Today we’d like to introduce you to David Hess.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve been working in and with startups for the past 17 years. They became a passion of mine after I joined my first one in 2000. I had been at Texas A&M getting my bachelor’s and master’s in Computer Science and then managing the campus computer network, one of the largest in the country at the time.
I left academia and joined a telecom startup in the DFW telecom corridor as employee #4 to build long-haul optical transmission systems. I helped grow the company to 120 employees and played a key role in the system’s software architecture.
As that company wound down in 2005, I and some co-workers launched a software services company. A year later, we exited via acquihire to FISH Technologies. I spent 5 years there as CTO building ground-breaking experiential marketing technology – tablet, kiosk and cloud software all communicating in real-time with location tracking systems, RFID, barcode readers and other peripherals.
In 2012, I left FISH to start Data Bakery. I had developed the itch to start my own company again and had a product idea I wanted to pursue. By this time, the startup environment had changed dramatically. The growing viability of bootstrapping lowered the barrier to entry for startups which created demand for software product development services tailored for entrepreneurs. Within a year, I pivoted to developing custom software with a focus on startups and other small endeavors.
Five years and over 30 clients later, Data Bakery is a respected brand with a solid track record of delivering innovative, well-crafted software.
Has it been a smooth road?
I believe entrepreneurship is fundamentally about the struggle to develop a product or service that fits the needs of the market. Data Bakery was no different. I knew I could build quality custom software, but I wanted to stand out from other companies in the market by bringing the innovation of a startup to a software development services firm.
Over the year following my pivot to services, I developed a process that clients love and that results in successful outcomes. I researched related practices in other industries and reflected on my time at FISH, which had a similar services business model. The process I was developing was unheard of – I struggled with the uncertainty of breaking new ground – but as I kept at it, my client list grew, and word spread that my clients were happy. Very happy.
The result is a process that has a successful outcome every single time – which is remarkable in the custom software development space.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Data Bakery – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Data Bakery is fundamentally a vertically-oriented custom software development firm. By vertically-oriented, I mean I deliver services from the CTO level (consulting, intellectual property management, business model, etc.) down to writing and deploying code. I’m the single face that all of my clients deal with for nearly every phase of defining, developing and delivering their custom software.
Two key ingredients of my formula are:
- Thorough system design before any code is written
- Fixed-bid pricing of the development
Many times, custom software is conceived and built using the ideas behind mass manufacturing. You combine a salesperson, a project manager, a designer and some developers together, and magic ensues. I believe this process has numerous weaknesses and is a key reason for many project failures.
Instead, I borrowed ideas from fields like law, medicine and engineering. I believe experienced practitioners should focus on delivering services vertically with support staff amplifying their efforts. My success to date with this approach demonstrates that not only is it possible – it should be how everyone does it.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like most about the DFW area is the cultural diversity. A large number of corporate headquarters and technical companies bring in people from all over the world, making the area quite the melting pot. I also benefit from the sheer size of the area in terms of addressable market.
The thing I like least about Dallas is the city politics.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9090 Skillman St.
Suite 182A-251
Dallas, TX 75243 - Website: https://www.data-bakery.com/
- Phone: 2146845448
- Email: dhess@data-bakery.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DataBakery/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Data_Bakery
- Others: http://www.tech-spelunking.com/
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
