endorsedCompleted

EssayJack Platform Development & Managed Services

Services Covered:

Custom Software Development

Industry

Education

Duration

69 months

Budget

200K - 999K

Start Date

1 January 2016

Team Size

1-5 Employees

Engagement Model

Offshore

Project Capability Score (PCS)

76/100

Good

Project Capability Score (PCS) estimates how capable Hivekind is of successfully delivering a project like this, based on its past experience, track record, and ability to handle similar work. Learn more about PCS

Client

EssayJack

Toronto, Canada

Project Summary

Hivekind served as the outsourced development team for EssayJack from January 2016 through October 2021, providing full development, refactoring, platform redesign, and managed services. They migrated hosting from AWS to GCP, refactored the codebase to React, implemented institutional features and LTI integration, and established SCRUM processes including a Product Owner and on-call SLAs. The platform scaled to tens of thousands of users and was acquired by a larger EdTech company after successful technical due diligence.

Key Challenges

Product had moved beyond MVP but lacked an in-house tech team
Needed a code review and remediation of existing codebase
Required institutional/group functionality to secure B2B licenses with schools and universities
Needed a scalable development partner who could grow or shrink with the startup's needs

Project Deliverables

Develop institutional/group functionality for educators
Implement LTI integration for LMS interoperability
Migrate deployments from AWS to GCP
Refactor codebase to React.js and relaunch redesigned beta site
Recruit a Product Owner and establish SCRUM processes
Relaunch new homepage and integrate 3rd-party chatbots for support
Provide on-call support and SLA-backed operations

Project Solution

Hivekind began with a code review and then became the client's outsourced development department for a five-year engagement. They remediated code deficiencies, built institutional/group functionality, implemented LTI capabilities for LMS integration, migrated hosting from AWS to GCP, refactored the codebase to React.js, recruited a Product Owner to run SCRUM, established sprint processes, and integrated third-party chatbots and on-call SLAs to support institutional customers.

Project Outcome

Grew the platform from zero to over 30,000 users
Secured external financing and won global awards
Successfully passed technical due diligence during acquisition
Maintained reliable two-week SCRUM sprints and SLA-backed on-call support
Facilitated acquisition by a larger EdTech company (Wizeprep)

Platforms

SaaS
Web

Tech Stack

React.js
Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Client Endorsement

Overall Review Rating

4.13

Timeliness

Cost Rating

Willing to Refer

Quality of Deliverables

“The client's platform grew more prominent and was acquired by a larger edtech company, which positively credited Hivekind's work. The team worked on the SCRUM methodology in 2-week sprints, communicating via Slack and Google Meet. The client was satisfied with the team's overall support throughout.”
Lindy Ledohowski
Co-Founder & CEO
Date: 10/05/2022