What problem did the client face?

The client had a strong vision for an AI-powered platform aimed at assisting startups and SMEs in securing non-dilutive innovation grants. However, they faced difficulty in bringing this vision to life, as they lacked the technical expertise and tools needed to develop the platform. This gap hindered their ability to streamline the grant application process efficiently and scale the product to meet their goals.

How was it impacting their business or processes?

Implementation of a scalable and efficient AI-powered platform, which streamlines the grant application process for startups and SMEs, enhancing their ability to secure funding. This development not only positions BidX competitively in the market but also increases its client retention and business growth opportunities through automated, user-friendly features.

Key features developed:

• AI-Powered Grant Submission

  The platform uses AI trained on proprietary data and successful applications to guide users through the grant submission process efficiently

• User-Friendly Interface

  A simple and intuitive interface allows users to navigate the grant application process easily, reducing complexity for startups and SMEs.

• API Integrations

  The platform integrates SendGrid, GetBusinessGrants, and LinkedIn APIs to automate communication, and data retrieval, and enhance the grant application workflow.

• Real-time Analytics

  PostHog integration provides real-time analytics, enabling performance tracking and insights to improve user engagement.

• Payment and Scheduling Automation

  Stripe and Calendly integrations automate payment processing and scheduling, enhancing the overall user experience.

Technologies used:

• Bubble.io
• SendGrid APIs
• GetBussinessGrants APIs
• Linkedin
• PostHog
• Strip
• Calendly

Development time

• 3 months for the first project
• 4 weeks for the second project

Key metrics improved:

• Grant Application Success Rate: Increased the likelihood of successful grant applications through AI-driven assistance and automation.
• Application Processing Time: Reduced the time required to complete and submit grant applications by streamlining workflows and automating key tasks.
• User Engagement: Enhanced user engagement and satisfaction through real-time analytics and a more intuitive, user-friendly interface.
• Scalability: Improved the platform's ability to handle a higher volume of users and applications, allowing the business to grow more efficiently.
• Revenue Generation: Boosted revenue through the integration of automated payment systems, facilitating easier transactions and scaling of services.

Long-term impact:

• New project

Lessons learned

The importance of early-stage communication and clear expectations with the client became apparent during this project. Establishing clear milestones and ensuring the client’s vision was fully understood from the start helped streamline the development process.

Challenge overcome

The most significant challenge was building an AI-powered platform with limited initial technical resources from the client’s side.

What made the project succesfull

The success of the project was driven by Sidetool's ability to transform the client's vision into a functional platform that automated and streamlined the grant application process.

What went well

The seamless integration of multiple APIs and the successful deployment of the AI-powered grant submission tool were major wins. The platform significantly reduced the time it took for users to complete grant applications, enhanced engagement with real-time analytics, and made the overall user experience more intuitive.

What could be improved

Although the project was delivered successfully, there were some delays during the second phase. Improving workflow efficiency and testing all features more thoroughly early in the process would help to shorten timelines for future projects.

Unique insights

One of the unique insights gained from this project was how crucial AI can be in automating administrative tasks like grant applications.