What Surf does

Surf is a private software development agency founded in 2011, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware (Delaware LLC, registration 6664129, EIN 88-1178003), with operational offices in New York and Washington D.C. The firm delivers end-to-end mobile and web development services to enterprise and startup clients globally, spanning iOS (Swift), Android (Kotlin), cross-platform (Flutter), backend (Go, Python, Java, Spring Boot), and frontend (React, Vue.js) engineering, plus UI/UX design, QA automation, systems and business analysis, and SLA-based post-launch support. Surf's proprietary delivery assets include the SurfGen automation tool suite across iOS, Android, and Flutter (claimed 20% faster development) and a multi-framework QA automation stack (claimed 80% testing time reduction); the company is also 1 of the first 3 Google-certified software development agencies worldwide and has delivered 25+ Flutter projects since 2019, including the first Flutter-based banking app in Europe (Société Générale).

Surf operates a professional-services, project-based revenue model with dedicated cross-functional teams, typically kicking off with a Sprint Zero predevelopment phase (1-3 weeks, ~5% of total project cost) followed by 4-10 month development cycles and an average 3-year client collaboration duration. Pricing is fully quote-based with no public tiers; the company sells through consultative direct enterprise sales targeting CTOs, Heads of Mobile, and CPOs, supplemented by inbound from content marketing, SEO, Clutch/DesignRush/Manifest analyst rankings, and case-study-led demand generation. Surf segments its go-to-market across six primary verticals—fintech/banking, e-commerce/retail, foodtech, healthcare, HR, and enterprise/ERP—with named clients including KFC, Burger King, Société Générale, State Bank of India, SAP, Mars, Forbes, and a Y Combinator-backed Pakistani neobank. Leadership consists of CEO Vladi Makeew; the company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

Surf

Legal name

Surf

Website

https://surf.dev

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Surf is a private, 250+-employee mobile and web software development agency with US offices, delivering Flutter, iOS, Android, and backend engineering to enterprise and startup clients across fintech, foodtech, e-commerce, and healthcare verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Software Development Services: End-to-end mobile and web development services for enterprises and startups. Project-based engagements with dedicated teams. Services include design sprint, development, testing, and post-launch support under SLA.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Surf is a mobile and web development agency providing custom software development services including design, native iOS/Android development, Flutter cross-platform development, web and backend development, test automation, and SLA support. The firm delivers dedicated project teams for enterprises and startups, with proprietary tooling (SurfGen) that accelerates development by up to 20% and automated testing that reduces QA time by 80%.

Product overview

Surf is a mobile and web development agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of software development services. The service portfolio spans design services (Design Sprint, CJM Workshop, UI/UX Design), mobile development (iOS, Android, Flutter/Cross-Platform, Turnkey development), web development (Frontend, Backend, Golang, PWA), and support services (Test Automation, SLA Support, Project Management, Business/Systems Analysis). These services are organized into general development services and industry-specific solutions covering Neobank/Fintech, E-commerce/Shopping, Healthcare, HR, and ERP development. Surf operates as a software development services provider rather than a single unified product, delivering custom solutions for enterprise clients and startups globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design Sprint A predevelopment research phase lasting 1-3 weeks to assess project scope, timeline, and visualize the end product concept, helping justify budget and minimize risks.
• CJM Workshop Customer Journey Map workshop lasting up to 5 days to identify user needs and synchronize product vision between Surf and client teams.
• UI/UX Design Services User interface and experience design services including customer journey mapping, user flows, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.
• iOS App Development Native iOS application development using Swift, with tools including SurfGen for automation. Includes predevelopment, custom development, and testing services.
• Android App Development Native Android application development using Kotlin and Java, leveraging technologies like Jetpack Compose, Clean Architecture, and MVP/MVVM/MVI patterns.
• Flutter App Development Cross-platform mobile app development using Flutter framework, enabling single codebase for iOS and Android with 60% time/budget savings.
• Cross-Platform Apps Development Cross-platform development services using Flutter to create native-like iOS and Android apps with one code base, 80-95% code reusability.
• Backend Development Scalable, fault-tolerant backend development for high-load solutions using Go, Python, Spring Boot, Kotlin, Java, with databases like PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Redis.
• Golang Development Backend systems and API development using Go programming language with microservice architecture, featuring 90% faster release deployment through DevOps practices.
• Web Development Custom web application development with complex business logic, including customer portals, B2B portals, Flutter web apps, and admin panels using Java, Golang, React, Vue.js.
• Frontend Web Development

Quantifiable outcome

• 27% increase in monthly active users in 6 months for banking application
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Genpact: Global professional services and digital transformation firm with a sizable custom application development practice. Overlaps with Surf on enterprise app delivery across financial services and consumer verticals.
• Globant: Large global IT services and digital transformation firm with deep expertise in mobile, AI, and platform engineering. Overlaps with Surf's enterprise app development and vertical specialization, but at significantly larger scale.
• Slalom: Global consulting firm with a strong technology and engineering practice delivering custom digital products. Comparable to Surf on enterprise custom development and vertical solution selling.
• Accenture: Largest global IT services and consulting firm with extensive custom mobile and web engineering capabilities. Comparable to Surf on enterprise app development, though at a vastly different scale and breadth.
• EPAM Systems: Global digital engineering services provider with strong presence in custom software development and platform services. Comparable to Surf in custom mobile/web delivery and Fortune 500 client base, but operates at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Thoughtworks: Global technology consultancy focused on custom software engineering, digital transformation, and platform modernization for enterprises. Comparable to Surf in custom mobile/web delivery and enterprise-first GTM.
• Andela: Global talent marketplace and managed engineering services provider connecting enterprises to vetted developers. Directly comparable to Surf's dedicated-team, project-based delivery for both enterprise and startup clients.
• Ciklum: Global custom software development and digital transformation company offering dedicated engineering teams. Closely comparable to Surf in service portfolio, dedicated-team delivery, and enterprise customer base.
• BairesDev: Large nearshore custom software development agency offering dedicated engineering teams across mobile, web, and backend. Closely comparable to Surf in services portfolio, dedicated-team model, and enterprise targeting.
• Toptal: Freelance network of vetted software engineers, designers, and finance experts serving enterprise clients. Comparable to Surf on the talent-matching/custom development axis, though Toptal operates more as a marketplace.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SurfGroupLLC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Surf