Please provide your feedback on how Goodfirms has contributed to increasing your visibility among potential clients.
The platform helps us stay visible in the IT market and seize new opportunities. My team and I truly appreciate our partnership with Goodfirms, a trusted B2B review and rating platform.
Please introduce your company and describe your role within the organization.
KITRUM is a fast, smart, and nimble provider of custom software development services with its headquarters in the USA. With 300+ people worldwide, from Brazil to Poland, we build software products for mid-sized companies that care about their business. Our core domains are fintech, healthcare, eCommerce, and the travel industry. The KITRUM team focuses on writing clear code and helping our clients achieve their business goals.
What inspired the founding of your company, and what is the story behind its inception?
I've always been passionate about tech and innovation. And I am a data geek who truly believes that working with data improves lives. When I started my company, my top priority was building a talented team and connecting it with businesses to cover even complex projects. The right people make all the difference in creating groundbreaking software that helps companies complete their goals.
What are the core values and principles that drive your company's culture, and how do you ensure alignment with these values across your team?
At KITRUM, we believe in people over processes. We foster a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. So, in the list of our values, we have empathy, efficiency, possibilities, human touch, diversity and inclusion, ESG awareness, ethical leadership, and community engagement. We're passionate about positively impacting the business through our work and implementing the right tech in every case. Bright minds all over the world have ideas that can make a difference. KITRUM's primary goal is to give them instruments for that.
Can you highlight some of the key achievements or milestones your company has accomplished since its inception?
We have new achievements every year, fostering personal and company development. Since 2016, and our foundation in Ukraine, we have enhanced our geography, opened our headquarters in Tampa, hub in Warsaw, and become an international service provider. In 2024, you can meet 350 KITRUM members worldwide — in 20 countries, from Brazil to the Netherlands. We have completed over 210 projects; in 2022, we got into the Inc. 5000 rating of the 50th most dynamically developing companies in the US. In 2024, KITRUM was ranked in the FT as one of The Americas’ Fastest-Growing Companies 2024 and got many other rewards.
Could you explain your company's business model? Do you primarily operate with an in-house team or utilize third-party vendors/outsourcing?
Today, we focus on building solutions from scratch in-house and providing full-cycle outsourcing services with our existing human resources. However, we can still extend our team and hire developers worldwide if necessary for the project's success.
How does your company differentiate itself from competitors in the industry?
We differentiate ourselves by our deep understanding of the client's industry, our ability to adapt to flexible schedules, and our team of experienced experts. We leverage AI/ML technology and big data to deliver innovative and effective solutions that meet specific needs. KITRUM is a partner that truly understands your business and delivers top-notch results.
How would you describe the dynamics within your team, and how do you foster collaboration and teamwork to achieve common goals?
We work due to the Agile approach and use Jira, Confluence, and ClickUp for project management. We create communication plans for every project and use Slack, Google Meet, Zoom, and Gmail. HR helps solve organizational work issues. Team and tech lead mentor their teams and provide clear feedback. We foster team collaboration not only in business but also in charity, self-development, and hobbies. For example, we created a monthly book club, a pet club, and a special chat where every team member can ask for help.
What measures do you take to support the professional development and growth of your employees? Do you offer training programs or opportunities for skill enhancement?
In the summer of 2024, our Business Development Team underwent a massive learning process to improve their work with clients; KITRUM covered 100% of this training. For now, we have compensated 50% of courses for our employees related to their position. We have a free internal knowledge base and external library subscription. Additionally, we provide self-development, soft skills, and other workshops and empower regular knowledge exchange. With HR's help, our employees can organize online lectures on their expertise for the entire team.
Could you share a notable success story or case study that exemplifies the impact your company has had on a client's business?
KITRUM team successfully built online banking for South Africa, addressing local challenges like low internet connection and outdated mobile devices. I visited the client's office in Cape Town to discuss strategies for our collaboration because this solution was vital for many people in rural areas who previously had to travel far to access banks. Now, they can perform most banking operations on their mobile phones, making us pioneers in digital transformation in the region. We also implemented optimizations within the Azure cloud environment, generating monthly cost savings of up to $1,000. Our coordinated approach and robust architecture ensure the client's current success and pave the way for future scalability.
What industries do you primarily cater to, and do you have a significant percentage of repeat clients? If so, what is the ratio of repeat clients?
Our core domains are fintech, healthcare, eCommerce, and the travel industry. We foster long-lasting client relationships, so our average partnership time is 2.5 years. We have clients with whom we have worked for 6+ years.
What initiatives does your company undertake to foster innovation and stay at the forefront of industry trends? Do you invest in research and development projects?
We are deeply into the discovery stage with our projects. In some cases, we bring our partners to research how they can get more results and improve their products; in some cases, partners ask for it by themselves. We also empower our solutions with AI/ML to help our clients reduce costs, get better products, and improve performance. At KITRUM, we believe in innovations and always balance them with the market and client’s needs. So, we invest time, human resources, and budget in additional research.
Please share some of the most sought-after services that clients approach your company for.
As a technology service provider, we offer many services: web/mobile app development, SaaS solutions, Audits (QA, DevOps, tech review, management audit), custom development for client needs, team augmentation, and dedicated tech teams.
How do you build and maintain strong relationships with your clients, and what mechanisms do you have in place for gathering and acting upon client feedback?
At Kitrum, we prioritize open and transparent communication with our clients. We establish clear
expectations, maintain regular communication channels, and actively seek feedback throughout the project lifecycle. We create communication plans for every project to gather valuable insights, implement regular check-ins, meetings, and client satisfaction surveys, add dedicated account managers to each client, and use numerous direct and anonymous feedback channels.
How has your company adapted to changes and challenges in the business landscape, and what strategies have you employed to ensure resilience and sustainability?
Navigating difficult situations, whether a natural disaster, a pandemic, a financial downturn, or war, is crucial for any organization. Drawing from my experience, I'll share key insights on managing crises effectively.
The first step in a crisis is to understand its nature and potential impact on the team, organization, and stakeholders. Then, create a plan to allocate resources, prioritize actions, and communicate with stakeholders. Focus on communicating confidently, transparently, and empathetically internally to your team and externally to stakeholders. The entire management team must carefully implement all steps to exit the crisis. Employees should follow a crisis plan. When a company faces challenging circumstances, employees often feel anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed. In such situations, it's crucial for leaders to show empathy and understanding toward employees and to offer support and encouragement.
Crises can be challenging, but by working together and staying focused on the company's long-term goals and vision, it's possible to emerge from a situation.
What payment structure do you typically follow when billing clients? Is it Pay per Feature, Fixed Cost, or Pay per Milestone (phases, months, versions, etc.)?
All depend on our financial cooperation model. The most "popular" is the T&M model, when a client pays only for working hours. The next popular billing model on our list is the Fixed team cost model, which we allocate to a client-dedicated team. The third model in our top 3 is the Fixed-cost project-based model. This model, divided into milestones, ensures that a client pays after each defined scope is completed, providing a clear and structured payment process.
Do you accept projects that meet your basic budget requirements? If yes, what is the minimum budget requirement? If not, what is the minimum budget you have worked with in the past?
Generally, our incoming projects start from $50k. However, in our 8 years of practice, we have had projects with budgets of $10k and more than $1M. So, it always depends on the client, the team our client wants to build, and the product type.
Can you provide an overview of the price range (minimum and maximum) of the projects your company worked on in 2023?
In 2023, we worked on projects with a price range of 25-500k USD.
What technological capabilities does your company possess, and are there any ongoing or planned investments in technology infrastructure or tools to enhance your services?
True to our motto, "Always New," we've continued to push boundaries in 2024. We've enhanced our
capabilities by prioritizing AI integration and delivering superior results. We created a fast-growing AI department and hired a CTO who strengthened our DevOps services and Big Data work even more. We also empowered our Solution Architects to develop even more impactful solutions.
Where do you envision your company in the next 10 years? What are your long-term goals and aspirations for growth and development?
KITRUM's vision is clear: significant expansion over the next decade. We'll be a global leader in tech, solving complex business challenges through innovation and multicultural teams. Our ambition? For example, pioneering FinOps solutions that optimize costs and drive financial efficiency.
At KITRUM, employee growth matters. We aim to foster an environment where all can reach their full potential, making KITRUM a magnet for talented professionals worldwide. We'll stay fast, smart, and nimble, just like the Kharkiv startup we were in 2016.
