This month marks two years since we founded StrikingWeb. When we started in November 2018, we were a small team with a clear vision: build a digital agency that combines deep technical expertise with a genuine commitment to our clients' success. Two years later, we are proud of how far we have come, particularly through one of the most challenging periods in modern history.
The Year That Changed Everything
Our second year was supposed to be about steady growth and establishing our reputation. Then COVID-19 arrived and reshaped every plan. Like millions of businesses worldwide, we had to adapt quickly. Our entire team transitioned to remote work in March 2020. Thanks to our cloud-first approach -- we had always used tools like Slack, GitHub, Figma, and cloud hosting -- the transition was remarkably smooth.
What we did not anticipate was the surge in demand. As businesses scrambled to establish or upgrade their digital presence, our phones (and Slack channels) started ringing non-stop. E-commerce projects that were planned for Q4 were accelerated to Q2. Companies that had been hesitant about digital transformation suddenly needed solutions immediately.
Growth by the Numbers
Looking back at our second year, the numbers tell an encouraging story:
- Our team grew from 8 to 15 members, adding expertise in mobile development, DevOps, and blockchain.
- We delivered 24 projects across 6 countries, including India, the United States, the United Kingdom, the UAE, Australia, and Singapore.
- Client retention rate held at 90%, with most clients returning for additional projects or ongoing support.
- We launched our dedicated e-commerce practice, responding to the massive surge in online retail demand.
- We earned our first Clutch reviews, building the independent social proof that matters to prospective clients.
New Capabilities
Year two saw us expand our service offerings significantly:
- Mobile Development: We added Flutter and React Native to our stack, enabling us to deliver cross-platform mobile apps alongside our web development services.
- Blockchain Development: We built our first smart contracts and DApp interfaces, laying the foundation for what we expect will be a major growth area.
- DevOps and Cloud: We formalised our DevOps practice with dedicated engineers handling CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes deployments, and cloud architecture.
- E-Commerce: We became Shopify Partners and delivered several Shopify Plus and WooCommerce projects, including headless commerce implementations.
Lessons Learned
Two years of building a digital agency during a pandemic taught us several important lessons:
The businesses that thrived during the pandemic were not the ones with the most resources -- they were the ones that moved fastest. Speed of execution beats perfection every time when market conditions change overnight.
We also learned that remote work is not just viable -- it is a competitive advantage. It allows us to hire talent regardless of geography, reduce overhead costs, and offer our team the flexibility that modern professionals expect. We have decided to remain remote-first even after the pandemic subsides.
Perhaps most importantly, we learned that genuine client relationships matter more than any marketing strategy. Our best clients came through referrals from existing clients who valued our work. That trust is something we work hard to earn and will never take for granted.
Looking Ahead
As we enter year three, we are focused on deepening our expertise in AI/ML, expanding our blockchain practice, and continuing to build the kind of agency we would want to hire ourselves: technically excellent, transparent in communication, and genuinely invested in our clients' outcomes.
To every client, partner, and team member who has been part of this journey -- thank you. The best is still ahead.