9MILLS

I had been developing Crack the Boards, a board review platform for chiropractic students, for over 15 years. When I decided to turn it into an app, I started with an AI app builder called Base 44. It seemed promising initially, but I hit a wall and couldn't get answers to my problems. That's when I found 9MILLS. I sent a message on a Sunday afternoon, and Sam Castro called me back that same day—something I didn't expect. Sam scheduled a meeting with Jay Kayali and me to discuss what the platform could become. I had no idea how detailed and polished the final product would be. We met every week, sometimes twice weekly. They answered every question I had and typically responded to texts within minutes. They didn't just build what I asked for—they expanded on my vision and created something better than I'd imagined. They also showed me a much larger market opportunity than the single student group I'd originally planned for.

Bring them in as a partner, not just a development shop. 9Mills adds the most value when you share your goals and your numbers with them, not just a feature list. Be open to their pushback—it's usually right—and involve them in strategy and marketing from the start. Go in expecting a long-term relationship. They stay involved well after launch.