The modern landscape of application development is fraught with challenges. Entrepreneurs and enterprise leaders alike frequently encounter the same hurdles: misalignment between business strategy and technical execution, communication barriers inherent in distributed teams, and the perpetual struggle to launch a minimum viable product (MVP) that is actually viable. When selecting a digital product agency, the stakes are incredibly high. A wrong choice can lead to bloated budgets, delayed timelines, and products that fail to gain traction in a saturated market.
Two prominent names often surface during the search for development partners: Goji Labs and Chopdawg. Both agencies have established reputations, impressive portfolios, and distinct approaches to building software. Goji Labs positions itself as a venture builder that gets things “right the first time,” while Chopdawg emphasizes a partnership model focused on making ideas happen. However, navigating the nuances of their service offerings—specifically their reliance on international talent and distributed team models—is critical for any stakeholder making a six-figure investment in technology.
In this article, we will dissect the offerings, team structures, and track records of both Goji Labs and Chopdawg. Furthermore, we will introduce our approach at MetaCTO. As a US-based firm founded by experienced CTOs, we offer a compelling alternative for those seeking high-touch, strategic technical leadership combined with aggressive growth and monetization strategies.
What is Goji Labs?
Goji Labs is a Los Angeles-based digital product agency that has carved out a significant presence in the custom software market since its founding around 2014. With a secondary office in New York City, they bill themselves as a “product design & development agency” dedicated to building ventures correctly from the outset. Their marketing emphasizes a reduction in technical risk and a focus on user-centered design, aiming to demystify technology for founders.
Services and Capabilities
Goji Labs provides end-to-end product development. Their service suite is comprehensive, spanning the entire product lifecycle. According to their Clutch profile, their offerings explicitly include product strategy and UX research, UX/UI design, and mobile and web app development. They also possess capabilities in hardware/IoT development, a crucial differentiator for projects requiring physical-digital integration.
Their DesignRush profile expands on this list, noting expertise in mobile app development, software development, and even AI development. Effectively, they handle everything from the initial concept and user interface design through to coding and launch. Whether the project is a consumer-facing application or a complex enterprise system, Goji Labs aims to transform ideas into impactful platforms.
Team Structure and Locations
While headquartered at 800 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, Goji Labs operates a distributed team model. Understanding this structure is vital for potential clients. While many core team members and leadership figures—such as product designers in Las Vegas, Raleigh, and Portland—appear to be based in the United States, the company actively employs international developers to execute the engineering work.
Bios on their website indicate that key developers are located in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Makhachkala, Russia, as well as other parts of Europe like Vienna, Austria. Consequently, Goji Labs is not a purely domestic boutique; rather, they blend US-based project oversight with offshore engineering talent. They frame this globally distributed model as a benefit, stating that “geography should never be a barrier.” In practice, clients typically interact with US-based leads while the heavy lifting of coding occurs overseas.
Notable Projects and Clients
Goji Labs boasts a portfolio comprising over 400 launched digital products, and they claim to have helped partners raise over $1 billion in funding. They serve a wide array of industries, ranging from SaaS and EdTech to FinTech and Nonprofits.
Some of their most notable work includes:
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF): A multiplatform donation website designed to improve user engagement and mobile giving.
- PredictionStrike: Billed as “the world’s first sports stock exchange,” Goji Labs designed and built version 2.0 of this fantasy sports investment platform.
- Huupe: An IoT-enabled smart basketball hoop and companion app, showcasing their ability to merge hardware with mobile software.
- VibeUp: A mobile and web platform focused on mindfulness and community building.
- TruConnect: A nonprofit enrollment experience app designed to serve underserved populations.
Reputation
The firm enjoys a strong reputation, holding a “Premier Verified” status on Clutch with 80 client reviews and a 5.0 rating on DesignRush. Client feedback frequently highlights their high-quality UI/UX design and professional project management. They have been recognized as a top-reviewed UX agency in Los Angeles and have appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fast-growing firms.
What is Chopdawg?
Chopdawg, founded in 2009 by Joshua Davidson, is a full-service digital product agency headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Operating under the motto “Make it app’n®” or “Think partner, not agency,” Chopdawg emphasizes long-term relationships with clients rather than transactional vendor interactions. They act as a technical partner for startups and enterprises alike, often utilizing fixed monthly fee structures to provide transparency.
Services and Capabilities
Chopdawg offers end-to-end services that cover the spectrum of digital product creation. Their process includes product strategy, UX/UI design, development, Quality Assurance (QA), and ongoing support. Their portfolio is extensive, covering mobile apps (iOS and Android), web applications, and backend systems.
Like many modern agencies, they have expanded into emerging technologies. Their website and profiles list capabilities in wearables, AR/VR, IoT, blockchain, and AI/ML platforms. They position themselves as a one-stop shop for apps that may require complex integrations, such as chatbots or machine learning components. Additionally, they provide post-launch support services including app branding, analytics integration, and cloud infrastructure management.
Team Structure and Locations
Chopdawg maintains its headquarters in the historic Philadelphia Building, with additional US offices listed in Smyrna, Seattle, and Boston. However, the firm operates on a “remote-first” model. The CEO has explained that while core project managers and leads are based in the US, full-time developers work from locations such as Brazil and Pakistan.
A critical distinction Chopdawg makes regarding its staffing is that these international team members are salaried employees of the company, not third-party contractors. This approach is intended to ensure higher dedication and quality control compared to traditional outsourcing. Effectively, they are a US-founded agency with a globally distributed in-house team, leveraging international talent to offer cost efficiency and near-24/7 development cycles.
Notable Projects and Clients
Chopdawg claims to have worked with over 500 startups, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies. Their industry focus is agnostic, spanning sectors from healthcare and real estate to social networking and retail.
Prominent examples of their work include:
- Mister Softee: A mobile app for the famous ice-cream truck company featuring real-time truck tracking and franchise management.
- City of Peachtree Corners: A smart city app integrating news, events, and resident reporting for the Georgia municipality.
- Slay by Mari: A fitness app for Mari Llewellyn’s brand, offering training programs and nutrition guides.
- Cuzzo: A high-stakes, sponsor-backed sports trivia game with a scalable backend.
- Clarovigeo: An Apple Watch and iOS app focused on mental wellness and journaling.
Reputation
Chopdawg holds a stellar reputation across review platforms. They are listed in Clutch’s Global Top 1000 companies and maintain a 5.0 rating across over 100 verified reviews. They report a 92% client retention rate, suggesting strong satisfaction with their partnership model. Their accolades include repeated appearances on the Inc. 5000 list and recognition for “AI Business Excellence.”
Goji Labs vs Chopdawg: A Comparative Analysis
When choosing between Goji Labs and Chopdawg, the decision often comes down to specific project needs regarding team location strategies and industry experience. Both firms share a similar hybrid structure, but the execution differs.
Team Model Comparison
Both agencies rely on a “distributed” or “hybrid” model where US-based leadership manages international engineering talent.
- Goji Labs leans heavily on Eastern European talent, with developers located in Ukraine, Russia, and Austria. This is a common model for agencies seeking high-level engineering talent at rates lower than the US average.
- Chopdawg utilizes a workforce primarily distributed across Brazil and Pakistan. They emphasize that these developers are full-time, salaried employees rather than freelancers, which can offer greater stability during long-term projects.
For a client, the difference may manifest in time zones and communication styles. Goji Labs’ European focus might align better with morning US hours, whereas Chopdawg’s Brazilian teams operate in time zones very close to the US East Coast, potentially offering more real-time collaboration during the workday.
Strategic Focus and Specializations
- Goji Labs markets itself heavily on “product ventures” and getting it right the first time. Their specific mention of helping partners raise over $1 billion suggests a strong focus on the fundraising capabilities of the startups they assist. Their portfolio shows a penchant for complex integrations like the IoT basketball hoop (Huupe) and significant nonprofit platforms (WWF).
- Chopdawg positions itself as a long-term partner with a “fixed cost” transparency model. Their portfolio seems slightly more consumer-brand heavy, with names like Mister Softee and Slay by Mari. They explicitly highlight their work with government entities (City of Peachtree Corners) and higher education institutions, suggesting a versatility in handling bureaucratic or institutional clients.
Technology and AI
Both firms claim expertise in AI. Goji Labs has a dedicated AI software development section and publishes thought leadership on “AI in Product Design.” Chopdawg’s founder explicitly mentions using OpenAI (GPT/Claude) and building AI-powered platforms. In this regard, both are capable of integrating modern tech stacks, though Goji Labs appears to produce more content specifically around the design implications of AI.
Why Choose MetaCTO Instead
While Goji Labs and Chopdawg offer reputable services through distributed international teams, we at MetaCTO believe there is no substitute for a fully US-based, senior-level technical partner. Our approach is designed not just to build software, but to build businesses. We distinguish ourselves through our domestic team structure, our deep focus on monetization, and our ability to provide true Fractional CTO leadership.
1. A Fully US-Based Team
Unlike agencies that arbitrage labor costs by offshoring development to Eastern Europe, South Asia, or South America, MetaCTO is proudly based in Los Angeles, California. We are founded by experienced CTOs in the US. Our clients do not have to worry about the complexities of cross-border IP laws, time zone lags, or cultural communication gaps. We position ourselves as a domestic firm, ensuring that the team you talk to is the team building your product.
2. Strategic Fractional CTO Leadership
Many startups struggle because they lack technical leadership at the executive level. They hire agencies to write code, but they lack a CTO to guide the strategy. We solve this by offering Fractional CTO services. We provide strategic technology leadership without the $400K+ salary burden of a full-time executive. Our leadership team has launched over 100 apps and helped clients raise over $50 million in funding. We don’t just take orders; we help you make the high-stakes technical decisions that determine scalability and investability.
3. Focus on Growth and Monetization
It is a harsh reality that 95% of apps never break $500/month in revenue. Most agencies focus solely on “delivery”—getting the app into the store. At MetaCTO, we focus on app monetization and app growth. We help our partners join the profitable 5% by implementing proven strategies like subscription optimization and in-app purchases (IAP) that users actually appreciate.
For example, our work with Parrot Club, a peer-to-peer language learning platform, helped them launch a 2-sided marketplace that acquired 1,000 paid users in the first month and converted 10% of customers to annual subscriptions. We build revenue engines, not just codebases.
4. Deep AI and Machine Learning Integration
We are not just adding “AI” to our marketing materials; we are a top US AI-powered app development firm. We integrate advanced AI/ML technologies to drive real business value.
- Bond: We helped users of this dating app achieve 3x more second dates by developing a GPT-4 powered conversation analyzer. This tool provided real-time dating advice with 89% accuracy by processing relationship patterns across text and audio.
- MamaZen: For this mindfulness streaming app, we built an AI-powered content recommendation engine that matches parent stress patterns to specific mindfulness sessions, contributing to an 85% monthly retention rate.
- Kommu: We implemented an AI chatbot for personalized onboarding that increased completion rates by 73% and streamlined user activation.
5. Speed to Market: The 90-Day MVP
In the startup world, speed is a feature. We specialize in rapid MVP development, aiming to launch a functional, market-ready mobile app in just 90 days. This allows our clients to validate their ideas and start generating data—and revenue—months sooner than they would with traditional development cycles.
6. Unmatched Client Satisfaction
Our commitment to quality is reflected in our perfect 5.0 rating on Clutch. Clients like the founder of iWorkflow praise our responsiveness and ability to deliver key milestones on schedule. The founder of Kommu noted that we “stood out for [our] ability to quickly grasp the intricacies of [the] product and translate that into clean, scalable solutions.” We are responsive, agile, and deeply invested in our clients’ success.
Conclusion
Goji Labs and Chopdawg are both capable agencies with extensive portfolios and satisfied clients. Goji Labs shines with its venture-building rhetoric and broad vertical expertise, supported by Eastern European engineering. Chopdawg offers a partnership-focused model with transparent pricing and a workforce distributed across Brazil and Pakistan.
However, for founders and enterprises seeking a partner that combines the strategic insight of a US-based CTO with the aggressive growth tactics of a marketing agency, MetaCTO is the superior choice. We go beyond mere mobile app development; we provide the technical leadership, AI innovation, and monetization strategies required to turn a concept into a profitable business.
With over 20 years of experience and a track record of helping clients raise millions and exit successfully, we are the partner for those who want to build it right, right here in the US.
Ready to build an app that generates revenue? Talk with an expert at MetaCTO today.