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Helm Experience & Design

Helm Experience & Design

Review
β˜…9.4/10
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Buffalo, New York, United StatesΒ·2 - 9 employeesΒ·Est. 2014Β·Reviewed Jul 2026

Digital product studio specializing in UX-first software development, with portfolio including ACV Auctions.

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Best For
Design-led startups, Growing companies needing UX-first product development
Hourly Rate
$150-199/hr
40% above the $125/hr median for software agencies in United States
Min. Project
$10,000+
Industries
Automotive Tech, Startups, B2B SaaS
Helm Experience & Design

Clients

ACV Auctions43NorthIndependent HealthWest Herr AutomotiveODL OrthodonticsOnCore Golf

About Helm Experience & Design

Helm Experience & Design is a digital product studio in Buffalo founded in 2014 by Jonathan Gorczyca and Nicholas Barone. The studio focuses on UX research, UI design, and custom software development for web and mobile applications. Notable work includes building products for ACV Auctions, which went public in 2021 raising over $400 million, and supporting startups funded through 43North, Buffalo's startup competition.

Who Helm Experience & Design Is Best For

Helm is best for companies that want design and engineering tightly integrated from day one. Their track record with ACV Auctions and 43North-funded startups demonstrates comfort working with high-growth companies at inflection points. The studio's size means clients get senior-level attention throughout the project rather than being handed off to junior teams.

Why Choose Helm Experience & Design

Design-first development approach
Proven startup track record
Senior team on every project
End-to-end product ownership

Things to Consider

Premium pricing at $150-199/hr
Small studio limits large-scale project bandwidth
Not suited for simple marketing or brochure sites
No marketing or SEO services

Helm Experience & Design Services

UX/UI DesignCustom Software DevelopmentWeb App DevelopmentMobile App DevelopmentPrototypingDesign SystemsUser Research

Selected Work

ACV Auctions β€” Bringing an Idea From 0–60

ACV Auctions β€” Bringing an Idea From 0–60

ACV Auctions

Helm partnered with ACV Auctions on product design that replaced days-long travel to live auctions with a ~15-minute in-dealership experience β€” supporting pitch materials that helped raise $350M+ and early app auctions of hundreds of cars.

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43North β€” Empowering Buffalo's Startup Scene

43North β€” Empowering Buffalo's Startup Scene

43North

Helm replaced 43North's inadequate off-the-shelf application tool with a purpose-built digital system for managing thousands of annual startup applications and the accelerator's $5M seed investment workflow.

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ODL Orthodontics β€” Aligning for Success

ODL Orthodontics β€” Aligning for Success

ODL Orthodontics

After immersing on-site in ODL's Buffalo manufacturing lab, Helm designed and developed a seamless system for ordering, managing, and iterating on orthodontic aligners for dental professionals.

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Reviews from Google

β˜…5.0/5 (4)
β˜… 5/5Β· 7 years ago

Working with Helm has been absolutely fantastic. From day 1, they were able to seamlessly integrate into our software development lifecycle, and immediately provide value. They brought high caliber UX design expertise and insight to our project, and I couldn't possibly be more pleased.

β˜… 5/5Β· 7 years ago

Having worked with Helm Experience and Design, I would strongly recommend their services to produce innovative, alluring, and highly-functional websites and mobile applications. The team combines high-touch client collaboration with large scale results. Helm exceeded my firm’s expectations by listening and understanding our vision and strategic objectives through comprehensive planning sessions and delivering not only an impressive final product but additive options for future enhancements. The team at Helm worked as if they were members of my own firm – providing value-added services through immediate solutions while keeping in mind long-term considerations.

Reviews sourced from Google

See all 4 reviews on Google

Photos

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