Substantial

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Details

Founded:
2006
Hourly Rates:
$150 - $199 / hr
Employees:
50 - 249
Ratings:
4.6 8 Reviews

Industries Served

Retail & E-commerce Financial Services Media & Entertainment Logistics & Supply Chain Agriculture

Where We Specialize

40% AI Development
AI Development 40%
Software Development 25%
Mobile App Development 14%
IT Consulting 9%
IT Services 7%
Bot Development 5%

Industry Expertise

Healthcare55% On-Demand45%

Typical Project Size

52% Small Business
26% Midmarket Business
22% Enterprise

About

Businesses looking for a reliable technology partner often consider Substantial. Substantial focuses on Mobile App Development. Its team includes 50 - 249 specialists working across design, development, and delivery. Typical hourly rates run around $150 - $199 / hr/hr. Their home base is Seattle, WA. This profile is a starting point — reach out to Substantial directly to discuss project specifics.

Substantial Reviews

4.6 8 Reviews
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Delivered on time and stayed involved after launch

Amit Nair / Program Manager | Oct 18, 2026

We were happy with the final result. Their project manager kept things organised and was quick to flag anything that might affect the timeline. They shared working builds regularly, so we could test early and give feedback before things were locked in.

It has made a real difference to how our team works day to day. We had to follow up a few times on smaller bug fixes after launch. Overall, a team we trust and plan to keep working with.

Project summary

We hired Substantial to rebuild an internal order management system that had outgrown its original design. The project was split into milestones, with a working build shared at the end of each one. We worked together for around 6 months.

  • Overall Rating 4.0
  • Quality 4.0
  • Schedule 4.0
  • Project Cost 4.0
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
Software Development
Project Cost:
$50,000 to $149,999
Project Duration:
Feb 2026 - Aug 2026
Business Type:
Retail & E-commerce
Location:
Chennai, India

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
I work as Program Manager at Trueline Store. We operate in Retail & E-commerce and most of our customers are in and around Chennai, India.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We needed to rebuild an internal order management system that had outgrown its original design, and we didn't have the in-house capacity to do it ourselves.
What services did the company provide for your project?
End-to-end Software Development — from requirements and design through to deployment and a support period afterwards.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
We compared three or four agencies. Substantial asked the best questions and had good reviews from past clients.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Very well. They asked a lot of questions upfront and turned our rough ideas into a clear plan.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Good. Weekly calls, regular updates and a shared board meant we always knew where things stood.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
It was delivered on time, and the final invoice matched the original estimate.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
We can now handle more volume without adding staff, which was the main goal.
What did you like most about working with this company?
The consistency. Same team, same standard, from the first week to the last.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes, I would recommend them and we plan to work with them again.

Solid Software Development Work With Clear Communication Throughout

Vikram Agarwal / Managing Director | Aug 01, 2026

I would rate this engagement highly on almost every front. When we changed our minds on a couple of features halfway through, they handled it without fuss and were clear about the impact on cost and timeline. Their project manager kept things organised and was quick to flag anything that might affect the timeline. They shared working builds regularly, so we could test early and give feedback before things were locked in.

The result looks great and performs well, and our internal team found it easy to take over. We are already discussing the next phase with them.

Project summary

Substantial was brought in to build a custom operations platform to replace the spreadsheets and email threads we were running the business on. Their team handled planning, development and QA, with our product owner signing off each milestone. We worked together for around 8 months.

  • Overall Rating 5.0
  • Quality 5.0
  • Schedule 5.0
  • Project Cost 5.0
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
Software Development
Project Cost:
$10,000 to $49,999
Project Duration:
Oct 2025 - Jun 2026
Business Type:
Financial Services
Location:
Pune, India

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
We're a mid-sized Financial Services company based in Pune, India. I'm the Managing Director and I oversaw the project from start to finish.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
Our existing setup was holding us back. We wanted to build a custom operations platform to replace the spreadsheets and email threads we were running the business on before our busy season.
What services did the company provide for your project?
Software Development, plus QA and some consulting on how to structure the project.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
We compared three or four agencies. Substantial asked the best questions and had good reviews from past clients.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Better than we expected. They pointed out a few things we had not thought about.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Good. Weekly calls, regular updates and a shared board meant we always knew where things stood.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Yes. The only extra cost came from features we added ourselves, and they quoted those fairly.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
Our team saves several hours a week, and we have had very few issues since launch.
What did you like most about working with this company?
Their attention to detail and the quality of the final product.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Definitely. We have already started talking about the next phase.

Professional team that made a complex project feel manageable

Bec Ryan / Founder | May 29, 2026

We were very happy with how this project went. We dealt with the same core team throughout, so we did not have to keep re-explaining things. The developers were knowledgeable and made a few suggestions that ended up saving us time and money.

The result looks great and performs well, and our internal team found it easy to take over. If you need a team that communicates well and delivers, they are a good choice.

Project summary

Substantial was brought in to rebuild an internal order management system that had outgrown its original design. The project was split into milestones, with a working build shared at the end of each one. Overall it was a 3-month engagement.

  • Overall Rating 5.0
  • Quality 5.0
  • Schedule 5.0
  • Project Cost 5.0
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
Software Development
Project Cost:
$10,000 to $49,999
Project Duration:
Jan 2026 - Apr 2026
Business Type:
Media & Entertainment
Location:
Sydney, Australia

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
Clearfield Studios is a Media & Entertainment business in Sydney, Australia. As Founder, I was responsible for this project on our side and the main contact for Substantial.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We needed to rebuild an internal order management system that had outgrown its original design, and we didn't have the in-house capacity to do it ourselves.
What services did the company provide for your project?
Software Development, plus QA and some consulting on how to structure the project.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
They had relevant experience in Media & Entertainment and their proposal was the clearest of the ones we received.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Well. There were a couple of points we had to clarify early on, but after that they were spot on.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Organised and transparent. Their project manager kept the project on track and flagged risks early.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
It was delivered on time, and the final invoice matched the original estimate.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
Customer feedback has been positive, and we have seen better engagement since going live.
What did you like most about working with this company?
Their attention to detail and the quality of the final product.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Definitely. We have already started talking about the next phase.

Good value and a team that genuinely cares about the result

Andre Ramirez / Founder | May 11, 2026

We were happy with the final result. The developers were knowledgeable and made a few suggestions that ended up saving us time and money. Their project manager kept things organised and was quick to flag anything that might affect the timeline. They took the time to understand our business before suggesting anything, which we appreciated after previous agencies jumped straight into building.

It has made a real difference to how our team works day to day. Documentation at handover was a bit thin and we had to ask for more detail. If you need a team that communicates well and delivers, they are a good choice.

Project summary

Substantial was brought in to add an AI chatbot to our support site that answers questions from our help docs. The work covered requirements, design, development, testing and launch support. The project took roughly 9 months from kickoff to launch.

  • Overall Rating 4.0
  • Quality 3.5
  • Schedule 4.0
  • Project Cost 4.5
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
AI & Machine Learning
Project Cost:
Less than $10,000
Project Duration:
Jul 2025 - Apr 2026
Business Type:
Logistics & Supply Chain
Location:
Chicago, USA

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
I'm the Founder at Keystone Supply Inc, a Logistics & Supply Chain company based in Chicago, USA. I look after our technology and work closely with outside partners on bigger projects.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
Our team was spending too much time on manual work. The goal was to add an AI chatbot to our support site that answers questions from our help docs so they could focus on customers.
What services did the company provide for your project?
AI & Machine Learning, including planning, development, testing and launch support.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
They had relevant experience in Logistics & Supply Chain and their proposal was the clearest of the ones we received.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Well. There were a couple of points we had to clarify early on, but after that they were spot on.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Organised and transparent. Their project manager kept the project on track and flagged risks early.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Yes, on time and within budget.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
We can now handle more volume without adding staff, which was the main goal.
What did you like most about working with this company?
The consistency. Same team, same standard, from the first week to the last.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes, I've already recommended them to a couple of people I know.

Strong Technical Skills and a Very Responsive AI & Machine Learning Team

Sophie Barker / Senior Product Manager | May 09, 2026

Substantial did an excellent job for us. Their project manager kept things organised and was quick to flag anything that might affect the timeline. They took the time to understand our business before suggesting anything, which we appreciated after previous agencies jumped straight into building.

We launched on schedule and have not had any major issues since. Overall, a team we trust and plan to keep working with.

Project summary

Our company worked with Substantial to build a demand forecasting model on top of our sales data. They also took care of integrations with a couple of third-party tools we already used. Overall it was a 5-month engagement.

  • Overall Rating 4.5
  • Quality 5.0
  • Schedule 4.0
  • Project Cost 4.5
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
AI & Machine Learning
Project Cost:
$500,000+
Project Duration:
Oct 2025 - Mar 2026
Business Type:
Agriculture
Location:
Nottingham, UK

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
Cobalt Growers is a Agriculture business in Nottingham, UK. As Senior Product Manager, I was responsible for this project on our side and the main contact for Substantial.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We needed to build a demand forecasting model on top of our sales data, and we didn't have the in-house capacity to do it ourselves.
What services did the company provide for your project?
AI & Machine Learning, plus QA and some consulting on how to structure the project.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
A colleague recommended them, and our first calls confirmed they understood what we needed.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
They understood our goals quickly, partly because they had worked with Agriculture clients before.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Organised and transparent. Their project manager kept the project on track and flagged risks early.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Mostly. One milestone slipped by about a week, but the final delivery was on schedule and the budget held.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
Our team saves several hours a week, and we have had very few issues since launch.
What did you like most about working with this company?
Their attention to detail and the quality of the final product.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes, I've already recommended them to a couple of people I know.

Reliable IT Managed Services Partner That Delivered What They Promised

Harry Turner / Owner | Apr 19, 2026

Our experience with Substantial was really positive from start to finish. When we changed our minds on a couple of features halfway through, they handled it without fuss and were clear about the impact on cost and timeline. They took the time to understand our business before suggesting anything, which we appreciated after previous agencies jumped straight into building.

Since launch, everything has been stable and our team has adapted to it quickly. If you need a team that communicates well and delivers, they are a good choice.

Project summary

Substantial was brought in to manage our servers, backups and helpdesk. They worked alongside our in-house team, which mostly handled business requirements and testing. The engagement ran for about 8 months.

  • Overall Rating 5.0
  • Quality 5.0
  • Schedule 5.0
  • Project Cost 5.0
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
IT Managed Services
Project Cost:
$150,000 to $499,999
Project Duration:
Jul 2025 - Mar 2026
Business Type:
Financial Services
Location:
Cardiff, UK

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
I'm the Owner at Bridgewater Capital, a Financial Services company based in Cardiff, UK. I look after our technology and work closely with outside partners on bigger projects.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
Our team was spending too much time on manual work. The goal was to manage our servers, backups and helpdesk so they could focus on customers.
What services did the company provide for your project?
IT Managed Services, including planning, development, testing and launch support.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
A colleague recommended them, and our first calls confirmed they understood what we needed.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Very well. They asked a lot of questions upfront and turned our rough ideas into a clear plan.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Very responsive. We usually heard back the same day, even with the time difference.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Yes. The only extra cost came from features we added ourselves, and they quoted those fairly.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
It is still early, but the numbers are trending in the right direction and the system has been stable.
What did you like most about working with this company?
That they were proactive — they suggested improvements instead of just doing what was asked.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes, I've already recommended them to a couple of people I know.

Honest advice and solid execution

Chloe Campbell / Chief Digital Officer | Mar 15, 2026

Substantial did an excellent job for us. Even with the time zone difference, responses usually came the same day and we never felt left in the dark. They were upfront about what was realistic within our budget, which helped us prioritise the right features.

The AI & Machine Learning work has already made a noticeable difference — tasks that used to take hours now take minutes. If you need a team that communicates well and delivers, they are a good choice.

Project summary

We partnered with Substantial to automate document data extraction that our team was doing by hand. The work covered requirements, design, development, testing and launch support. The project took roughly 6 months from kickoff to launch.

  • Overall Rating 4.5
  • Quality 4.5
  • Schedule 4.5
  • Project Cost 5.0
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
AI & Machine Learning
Project Cost:
$500,000+
Project Duration:
Jul 2025 - Jan 2026
Business Type:
Agriculture
Location:
Waterloo, Canada

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
Nimbus Farms Inc is a Agriculture business in Waterloo, Canada. As Chief Digital Officer, I was responsible for this project on our side and the main contact for Substantial.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We needed to automate document data extraction that our team was doing by hand, and we didn't have the in-house capacity to do it ourselves.
What services did the company provide for your project?
Mainly AI & Machine Learning. They also helped with the technical planning and a few integrations with our existing tools.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
A colleague recommended them, and our first calls confirmed they understood what we needed.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Better than we expected. They pointed out a few things we had not thought about.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Good. Weekly calls, regular updates and a shared board meant we always knew where things stood.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
It was delivered on time, and the final invoice matched the original estimate.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
Our team saves several hours a week, and we have had very few issues since launch.
What did you like most about working with this company?
That they were proactive — they suggested improvements instead of just doing what was asked.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes. They are a reliable AI & Machine Learning partner.

Reliable Mobile App Development Partner That Delivered What They Promised

Eric Coleman / General Manager | Feb 01, 2026

Our experience with Substantial was really positive from start to finish. They shared working builds regularly, so we could test early and give feedback before things were locked in. When we changed our minds on a couple of features halfway through, they handled it without fuss and were clear about the impact on cost and timeline.

It has made a real difference to how our team works day to day. Overall, a team we trust and plan to keep working with.

Project summary

We hired Substantial to build iOS and Android apps for our customers, including booking, payments and push notifications. They worked alongside our in-house team, which mostly handled business requirements and testing. The engagement ran for about 2 months.

  • Overall Rating 4.5
  • Quality 4.0
  • Schedule 5.0
  • Project Cost 5.0
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
Mobile App Development
Project Cost:
$150,000 to $499,999
Project Duration:
Nov 2025 - Jan 2026
Business Type:
Agriculture
Location:
Raleigh, USA

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
We're a mid-sized Agriculture company based in Raleigh, USA. I'm the General Manager and I oversaw the project from start to finish.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
Our team was spending too much time on manual work. The goal was to build iOS and Android apps for our customers, including booking, payments and push notifications so they could focus on customers.
What services did the company provide for your project?
Mobile App Development, plus QA and some consulting on how to structure the project.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
Their pricing was fair and they were honest about timelines instead of just telling us what we wanted to hear.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Very well. They asked a lot of questions upfront and turned our rough ideas into a clear plan.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Good. Weekly calls, regular updates and a shared board meant we always knew where things stood.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Yes. The only extra cost came from features we added ourselves, and they quoted those fairly.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
It is still early, but the numbers are trending in the right direction and the system has been stable.
What did you like most about working with this company?
Their attention to detail and the quality of the final product.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes. They are a reliable Mobile App Development partner.
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