App Start-up Scales to 9 Operators in 18 Months

Backed by top-tier VCs and powered by HKR, this wellness startup is a model for modern scaling. In just 18 months, they transitioned from development to a market-leading app with a dedicated 9-person operations team. By outsourcing core data and support functions to HKR.TEAM, the founders built an engine that scales as fast as their vision

Case Study Snapshot

4.8 Stars

App Store Rating

HKR.TEAM Members

$3,150

Avg. per Person/ mo.

The Challenge

Scaling Specialized Operations from Stealth Mode

As a startup in the health-tech space, the client faced a fundamental hurdle during their development phase: executing high-volume, specialist-level data operations while maintaining the agility of a lean startup. Backed by elite venture capital firms, the company needed to build a foundational infrastructure that didn't just provide "extra hands," but high-level expertise in supplement research and validation.

The specific operational obstacles included:

Specialist Data Requirements: They required a flexible talent solution capable of handling complex data entry that would evolve into specialized research roles as the product matured.
Speed to Market: The founders needed an operational engine that could start small and scale rapidly in lockstep with their 2024 market launch.
Strategic Focus: Leadership needed to offload core data, research, and customer support functions so they could focus entirely on product development and global growth.

The goal was to prove that a co-managed offshore team could handle the specialist-level accuracy required for a top-rated health app while running "cheaper, better, and easier" than an in-house hire.

The Solution

Start With One, Build for Many

The natural instinct for a founder is to try and manage the initial hires themselves. However, this distracts leadership from product strategy.

Instead of hiring a full department immediately, the client partnered with HKR.TEAM to implement a Co-Managed Operations Model. This allowed the client to control the vision while HKR.TEAM handled the infrastructure, SOPs, and daily management.

The Evolution of the Team:

The Pilot: We didn't start with a large team. We deployed a single Data Entry Associate to validate the workflow.
The Infrastructure: HKR.TEAM built the reporting systems and documentation needed to scale. As volume grew, accuracy stayed intact.
The Scale (18 Months): Once the foundation was solid, the partnership expanded into a multifunctional team handling product verification, ratings, and user support.

The Results

A Top-Rated App Run by a Remote Engine

By trusting the co-managed model, the client’s leadership could focus entirely on product growth rather than managing shifts or HR compliance. The operational engine ran in the background, cheaper and more efficient than a traditional in-house build.

The Impact by the Numbers:

Rapid Adoption: The app scaled from stealth mode to earning a 4.8-star rating from 7,900+ users.
Cost Efficiency: The team scaled to 9 people at an average of $3,150/person/month.
Operational Speed: Achieved faster turnaround times on data verification and support tickets without sacrificing quality.