From Concept to Launch: How Otanu Built a World-Class Development Team in 6 Weeks

Building a social media platform requires more than just a great idea—it demands exceptional engineering talent, disciplined execution, and the ability to move fast without breaking the bank. In this case study, we explore how Otanu partnered with Kaizen Payments' offshore development services to assemble a full-stack development team, achieve significant cost savings, and deliver a functional prototype in record time.

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The Challenge: Bringing a Vision to Market Without Breaking the Budget

Otanu is a social media platform focused on chat room-based face-to-face interaction, creating tools for individuals, organizations, and companies to facilitate conversation and communication. The founding team faced a common startup dilemma: they needed to build a high-quality product with sufficient runway to achieve mass user adoption, but struggled to find a development partner that offered both quality engineering and reasonable pricing.

After evaluating firms across the United States, Europe, and other regions, Otanu found that most options came with either exorbitant fees or lacked the attention and product autonomy they required. "We had a difficult time finding a firm in America that we trusted to represent our interests without exorbitant fees or the proper level of attention and product autonomy we required," the team explained.

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The Solution: A Dedicated Offshore Team with Hands-On Leadership

Otanu partnered with Kaizen Payments' offshore development and BPO services to build a complete development team based in India. Within just six weeks, Kaizen delivered a fully staffed team including:

• Junior and Senior React Native developers
• UI/UX developer
• Node.js developer
• Project manager
• Part-time DevOps engineer
• QA tester (in recruitment)

The team operated with a hands-on approach, giving Otanu the product autonomy and direct engagement they needed while benefiting from Kaizen's infrastructure, recruitment expertise, and management oversight.

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Cost Savings That Changed the Game

One of the most significant advantages was cost efficiency. Compared to comparable offers from US, European, and other international firms, Otanu achieved at least 50% cost savings with Kaizen's offshore team—without sacrificing quality or speed.

"The cost of the team was far lower than any firms we received offers from in the US, Europe, or elsewhere in the world," the Otanu team noted. This dramatic reduction in development costs allowed them to extend their runway and invest more resources into product refinement and go-to-market strategy.

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Rapid Delivery and Tangible Results

Speed matters in the competitive world of social media platforms. Within four months of partnership, Otanu achieved:

• Functional prototype delivered with core features operational
• Complete UI/UX layouts designed and ready for first release
• First product release planned for imminent delivery
• Ongoing team expansion to support growing product needs

The ability to move from concept to working prototype in such a short timeframe gave Otanu a competitive edge and positioned them to enter the market with confidence.

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Why Otanu Chose Kaizen Over US Competitors

When asked why they chose Kaizen over American development firms, the answer was clear: trust and engagement.

"The answer to this one is simple: trust. What Kaizen has delivered for us is unparalleled in service and professionalism. We have a lot riding on this project, and we feel fully comfortable in our partnership," the team shared.

They also praised CEO Bhavkirat Singh's leadership: "CEO Bhavkirat Singh is attentive, disciplined, honest, and of high integrity. He has done all in his power to ensure the success of the project while maintaining for us great cost savings."

Unlike other firms that offered cookie-cutter solutions or distant management, Kaizen provided a truly hands-on approach. "Our firm has been able to build and work with a team with a very hands-on approach. No offerings in the US replicated that type of engagement," Otanu emphasized.

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How Kaizen's Offshore Development Services Work

Kaizen's offshore development model is designed specifically for startups and growing companies that need enterprise-level talent without enterprise-level costs. Through KaizenGlobalConnect, clients receive:

• Rapid team assembly with roles filled in weeks, not months
• High-quality Indian engineering talent with proven technical expertise
• Fractional CTO services for strategic technical leadership
• Full staff augmentation to scale teams as needs evolve
• Dedicated project management ensuring accountability and progress
• Significant cost savings compared to US and European markets

These services are backed by Kaizen's core business in payment processing for debt collection agencies, providing financial stability and operational expertise that translates into reliable service delivery.

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A Partnership Built on Results

After four months of collaboration, Otanu has expanded their team and continues to work with Kaizen as they prepare for launch. The relationship demonstrates how the right offshore development partner can become a true strategic ally—not just a vendor.

"We look forward to our continued engagement," the Otanu team concluded, highlighting the long-term value of the partnership beyond initial cost savings.

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Conclusion: Building Smart, Building Fast, Building Right

Otanu's story illustrates what's possible when ambitious startups partner with the right offshore development team. By choosing Kaizen's services, they gained more than cost savings—they gained speed, quality, autonomy, and a trusted partner invested in their success.

Ready to build your development team without the Silicon Valley price tag?

Contact Kaizen Payments today to learn how our offshore development and BPO services can help you bring your product to market faster, cheaper, and better.

Let Kaizen be the team that helps your vision become reality.

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