Hourspent Help | Find Help and Support from Hourspent

Get to Know Hourspent

Is Hourspent a freelance marketplace?

Hourspent is a freelance community where co-working, co-learning and even co-living happens.

All skilled freelancers in our talent pool are either on contract, or part time and they work in teams. This means they are dedicated to your project — their skills are verified, their time is well organized and managed.

Freelancers on Hourspent are diverse and distributed across Boston, Texas, Abia, Lagos, Talinn and Narva operating onsite and remote. They are more cost-effective than their onshore counterparts in areas like the Silicon Valley, London, Western Europe and even in Australia.

You get to work with teams living in regions that have same or similar timezones with yours, through a simple chat experience. This is something one hardly enjoy on freelance marketplaces.

How is Hourspent different from a freelance marketplace?

Freelance Marketplaces connect employers to freelancers with the aim of getting jobs done. Hourspent train and recruit freelancers with the aim of improving their personal development and to turn companies into great companies.

Freelance marketplaces help freelancers make money, Hourspent adds an extra to the money making part ⁠— helps them add value and be part of something big through their equity stake in startups.

All freelancers in Hourspent talent pool are highly skilled. As a way of giving back, they can volunteer to train others enrolled for Hourspent Fellowship program. They get to enjoy the benefits of team work and work-life balance. Everyone in our talent pool must pass through multi-stage due diligence, which consists of reviewing their track record and third party references. Conducting interviews at all levels, a thorough legal review, assessment of their processes & culture and allocation of business and technical test tasks.

How is Hourspent different from traditional IT outsourcing?

Hourspent provides a platform where:

Amateurs are trained to become the best in their field of endeavor.

The already skilled freelancers are vetted so employers enjoy working with freelancers with integrity.

The skills of each freelancer are verified by Hourspent management team who were freelancers for at least seven years. Those with same or similar skill set are introduced so they can easily get to know each other.

Employers can interview them before their projects are assigned.

Hiring on Hourspent is significantly faster than Traditional Outsourcing.

Employers benefit from having project-specific managers.

They have access to a far broader pool of talents, which guarantee more comprehensive and complete solutions.

They benefit from having a risk-free work process.

Execution

I already have list of features I need for my startup product. I need a team that can execute

Hourspent startup offer is the right fit. The teams behind our startup offer will ensure the requested features are built. Together, we will help you formulate a strategy and roadmap that can deal with the challenges of shifting priorities.

We already have an in-house team of developers. We’re just looking for help with other areas for our startup

Freelancers on Hourspent enjoy team work. They have in-dept experience working with in-house teams, collaborating with developers and supporting designers.

I have an idea, but I’m not sure what features make sense

Through Hourspent startup offer, we will start with an intimate understanding of the market—and the customer. This will help us work with you to define the problems your product need to solve, and the best strategy to start with. We’ll help you shift from a feature-first mindset to a holistic product mindset.

We’re about to partner with a firm for something outside Hourspent industry focus. What do we need to know?

All firms are not equal. After learning about what you want to achieve with the firm, we may invite the firm to Hourspent and sign as a witness or we may perform a background check to make sure the firm fits your long-term vision before you sign a contract. Kindly note that in most cases, we decline to do any of them.

What is the timeframe like?

This depends on what you want to get done. However, on average it take teams 3-6 months to;

1. Create a prioritized product roadmap

2. Conduct customer interviews and market research

3. Build an MVP and design work cycles

4. Perform usability testing

5. Train your team to run the product

In some cases, these take just few weeks.

Quality Control

How do you ensure the quality and reliability of your remote teams?

We train and recruit freelancers through our Hourspent Fellowship program. We have up to date details about their availability & experience. For already skilled freelancers, we independently verify their skill-level before they get to join an Hourspent team of their choice. We conduct tech interviews and assign test tasks once they sign a Non-disclosure Agreement with Hourspent.

Where can I see the profiles of your each team?

We don't want Hourspent to be abused by headhunters. You will get detailed profiles of each of our team before they commence on your project.

How do you verify skills levels of each freelancer especially the engineers on the platform?

Among Hourspent management team are engineers and business experts that have worked with fortune 500 companies and high growth startups on freelance basis before joining Hourspent.

Based on our experience, we crafted variety of ways to verify their skill level and proficiency, including assigning coding tasks, user research, and formal assessments to demonstrate their expertise in real time, with projects similar to what they would work on in a typical engagement.

We review their communication skill and personality trait. A handful of freelancers pass this screening process.

Each freelance team on Hourspent is assigned to a senior Hourspent domain expert for each and every interview.

What happens if I’m not satisfied with an Hourspent team?

We allow our partners, clients, and employers to begin a trial period with a team made up of three freelance experts from our community. While we thoroughly screen all applicants to ensure we have only the best, we understand that not every freelancer will be a perfect fit for your company. To find the one that fits perfectly with your company, they get to work in teams for each project, thereby balancing each other’s strength and weaknesses. You get to see how they work in real time before you decide on a freelancer to continue working with. However, You can decide the team (made up of three freelancers) after a trial.

Do freelancer experts on Hourspent have a sound English speaking skills?

If you are a good English speaker, Fly — your smart assistant will assign your project to an English speaking team. Kindly note that our client base includes non-English speakers as well. We conduct lengthy interviews to ensure they have a high level of proficiency in their respective language and personalities well-suited to working with western teams. Non-English speakers will not be assigned to our English speaking clients.

Mitigating Risk

How do you mitigate the risks of working with a remote team?

Much of the risk is mitigated before your project even commences, by:

1. Thorough Pre-Vetting of talents we recruit

2. Verifying the skillsets of individual members

3. Setting up your project correctly from the outset and observing & maintaining project governance until final release

4. Appointing an Account Manager, who facilitates (at minimum) communication, legal and financial aspect of the project

5. Providing paid services, taking an advance payment on weekly basis throughout the duration of the project. If you are unhappy with the chosen team- we will replace them with a suitable alternative within 1 business day at no extra cost.

How do remote talents join Hourspent?

Access to our talent-pool is invitation-only and we carefully select which talent to invite and which talent to train.
All individuals in our talent pool must pass through our multi-stage due diligence process, which consists of reviewing their track record & 3rd Party References, interviewing their staff at all levels, a thorough legal review, assessment of their processes & culture and allocation of test tasks.

Can you connect me directly with the team?

Yes, we will connect you with every member of our team. You may want to manage the team directly, with minimum interference.

The preference is to have all required teams based in one studio when possible. Otherwise, we aim to form teams with everyone based in one city. So that you can always meet all team members in one visit. It is not obligatory, but we do encourage our clients to have regular face-to-face workshops with the team to boost the team spirit.

Can I meet them in person before the project kicks off?

Regions

Where will freelancers in my dedicated team be located?

Currently, our freelancers are based in Estonia, Ghana, Nigeria, USA, and they work in teams. However, Fly — your smart assistant choose teams most closer to you.

Where do Hourspent experts work from?

Most experts on Hourspent work from modern office in their homes. Just very few of them work from Hourspent co-working office which provides them a comfortable and productive environment.

General

How does it work?

We use a subscription model. We estimate the monthly hours and duration of the project based on our experience with similar products

Can I scale the team I’ll work with?

Yes, you can scale the team. You can add or remove people from your project team as priorities shift.

What if we need specialized skill set, tools or services that's not on Hourspent?

We have a trusted network of partners you can leverage on. We can also recruit and bring in those tools and services on board on Hourspent.

What happens next after the project has been completed?

We help you manage it ongoing, hire new team members and build effective product teams to ensure consistent growth after the handoff.

I have an in-house team. How does Hourspent work with them?

Building startups is a team sport. On many of our projects, we work alongside with internal and external teams within the organization. In fact, this is our preference.

What if our priorities change?

The team makeup changes as well if necessary, to meet your evolving needs. We keep the team flexible to make sure your priorities are met.

What industries do Hourspent focus on?

We have experience working with a variety of industries—including Social Network, E commerce, Marketplace, Fintech, Biotech, Insurtech, Edtech, Foodtech, Fashiontech, Greentech, Healthtech and cryptocurrency startups. We are interested in “big” problems that have inherent complexity.

What is your typical project length?

Most of our projects are 3-6 months. We work with you to create an MVP that is focused enough to be built in 30 days in some cases, helping you go to market with an idea you can test to find your project market fit.

What type of client do you take on?

We work with organizations of all sizes—from solo founders and small startups to Fortune 500 companies. However, we’re more focused on startups. In fact, we love startups.

How do you bill for travel?

Consistent touchpoints keep projects on track. Travel costs will be determined once the schedule is finalized and are always subject to approval by your team.

What about third party costs?

All approved tools or services will be billed to your company directly, unless otherwise specified.

Improvements

Do Hourspent freelance engineers work on already existing platform?

Yes. when you chat with Fly, do include the technology stack used on your current platform. This will help Fly assign your project to the freelance team that are highly skilled with the technology stack you are using, so they can plan and work accordingly.

We have a handful of customers that drive our product roadmap. How do we proceed?

Engaging with your current customers is one of the most valuable things Hourspent freelance teams do. This is the best source of insight—and will help them see the opportunities. By understanding your customers need, your priorities—and what drives your business—they can create the most impact.

I have an idea, but I’m not sure what features make sense

We start with an intimate understanding of the market—and the customer. This helps us work with you to define the problems your product needs to solve, and the best ways to do it. We’ll help you shift from a feature-first mindset to a holistic product mindset.

Some aspects of our products are working for us while some seem outdated and not working. Can Hourspent do something about this?

We can work within your existing product/ systems and use our expertise to find ways to grow and adapt them to make them at par with current trends.

What the timeframe like?

This depends on what project you’re bringing to the table. However, on average it takes us 3-6 months to;
1. Create a prioritized product roadmap

2. Conduct customer interviews and market research

3. Perform design work cycles

4. Perform usability testing

5. Train your team to run the product

6. In some cases, these take just few weeks.

Communication and management

How is communication with teams managed on my project?

Every project is assigned, at minimum, an Account Manager to assist you with any communication, legal and financial queries you might have.

Hourspent Account Managers are well versed in Agile Development Principles and Problem Detection & Resolution and will step in if the team isn't meeting regularly enough or communication lines are being compromised.

Can I meet the team assigned to my project in person before development kicks off?

Yes, we will connect you with every member of the team assigned to you. However, you'll need to take care of their travel cost.

It is not obligatory, but we do encourage our clients to have regular face-to-face workshops with the team to boost the team spirit.

Can I have your team work with us fulltime remotely?

sure!

Can I have your team work with us fulltime onsite?

Yes. You can bring our team onboard onsite

How will my project be managed if I partner with Hourspent?

You are more than welcome to manage your new team. Alternatively, we can assign a dedicated Boston based PM, leaving you time to focus on the business side of things. You’re free to choose the location of any team you want to work.

We offer three levels of management on our projects:

1. Account Manager, default level for Professional & Tech founders - who facilitates communication, legal and financial functions of the project

2. Project Manager, default level for non-Tech founders - an IT professional who will manage development sprints in addition to the communication, legal and financial aspects of the project

3. Product Manager who takes on all the responsibilities of the Project Manager + guides the product to market by maintaining & executing upon the product roadmap.

Startups

I have worked in a specific industry for years, and I have an idea of how my startup can do it better

This is the ideal scenario for us. We welcome your expertise and insight in your industry, and we provide the same in the product world. We work side by side to build a startup product that will improve the experience of your target market.

I have an idea for a new product, but there is nothing like that out there

One of the key ways we help you build your startup is by making sure you’re building the right startup. Our team can help stress-test your idea, starting you off on the right foot, and ensuring you're pursuing a viable opportunity.

All I have now is this idea, what’s next?

Part of building a new startup is getting the right team in place to help you succeed. We tap into our network to put a team in place that can help you lead and grow your startup in the future.

I need the help, but I’m concerned about the cost

Our business model is flexible. We use different debt and equity arrangements to make sure it works with your budget.

What’s the timeline?

This depends on what project you’re bringing to the table. However, on average it takes us 3-6 months to;

1. Perform Customer Development

2. Conduct Market Research

3. Position Your Product to Win

4. Identify a Compelling Business Model

5. Create a unique brand for your company

6. Build and Design your MVP

6. Assist with the Launch and Pitch

7. In some cases, these take just few weeks.

Consulting

How does Hourspent consulting works?

We have a freemium and premium offer. On freemium, our consultancy services are offered during the project duration, we help you come up with a startup name, color combinations and a perfect domain extension. In rare cases, we can briefly point out some marketing strategy you can work with. For any in-depth consulting help, you’ll need to subscribe to premium.

What’s an average product roadmap timeline?

We’ll help create a prioritized product roadmap that can be used to plan sprints and future work in your organization.

Timeline: 2-4 weeks

How about strategic Point-of-view and recommendations?

We’ll present a strategic point-of-view on a specific topic with recommendations relevant to your startup.

Timeline: 4-6 weeks

Does the premium plan include competitive analysis?

Yes, we’ll perform a thorough review of your startup competitive landscape with a list of opportunities designed to make your startup stand out.

Timeline: 4-6 weeks

How about validating our business model?

We’ll undertake a comprehensive analysis of your business model fundamentals designed to unlock potential revenue and retain your most important customers.

Timeline: 2 weeks

Intellectual Property

Who owns the legal rights to the work created by Hourspent freelance team?

The client. The contracts between Hourspent and each freelancer on Hourspent has a clause that states that “all work created by an Hourspent expert is the property of the client, not the freelancer or Hourspent, provided that the client made payment or issued an equity stake for the work done as agreed.”

How do Hourspent ensures that our intellectual property is protected?

Hourspent enters into freelance agreements with each expert. Through these agreements, Hourspent obtains exclusive ownership of the work created by each freelancer that works with you. We then hand over the intellectual property for the work done by the freelancer to you. You can find more details of this under our client agreement. You can equally enter into a direct agreement with the freelancer to affect the direct transfer of IP property. We can work with you to ensure that your needs are met. However, our freelance and client agreement is simple with no hidden or complex clauses, and is working well for our clients for many years, saving them from legal battles.

What if I sign an IP agreement directly with each freelancer and they abuse it?

We do encourage every employer to sign our client agreement so we can obtain the IP right from the freelancer. While you may want to sign directly with each freelancer, it is better to leverage our legal backing especially if each of the freelancer is not based in the same country you are based in. We only accept skilled freelancers from countries we have strong legal foot on.

What is the typical IP validity period?

Infinity. However, once you patent or trademark your IP, it’s validity period depends on the patent and trademark rules. E.g. A U.S. trademark generally lasts as long as the trademark is used in commerce and defended against infringement.

Fees and Pricing

How much does Hourspent cost?

Hourspent charge per hour and fixed price. These vary because we have teams in different countries and services requiring different skill set. Therefore, many factors affect Hourspent cost. Whether you’re going for an hourly pricing model or a fixed price, we will work with you to find the right model for your project. To have a clue of Hourspent costs, check Hourspent Solutions.

Who do I make payments to?

Hourspent. We have the responsibility of managing the teams from start to finish. Clients are bound by the User Agreement entered with us.

What payment methods are accepted on Hourspent?

We accept all major debit and credit cards through Stripe. We also accept ACH and bank wires through our US banking partner.

Are there any other charges associated with Hiring freelancers?

No. However, we do request for $300 for engineering projects and $150 for non-engineering projects before they're assigned to any team.