hero/dot

Hero/dot is a Polish software agency founded in 2013, based in Warsaw. The company operates as a full-cycle development shop combining technology, design, and engagement services under one roof. Their team includes over 80 qualified experts working across custom software development, web applications, mobile apps, and digital product design. They've delivered more than 90 projects over a decade and maintain a 5-star rating on Clutch.

The agency positions itself around three integrated disciplines: development (web, mobile, cloud, QA, maintenance), design (UI/UX, visual identity, product design), and engagement (branding, content, strategy, user research). Unlike shops that handle development alone, Hero/dot brings designers and strategists into the initial phases. This multidisciplinary structure is reflected in how they staff pre-implementation analysis work—a project planning service they offer that pairs Business Analysts, Tech Leads, and Project Managers to model scope, costs, and risks before code is written.

Services and capabilities

Development services span custom web applications built on .NET, Node.js, React, Angular, and Vue.js; native mobile apps for iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin), plus cross-platform work in Flutter; cloud infrastructure on AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud; and quality assurance including automated and manual testing. They work with Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform for infrastructure-as-code, and monitoring tools like New Relic, Prometheus, and Grafana. The stack also includes emerging areas: blockchain work, AI services, and embedded systems (Android TV, Samsung Tizen, LG webOS).

Design offerings cover product design (discovery through final mockups), UI/UX design, visual identity and branding, and content writing. Hero/dot emphasizes user research and strategic alignment here—they don't just build interfaces but tie them to business metrics like conversion and retention.

Engagement services include branding strategy, communication strategy, content writing (with SEO optimization), and user engagement planning. The source notes they position content writing around three angles: engaging users, writing with purpose (scannable, conversion-focused copy), and SEO optimization.

Their Pre-Implementation Analysis service deserves separate mention. Delivered over 2–4 weeks by a dedicated team, it produces a 50-page report covering project scope, functional requirements, cost estimation, risk identification, technology recommendations, and scalability planning. Clients meet weekly with Hero/dot's team during the analysis phase. The service is offered as a standalone engagement—clients can hire Hero/dot to build afterward or take the report elsewhere.

Notable work

Legia Warszawa, a top Polish football club, engaged Hero/dot to redesign their website and launch a mobile app. The new site prioritized responsive design and fan engagement; the mobile app has been downloaded over 10,000 times. The website won the Mobile Trends Award in the Responsive Web Design category. A Legia stakeholder (Adam Piotrowicz, Director of Digital & IT) noted the partnership helped them deliver digital solutions that "opened new opportunities for the club."

Rachuneo.pl, a fintech startup helping consumers compare phone, internet, electricity, and gas bills, worked with Hero/dot on cloud transformation. Hero/dot led migration from third-party servers to Microsoft Azure and built backend services in .NET. The team also handled product design work to align the UI with Rachuneo's brand identity.

How they work

Hero/dot offers four engagement models: SPARK Methodology (a blend of agile and fixed costs for complex projects), Managed Projects (full responsibility on Hero/dot's side using agile, Scrum, or waterfall), Fixed-Price engagements (for short-term, scope-driven work using waterfall), and Team Leasing (permanent hire or flexible outsourcing). Their development process follows five phases: Strategize (set business objectives), Analyze (technical and user research), Design (creative work), Develop (iterative coding and testing), and Maintain (post-launch support).

Communication cadence varies by model. For Pre-Implementation Analysis specifically, Hero/dot holds weekly or twice-weekly meetings with the client. Working documentation is delivered 2–3 days after each workshop. The full analysis typically spans a few weeks to a couple of months depending on project complexity.

Pricing is not disclosed on the public website, though they offer a free 2-hour consultation with a Business Analyst to scope Pre-Implementation Analysis work.

Team and credentials

Hero/dot was founded in 2013 by Leszek Zareba (CEO) and Mariusz Szefer (President at GSBK, mentioned in testimonials). The agency employs over 80 qualified experts. Key team members named on their Pre-Implementation Analysis service page include Łukasz Styperek, Filip Niedziela, and Leszek Zareba, all involved in project planning and business analysis.

The company maintains a 5-star Clutch rating based on client reviews. No specific certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR) are mentioned in the source material, nor are they listed as formal partners of AWS, Microsoft, Google, or Shopify. They work extensively with these platforms' services but the partnership status is unclear from available information.