Filter first on domain specialization: a company where fintech accounts for more than half of its project history has encountered the specific compliance, integration, and architectural challenges you will face. Request case studies of live regulated products and speak directly with technical leads from past engagements. In discovery calls, probe compliance architecture decisions, payment processing edge cases, and security posture. Agile delivery with transparent sprint reporting is a strong positive signal; fixed-scope contracts with expensive change orders are a risk indicator. Communication responsiveness matters in regulated markets, where a compliance question left unanswered for two days can affect a launch timeline.