From Idea to Action: Hodego's Rapid Growth with eDev as their Employer of Record

Introduction

Hodego is a global platform that connects students with expert mentors, no matter where they are or what they’re striving to achieve. Whether they’re looking to elevate their athletic performance or seeking professional guidance to advance their career, Hodego makes it simple to find and connect with the perfect mentor to help them reach their goals.

Problem Statement: Hodego’s need to hire across borders

Hodego faced a common yet critical challenge: finding a capable development team to deliver quality results within their tight budget constraints. The challenge was further compounded by the need to avoid the huge costs required to hire onshore talent in their home country.

Initial Hiring Strategy

Hodego initially explored several international markets to assemble a talented and cost-effective development team. They considered:

  • Ukraine: Known for its pool of skilled developers available at a reasonable cost.
  • United States: English-speaking developers in the same time zone for ease of communication and collaboration.
  • Estonia: Another hub for talented developers offering competitive rates.

However, despite the potential in these regions, Hodego was still faced with challenges related to cost-effectiveness and the complexity of managing a globally distributed team.

eDev’s Solution: A Game Changer for Hodego

Hodego’s search for the ideal team led them to eDev, a remote hiring platform that offered the best of both worlds: highly skilled developers from India at a fraction of the cost compared to the previously considered countries. With eDev’s Employer of Record (EOR) services, Hodego was able to quickly onboard an initial team of four developers, tailored precisely to their project needs.

How eDev Helped Hodego Meet Its Remote Hiring Needs:

eDev’s deep understanding of Hodego’s product vision and technical requirements enabled them to match Hodego with a team possessing the necessary skills to bring their concept to life. This quick and seamless alignment allowed Hodego to accelerate its development timeline without compromising on quality.

Why Hodego Chose the Employer of Record (EOR) Model

Hodego opted to hire remote employees with eDev as the employer of record instead of opting for contractors as it was more cost-effective in the long run. This decision was also driven by their need for greater control over the development process. The EOR model allowed Hodego to iterate freely as their project evolved, ensuring flexibility and continuous improvement throughout the development cycle.

Managing Remote Employees with eDev’s Platform

The administrative complexities of managing remote employees, especially across borders, can be daunting. eDev’s platform simplified these challenges for Hodego, making payroll as easy as sending a wire transfer. With eDev handling local tax calculations & benefits, HR tasks (like employee time sheets and leave management), asset management, and compliance with local regulations, Hodego could focus entirely on product development.

Significant Benefits Achieved

Hodego’s partnership with eDev led to remarkable outcomes:

  • Rapid Scaling: Hodego transitioned from months of vetting various dev shops to assembling a highly qualified development team within just one week.
  • Cost Savings: By leveraging eDev’s services, Hodego achieved an estimated 25-40% cost savings compared to other available options. This figure doesn’t even account for the potential increases in scope that would have been more costly with contractors.
  • Productivity Boost: With eDev managing the administrative side, Hodego’s team could operate more efficiently, leading to a noticeable increase in productivity.

     

Employee Retention: The streamlined management and supportive environment fostered by eDev’s platform contributed to high employee retention rates.

Crucial Asset in the eDev Platform: HR and Compliance Management

For Hodego, the most valuable feature of eDev’s platform has been the comprehensive management of HR services and compliance with local laws. This aspect allowed Hodego to avoid the common pitfalls associated with international hiring, ensuring that their operations remained smooth and legally sound.

While Hodego hasn’t worked with other EOR services, their experience with eDev has set a high standard. The end-to end support provided by eDev allowed Hodego to focus on what mattered most. This level of service made it difficult for Hodego to imagine working with any other provider.

Future Hiring Plans

Remote teams have been the driving force behind Hodego’s early success. The flexibility and talent accessibility offered by eDev has been instrumental in getting Hodego’s product off the ground. As the company looks to scale, they view eDev as the ideal partner for expanding their team and increasing the headcount.