Horato

Horato is a web design and software development studio based in Turkey. The company describes itself as handcrafted work—all projects built by their team, not outsourced—and has won recognition including Clutch's Best Turkish Software Company award (2021) and the Golden Spider award for TOBB ETÜ's website redesign. The firm works with institutions, universities, and brands across education, e-commerce, and government sectors.

The team focuses on understanding client goals before execution. Their approach is structured around five phases: matching (understanding goals and scope), framing (building a strategic plan with user narratives), creating (iterative design with early user feedback), and progressing (continuous improvement as markets and users evolve). They emphasize solving problems with clarity and simplicity, and tying digital product work to measurable ROI.

Services and capabilities

Horato offers a broad range: UI design, UX design, mobile app development, web software development, e-commerce platforms, online marketing, social media strategy, branding, wearable app design, and consulting. The firm also handles project management and design across the full product lifecycle.

On the technical side, the firm has built sites using HTML5, CSS3, SASS, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL. They integrate third-party systems—the Economy Library project, for instance, connected SirsiDynix and BentoSearch search engines, Google Maps APIs for transit information, and custom admin panels. They build responsive, mobile-optimized interfaces and handle both front-end and back-end work.

Notable work

The Economy Library (Ekonomi Kütüphanesi) is the firm's flagship public project. Launched November 2017 for the Turkish Ministry of Economy, it houses over 50,000 printed and digital resources. Horato built the UX, the online reservation system, a custom admin panel with 13 modules, and the interface. The site uses integrated search powered by SirsiDynix and BentoSearch, real-time library status, Google traffic data for directions, and responsive design. It launched as Turkey's first and only dedicated economics library website.

Other documented clients include TOBB ETÜ (Ankara-based university whose website won the Golden Spider award and "People's Favorite" prize), Radyo ETÜ (university radio portal), ORTAM (student community platform at TOBB ETÜ), GazeteEkmekSüt (a food/lifestyle brand), ErkekPaketi (a lifestyle site), and several e-commerce projects: JeansWeLove (jean-focused shopping), VipBrands (personalized shopping), and airport transfer services. The firm also worked on campus e-commerce (ETRAF) and subscription delivery sites.

How they work

Horato engages projects through a five-phase process. The matching phase involves deep conversation about goals, scope, and planning. Framing produces a written plan with user stories and design priorities. Creating breaks work into smaller increments so real users can provide feedback early, allowing rapid iteration. Progressing means the firm stays involved post-launch, watching market shifts and user behavior to suggest improvements. They note that collaboration and mutual trust are central to their process. No fixed pricing or engagement model duration is specified on the site.

Team and credentials

The site does not disclose team size or specific headcount. No certifications (ISO, SOC 2, etc.) are mentioned. Horato won Clutch's Best Turkish Software Company award in 2021. The TOBB ETÜ website won the 15th Golden Spider award's "People's Favorite" category. The Economy Library site was recognized as Turkey's most useful library site at some point (date not specified). No founder names or founding year appear in the source material.