Upstate Interactive

Project Overview:

With a mission to empower user-curated cryptocurrency asset pools, Pollen engaged our team for the custom smart contract development of their community-powered DAO and governance token.

Since the platform is rebuilding asset management from the ground up, they selected Upstate Interactive based on our extensive experience building smart contracts and DeFi protocols.

Problem:

Previously, the decentralized financial ecosystem involved high levels of risk and complexity, often limiting opportunities to tech-savvy investors with industry experience.

To provide crypto traders of all levels with an easy, safe way to manage portfolios as part of a community, Pollen aimed to launch a decentralized asset management platform and governance token but needed modular smart contracts that would satisfy investor-grade standards.

Solution:

Leveraging our DeFi smart contract development experience, we’re architecting a collection of custom smart contracts that manage the DAO, its portfolio allocations and investments, and its index tokens. The collection includes:

• An upgradable DAO contract and DAO storage contract
• A series of modules that contain the DAO’s logic (each with its own storage contract), including a delegation module, portfolio module, proposals module, rate quoter module, and voting module
• Token contracts that mitigate risk and combat volatility

Phases:

1. Discovery & User Stories

   Phase 1 involved identifying software requirements, performing stakeholder interviews, conducting technical research, and mapping feedback-driven user stories.

2. Architecture

   Phase 2 incorporated designing the smart contract architectures with storage, complexity, logic flows, functionality, layer 2 solutions, and upgradeability considerations.

3. Development & Implementation

   Phase 3 entailed developing the requirements and user stories using Agile Scrum Methodology and integrating the contracts with the front-end interface on testnet.

4. Security Audit

   Phase 4 consisted of a security audit from a trusted third party, addressing security warnings, confirming test coverage for all use cases, and manually testing the contracts.

5. Deployment & Monitoring

   Phase 5 involved deploying the smart contracts to mainnet and continuously monitoring them for anomalous behavior.

Technologies Used:

• Solidity
• Hardhat
• Chainlink
• OpenZeppelin
• Ethers.js

About The Client:

Pollen DeFi is a first of its kind decentralized asset index where the community holds all the power. Decentralized finance is designed to be by the people, for the people, and Pollen DeFi is acknowledging this by building the first, truly decentralized platform for managing tokenized asset pools. The merit-based DAO provides a reputation-based governance protocol with incentives that leverage the community’s collective wisdom to curate asset pools. In this system, all users of the platform stand to benefit from the contribution of the best-performing participants.

Words From Pollen:

“The Pollen DeFi protocol and ecosystem is shaking up classical finance with community-managed crypto asset portfolios enabled by code. Upstate Interactive has been a valuable partner in building that ecosystem.” — Philip Verrion, Co-founder and Project Lead at Pollen DeFi

Project Overview:

With the end goal of connecting NFT collectors with digital artists, Creaticles asked our team to assist in the design, development, and launch of their NFT marketplace.

Since the NFT community consists of Web3 users and early adopters of decentralization, Creaticles selected Upstate Interactive based on our unique combination of UI/UX, Web3, and smart contract development experience.

Problem:

Previously, NFT collectors didn’t have an outlet to request custom NFTs from artists as traditional art collectors do. To bring a much-needed advancement to the NFT space, Creaticles had started the back-end development of a marketplace but sought help moving the project to a fully functional, user-friendly state.

The company wanted to strengthen the existing back-end foundation and connect it to a user-friendly front-end interface, creating a seamless experience for collectors and artists.

Solution:

Building off of Creaticles’ existing back-end foundation and list of ideal features, we leveraged our unique combination of design and development experience to build and launch the user-friendly NFT marketplace on testnet and mainnet.

Deployed from a cold storage wallet, the live version on Ethereum is easy to use and feature-packed, seamlessly connecting custom NFT collectors with artists.

• NFT collectors can connect wallets, request custom NFTs, view submissions from artists, select winners, and have their NFTs minted.
• Artists can connect wallets, submit art, earn cryptocurrencies, and build their reputations.

Phases:

1. Discovery & UI/UX Planning

   Phase 1 consisted of mapping the UI/UX design with wireframes and programming the front end of the platform based on Creaticles’ list of ideal features.

2. Development: Testnet Launch

   Phase 2 involved connecting the smart contracts to the front end with Web3 technologies, confirming effective data transmissions, and deploying the prototype to testnet.

3. Development: Mainnet Launch

   Phase 3 entailed building new features based on end-user feedback, digging into the smart contract builds for adjustments, and deploying the final marketplace to Ethereum.

Technologies Used:

• React
• Web3
• Python

Words From Creaticles:

“Creaticles encourages collectors and artists to collaborate and bring new ideas to life in a fun, engaging way. Thanks to our combined efforts with Upstate Interactive, the marketplace is easy to navigate and enjoyable to use for everyone.” — Trevor Keith, Chief Technology Officer at Creaticles

About The Client:

Creaticles is the blockchain industry’s first custom NFT request platform that connects businesses and individuals with creators. Any enthusiast with an idea can request custom NFTs, and the artists who bring those ideas to life get to build their reputation and earn rewards via cryptocurrencies. Users can engage in various contest modes to ensure their requests for NFTs — such as memes, logos, games, and web assets — are minted as requested.

Project Overview:

Aiming to break down the institutional barriers to crypto staking, Foundry engaged our team for the front-end design and development of a dual-layered web application consisting of a marketing layer and a self-service client portal.

Since the web application includes a wealth of information about cryptocurrency, Foundry selected Upstate Interactive based on our niche knowledge and extensive experience in the blockchain space.

Problem:

With a rapidly growing client base, Foundry sought a solution that would enable continuous expansion of the staking portion of their business without expending resources.

The company wanted to eliminate their manual “white-glove” process and provide a user-friendly way for organizations to leverage cryptocurrency and blockchain as a profitable asset through staking.

Solution:

Working with Foundry’s internal team of back-end developers, we leveraged our niche industry expertise to build and launch the dual-layered web application.

• The marketing layer of the site serves as an outreach and lead generation tool where Foundry can share relevant content, attract new investors, and capture new leads.
• The self-service client portal empowers their existing clients to securely connect wallets, invite team members to participate, monitor assets, and stake against blockchain protocols.

Project Phases:

1. Discovery

   The Discovery phase incorporated user research, UI/UX mockups, architecture diagrams, and planning/forecasting.

2. MVP Build: Marketing Layer

   The MVP Build for the site’s marketing layer included converting discovery items into designs using full-stack JavaScript.

3. Launch: Marketing Layer

   The Launch phase for the site’s marketing layer achieved an internal deployment along with a public launch.

4. Post MVP: Marketing Layer

   The Post-MVP phase for the site’s marketing layer addressed questions and resolved feedback from the launch.

5. MVP Build: Client Portal

   The MVP Build for the self-service client portal included front-end development and functionality testing.

6. Launch: Client Portal

   The Launch phase for the site’s client portal achieved an internal deployment for feedback along with a public launch.

Technologies Used:

• Full-Stack JavaScript
• React
• Next.js
• Node.js
• Sass Styling
• Axios 

Words From Foundry:

“Foundry is dedicated to growth across New York State, so we were very excited to work with a local vendor of Upstate’s caliber with blockchain knowledge. Upstate is a valuable partner working to bring the best products and experiences to our customers.” — Josh Byun, Chief Technology Officer at Foundry

About Foundry:

A subsidiary of DCG, Foundry Digital LLC is a financing and advisory company focused on digital asset mining and staking. With the mission of empowering decentralized infrastructure for a digital world, Foundry provides North American digital asset mining businesses with capital and intelligence. Foundry is based in Rochester, NY. For more information, please visitfoundrydigital.com

Project Overview:

With a mission to streamline and simplify its internal expense management operations, Security Industry Specialists (SIS) engaged our team to develop a custom web and native mobile expense management application.

Since the internal platform would integrate with their existing Angular and Node-developed systems, SIS selected Upstate Interactive based on our extensive experience building enterprise applications and proficiency in using JavaScript and Angular technologies.

Problem:

Previously, the company’s legacy expense management system lacked advanced features and responsiveness. SIS aimed to provide employees with a simplified and convenient way to submit and approve expenses but needed enterprise software developers to build advanced features into a custom application.

Solution:

Working closely with SIS’ internal team, we built a cross-platform application to streamline submission and approval processes.

Providing a web app, native mobile app, and custom distribution mechanism for mobile app downloads, we incorporated advanced OCR technology and performative features into the system, including:

• Image scanning and storage
• Credit card data feeds
• Bulk uploading of receipts
• Rapid swiping to approve and reject

The expense management system is used by 10,000+ employees.

Phases:

1. Discovery & User Stories

   Phase 1 involved reviewing the existing application, refining software requirements and user stories, conducting technical research, mapping the architecture, and deciding on languages and frameworks.

2. MVP Build for Beta Testing

   Phase 2 incorporated building an MVP within SIS’ existing tech stack, implementing designs, performing internal testing, setting up manual releases and automated deployments, and moving code to a single repository.

3. Development for Version 1

   Phase 3 entailed transitioning into SIS’ staging and production environments, building and testing additional features, making design and bug fixes, CICD work, and building the custom distribution mechanism for the mobile app.

4. Employee Rollout

   Phase 4 consisted of a phased rollout of the web and mobile application to employees and ensuring successful implementation within each department.

Technologies Used:

• Full-Stack JavaScript
• Angular
• NativeScript
• Node.js
• Amazon Web Services
• Heroku
• TestFlight

Words From SIS:

“We were looking to work with a development team that was familiar with Angular and could work within our existing stack and environments. We had specific requirements for the project and knew we would need to pivot throughout the development process. Upstate Interactive proved to be very flexible and adaptable when curve balls arose, bringing on new talent when needed. They’ve been an invaluable partner in bringing the project to life.” — Dennis Flournoy, Product Manager at SIS

About The Client:

Security Industry Specialists (SIS) provides innovative security solutions and services to Fortune 500 companies, designer brands, international events, celebrities, and high-profile individuals. From executive protection and special events to risk/threat assessment and global security operations, SIS is a full-service security corporation committed to continuous process improvement.