of software applications. While you can implement your solution, there are already numerous tools on the market designed for this purpose, so why reinvent the wheel?

Let's explore some monitoring systems:

Firebase

‍Managed by Google, this set of tools provides Crashlytics for both fatal and non-fatal crashes in your product, along with analytics and additional features. The tool is available for free; all you need is a Google email account and to configure some settings.

BugFender

This lesser-known tool handles crash logging and data collection and can also collect user feedback. In the free subscription tier, they offer a limited set of features and 24-hour log retention. For more serious projects, a paid subscription is required.

Sentry

‍Sentry is a monitoring tool offering a vast array of features. It supports various platforms, including mobile, web, and gaming frameworks, with community support for many more. Sentry tracks event logs and crashes and assists in analyzing them. It also provides insight into the performance of your product, supporting widely used programming languages. Sentry has different subscription tiers; the free tier provides basic features, which may be sufficient for solo developers. The higher the subscription, the more support and metrics your product receives. Check out the detailed features that we particulary like:

Error Tracking and Monitoring

‍Easy to add to your project, Sentry automatically collects data like device info, web browser info, crash logs, and additional user interactions. The specifics of what is tracked depend on the platform and activated Sentry plugins. For instance, in the Android system, Sentry can track user interactions, HTTP calls, visited screens, and more. This information makes it easier to identify the cause of errors.

Real-Time Alerts

‍Sentry allows you to set alerts based on various conditions. For example, if a completely new error occurs, Sentry can send you an email or trigger a webhook to receive a message in platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams, enabling a quick response to the issue.

Error Insights

‍Opening an issue in Sentry reveals device info, product version, details of where and what went wrong, and the actions taken by the app and user before the issue (breadcrumbs). Sentry can also provide statistics about the issue, grouped into categories, making it easier to discover patterns, such as the issue occurring only on Safari browsers or on iOS 16.

Supported Languages and Platforms

‍Sentry supports numerous programming languages and platforms, making it versatile for use in various products, whether in mobile development using Kotlin or Swift, or web development using React, Angular, ASP.NET, PHP, and more.

Performance Metrics

‍With Sentry log collection, you can analyze the performance of specific parts of your product. This includes understanding the performance of web pages, identifying features that consume more time, or pinpointing dropped frames or lags in mobile apps.

Ease of Integration

‍Integrating Sentry's SDK into your product is straightforward, regardless of the platform. Sentry provides tutorials, requiring you to create an account, a new project, and add the provided ID and DNS link to your product. You can then test crashes to ensure they appear in Sentry. Additionally, many existing tools support integration with Sentry, including messaging programs like Slack or Microsoft Teams, project management tools like Jira, and git repositories like GitHub and Bitbucket.

Self-hosting Sentry and Pricing

‍Sentry can be hosted on your server, offering more independence for companies. However, a license fee still applies.

Pros and Cons of Sentry:

Pros:

• Specialized for error tracking and analysis
• Supports a wide range of platforms
• Offers real-time alerts
• Provides detailed error insights
• Supports community and open-source contribution
• Many third-party integrations

‍Cons:

1. Not free; the price depends on the features you need
2. The abundance of features in Sentry can be overwhelming

This article is the first part of a two-part series. The next article will guide you on setting up Sentry for the Android platform.

Thank you for reading!

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We believe that the transformative power of technology can make a positive impact on society. Recently, we embarked on a project that holds special significance for us – collaborating with a nonprofit organization committed to providing crucial support services for ALS patients - the ALSA non-profit organization, among others, funded by the ONEMANSHOW Foundation.

What is ALS?‍

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disease impacting motor nerve cells, also known as motoneurons, located in the brain and spinal cord. When these motoneurons cease to function or die, the brain loses its ability to regulate muscles and their movements. Consequently, the muscles undergo a gradual process of weakening and atrophy. Regrettably, there is currently no known causal treatment for this disease, underscoring the challenges faced by those affected by ALS.

‍Support ALSA

‍Your financial support plays a crucial role in ensuring that ALSA can offer much-needed assistance to patients. Through your donations, ALSA can cover the costs of essential aids, convalescent stays, and individualized care provided directly in the patients' homes. This comprehensive approach to home care significantly enhances the remaining quality of life for those they serve.

What was our mission?

Our mission was clear: redesign the organization's website to enhance the quality of life for those affected by the disease. We conducted a thorough analysis, working closely with the organization to understand its unique challenges and goals.

The result?

An inclusive web platform designed to be a comprehensive hub for ALSA's activities. We integrated features such as a patient's profile for disease progress tracking and social integration - helping with accurate and timely medical needs distribution and at-home recommended exercise availability. The social integration features allow patients to connect with others in their area, helping them feel supported through an online community for ALS patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

For us, success goes beyond lines of code. It's about the tangible improvements in the lives of those touched by ALS.

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Our commitment to this project is more than just philanthropy; it's a call to action for the tech industry. We've witnessed firsthand the impact technology can have when wielded responsibly. By leveraging our skills for social good, we hope to inspire other companies to join the cause and make a difference in the world. Eva Bezuchová, ALSA

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In this collaborative effort of technology and compassion, we're proud to be a part of the ALS support initiative, showcasing how innovation can bring hope and positive change to those who need it most.

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