Public Grid (formerly Cottage), an alternative energy aggregator startup in the US, found itself at a crossroads in the development phase.

Founder Zack Schmitz encountered a lack of collaborative problem solving from consultants in other emerging markets.

"The biggest thing about outsourced developers is they’re just like, ‘Tell me what you need done and I’ll do it’. But they don’t push back, they don’t offer creative tension and ask whether it’s the right way of doing it,” says Zack.

“As a founder I don’t always know if I’m doing things right, and I need to collaborate with people who can challenge me and offer different perspectives.”

Zack’s outreach to Swarm led to an introduction to senior-level software engineers Brennan Matriano and Benj Ledesma.

A Community Approach to Collaboration

Zack stumbled upon Swarm while seeking development support for Public Grid. Frustrated with the “order-taker” mentality of previous collaborators, Zack was drawn to Swarm’s approach.

Swarm’s unique offering appealed to Zack: pre-vetted independent consultants introduced by trusted members of the community, all the way up to Hives or pre-formed groups of builders with established working relationships.

Tapping into the Hive mind

“Swarm took out some of the complexity in building a team across timezones,” says Zack, who is based in Boston and has team members in Argentina and the Philippines.

Swarm's introduction of independent consultants experienced in prior collaboration and aligned with operational cadence, seamlessly addressed Zack's challenge of managing diverse teams across geographies.

From Beta to Fundraising

Zack credits Swarm not only for streamlining Public Grid’s development but also for playing a pivotal role in securing their first round of funding.

Brennan and Benj contributed to a 3x increase in development capacity, transitioning from zero to MVP to successful fundraising.

Zack’s collaboration with independent consultants through Swarm helped set Public Grid on a sustainable growth trajectory.

Public Grid boosted development capacity and secured funding by strategically leveraging Swarm to source independent consultants.

Swarm’s community-driven model, emphasizing trust and creative collaboration, enabled Zack to overcome challenges, navigate critical transitions, and position Public Grid as an emerging player in the alternative energy landscape.

Learn how you can increase your capacity with independent consultants through Swarm here.