Curve: Advanced Project Management with EVM Intelligence
From unclear concept to enterprise-ready SaaS—a project management platform that brings Earned Value Management to modern teams.
What we set out to deliver
Clear objectives and deliverables that guided our work.
We partnered with Curve to transform a complex project management methodology (Earned Value Management) into an intuitive SaaS platform, taking them from concept to $50K MRR in just 16 weeks.
Impact at a glance
Measurable outcomes that demonstrate the success of our work.
Where it all
started
Amin Ghadhab came to us with a vision but no clear product roadmap. He had worked in project management for years and saw a critical gap: existing tools were either too simple (basic task tracking) or too complex (enterprise PM software requiring weeks of training).
His insight: Earned Value Management (EVM)—a methodology used by NASA, Fortune 500 companies, and government contractors—could be made accessible to modern teams if the complexity was abstracted away.
The problem: • No clear product scope (EVM has 50+ formulas—which to include?) • Uncertain target market (startups vs. agencies vs. enterprises?) • Limited runway (needed to launch and prove traction in 4 months) • Technical complexity (real-time calculations, data visualization, integrations)
With no technical co-founder and a tight timeline, Amin needed a partner who could help define the product, build it right, and position it for growth.
Research & Strategy
We started with a 3-week product discovery sprint. Through interviews with Amin's network of project managers, agency owners, and consultants, we identified three critical insights:.
Key decisions
• Web-first, desktop second: Launch web app, add Electron desktop wrapper post-launch • Stripe-first monetization: Built-in payment processing from day one • Real-time everything: Live updates via WebSockets for team collaboration • Visual-first EVM: Graphs and dashboards, not spreadsheets
Development & Engineering
We chose React + Django for a specific reason: React's component model meant we could build reusable UI elements (project cards, Gantt charts, EVM dashboards) that would work across web and desktop. Django gave us the robustness needed for complex EVM calculations and multi-tenant architecture.
Real-Time EVM Engine
• Built custom calculation engine in Django that runs EVM formulas (CPI, SPI, EAC, VAC) automatically • Caches results in Redis for sub-100ms response times • Updates in real-time as team members log hours or update tasks
Advanced Project Visualization
• Custom Gantt chart component (didn't use library—needed specific EVM overlays) • Live burn-down/burn-up charts • S-curve visualization for project health • Color-coded variance indicators (red = over budget, green = under budget)
Stripe Integration
• Multi-tier subscription model (Starter, Professional, Enterprise) • Usage-based billing for overage (beyond project/user limits) • Self-service upgrade/downgrade • Handled SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) for European clients
Desktop App Wrapper
• Electron shell around React app • Offline mode with SQLite local cache • Auto-sync when connection restored • Native OS notifications
UI/UX & Visual Design
Curve needed to feel professional but approachable—not as intimidating as Microsoft Project, not as casual as Trello. Design highlights:.
Dashboard-First Design
• Every user lands on a personalized dashboard showing their projects' health at a glance • Color-coded health indicators (one look = know if projects are on track) • Quick actions (add task, log time, update status) without navigating away
EVM Simplified
• Instead of showing raw EVM numbers (CPI, SPI), we translated to plain English: • "Project is 15% over budget" (instead of "CPI: 0.85") • "You'll finish 2 weeks late at current pace" (instead of "SPI: 0.92") • Tooltip explanations for users who want to learn EVM concepts
Design System
• Built component library in Figma (100+ components) • Consistent spacing, typography, colors across all screens • Dark mode support (many PM teams work late hours)
Mobile-Responsive
• While we didn't build native mobile apps, the web app works beautifully on mobile • Optimized for common use cases (log time, check project status, update tasks)
Launch & Growth
Most agencies hand off the product and disappear. We stayed to help Amin launch, attract early customers, and set up systems for sustainable growth.
Growth tactics
• Freemium model: Free for 1 project, upgrade for more (lowered barrier to entry) • Referral program: 20% discount for both referrer and referee (viral loop) • Agency partnerships: Partnered with 3 agency communities to offer exclusive deals • Demo videos: Created 10 short tutorials (< 3 min each) showing key features
See the difference
Visual proof of the improvements and impact we delivered.
From cluttered spreadsheet to clean, intuitive dashboard with real-time EVM metrics.
Transformed complex Gantt charts into a visual timeline with EVM overlays.
See it in action
The main dashboard showing project health at a glance with EVM metrics
Real-time Earned Value Management analytics and burn-down charts
Interactive Gantt chart with EVM overlays and task dependencies
Track projects on the go with the responsive mobile experience
Real-time collaboration features for distributed teams
Comprehensive design system with 100+ reusable components
Intuitive project planning interface with drag-and-drop scheduling
Detailed performance metrics and cost variance analysis
The Pivot That Changed Everything
The pivotal moment that changed everything and led to success.
Three weeks into discovery, we realized Amin was targeting the wrong market. He wanted to build for "everyone who manages projects." But our interviews revealed that professional services firms—agencies, consultants, freelancers—had the most acute pain.
They bill by the hour. Every hour over budget comes directly out of profit. EVM wasn't just nice-to-have—it was existential for their business model.
This insight changed everything: the pricing model, the feature set, even the visual design. We built for project managers who live in spreadsheets and bill by the hour, not casual task trackers who just want to organize their to-dos.
“That conversation saved us from building a product nobody needed. We would have built a generic PM tool and drowned in a sea of competitors.”
The numbers that matter
Measurable outcomes that demonstrate the value delivered.
Oversubscribed by 2x
vs. traditional spreadsheet methods
Achieved in 6 months post-launch
Professional services firms
Enterprise-grade reliability
Based on NPS surveys
Hear it from them
Real feedback from the people we worked with.
“Hortensia didn't just build Curve—they helped us discover what Curve should be. When I came to them, I had a vision but couldn't articulate the product. They ran a discovery process that clarified ev...”
What we learned
Key takeaways and lessons from this project that inform future work.
Ruthless Prioritization Wins
We cut 23 features from the original scope. The result? A focused MVP that shipped in 16 weeks instead of 9 months. Every feature cut was a bullet dodged.
Complexity Can Be Hidden
EVM has 50+ formulas. Users see simple health indicators like "Project is 15% over budget." The magic happens in the background—complexity abstracted, value delivered.
Discovery Before Development
The 3-week discovery sprint cost $15K but saved $100K+ in avoided wrong turns. We validated the target market before writing a single line of production code.
Built with precision
The technologies and tools that powered this project.
More Work
Discover other projects that showcase our expertise and approach.
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