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HIDRENT (NOW HELPFUL HEROS)
2020 - Present (5 years)
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Hidrent (now Helpful Heroes) is a platform that connects off-duty firefighters with homeowners who need help with household projects. From handyman work to furniture assembly, the platform provides trusted, reliable services while offering firefighters an opportunity to earn extra income. Founded by Dave Heimbuch, Hidrent was built on a mission: to provide a seamless way for everyday people to hire skilled professionals they can trust.
Industry
Home Services
Marketplace
Capabilites
Web App Development
Mobile App Development
Timeline
Ongoing (5+ years)
Website
hidrent.com
Dave Heimbuch, Founder and CEO, reached out to GoGrow to get its platform up to speed with their growth. They were looking for a technical partner who could do more than just write code. Hidrent needed a reliable team who could rebuild the platform with a strong focus on quality and long-term commitment. They were facing three major challenges:
The existing platform was costly to maintain, with licensing fees, slow bug fixes, and mounting technical debt.
The system wasn’t built to support rapid expansion, limiting new feature rollouts and business growth.
Helpful Heroes had secured a spot on Shark Tank, but the platform needed a major upgrade before the national spotlight hit.
With a high-stakes moment approaching, GoGrow rebuilt the entire platform through a streamlined workflow, delivering speed and quality.
1.
Project Discovery & Kickoff
2.
Technical Audit & UX Review
3.
Architecture redesign
4.
Core Infrastructure Setup
5.
Backend rebuild (Ruby on Rails)
6.
Frontend rebuild (React.js)
7.
Mobile app rebuild (React Native)
8.
Admin dashboard (Active Admin)
9.
QA & Bug Fixing
10.
Shark Tank Launch Prep + Scalability Check
11.
Release & Post-Launch Support
12.
Ongoing Maintenance
Hidrent agreed to rebuild the entire platform since this would greatly reduce operational costs and increase speed in new developments. It also allowed for easier maintenance and future upgrades to be performed.
Instead of patching up an inefficient system, we rebuilt Hidrent from the ground up with modern architecture, reducing costs and making future updates seamless.
We collaborated with a design team to upgrade the user experience, making the platform more intuitive for homeowners and firefighters alike.
Less than a year after we released the MVP, Hidrent was selected to participate on Shark Tank. We didn’t know when the actual episode would be live, but we had brand-new designs and features to build in just a few weeks.
We grouped up, brought more developers and a project manager into action, and we were able to make a huge revamp in a couple of weeks. Great kudos to the team working on this!
ABC | Shark Tank S13, E6
We utilized modern technologies to ensure a smooth and high-performing application.
Ruby on Rails
React
Heroku
Github
PostgreSQL
We developed 3 applications from scratch using top-notch technologies such as React Native, React, Ruby on Rails, and PostgreSQL. The cloud infrastructure utilized includes Heroku and AWS.
We built a mobile app tailored for off-duty firefighters, the heart of the Hidrent experience. The app allows pros to browse local job requests, apply to those that match their availability and skills, and manage communications, payments, and schedules all in one place. The interface is intuitive and built for quick, on the go access, because firefighters don’t have time to waste.
This app lets homeowners post jobs easily, get matched with local firefighters, and securely pay for completed work. From landscaping to hauling junk, the interface makes it easy for users to request help and track progress from start to finish.
Beyond mobile, we created a web version of the platform that allowed homeowners to access their accounts, manage bookings, and view updates from any browser. This expanded accessibility and offered flexibility to users who preferred desktop.
We created a custom backend tool to help the Hidrent team manage users, monitor activity, and handle support. This panel includes tools for job auditing, reports, user flags, and transactions, giving them full visibility into the platform.
When we first started working with Hidrent, they were available only in a couple of cities. Today, the app is live across the U.S., helping connect thousands of homeowners with verified off-duty firefighters in their area.
Since launch, Hidrent has passed the million-dollar revenue milestone, boosted by an appearance on Shark Tank and continued growth through both app and phone bookings.
Founder Dave Heimbuch secured a deal with Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner on Shark Tank, receiving $300,000 for 33.3% equity. The national spotlight gave the app major momentum and proved the business had staying power.
To widen access, Hidrent introduced a phone based booking service. Our backend work helped power that expansion, allowing the team to serve users who prefer a more traditional approach.
After five years of collaboration, we continue to enhance the platform with new features and optimizations.
The partnership remains strong, with a shared commitment to delivering a top tier experience for homeowners and off-duty firefighters alike.
“I'm happy with the front end, and we have received a lot of positive feedback. What I have found most impressive was their ability to create a back end environment that saves me time, and allows me the ability to conduct business much more efficiently”
David Heimbuch
Founder, Helpful Heroes. Participated in Over $1B in Successful Startup Exits
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