In late 2013, Forbes magazine reported there were 1 million mobile applications in the Apple Store. Of the more than 25,000 added each month, only one in 13 are business-related. In Springfield, The App Pros LLC are hoping to bump up that proportion while providing a competitive edge for area businesses.
The company was launched in June 2011 by CEO Jody Chaffin, formerly with Bolivar-based software company Duck Creek, which had been acquired by Irish tech giant Accenture. He recruited McKesson Corp. associate David Rutter to serve as chief innovation officer and the two set up shop in leased space at the Jordan Valley Innovation Center. In March 2013, they took a short hop down the block to become inaugural tenants in The eFactory, located in Missouri State University’s Plaster Center for Free Enterprise and Business Development.
Specializing in development of mobile apps on Apple iOS, Android and WindowsPhone platforms, the pair found a fertile environment within the bustling hub of MSU’s business incubator. Chaffin says the spirit of innovation at the new location is unique to the area and plays a big part in company success, which is evidenced by a half-dozen repeat customers and 25 percent average revenue growth since 2012.
“Back when we started the business in June 2011, there was really nothing that brought entrepreneurs together and promoted that environment,” he says. “Since The eFactory opened a year ago in March, there’s a feeling that Springfield really wants to become that Midwest technology hub.”
While noting tech startups are traditionally more likely to be ahead of the curve in integration of mobile apps into their business plans, Chaffin says any business in the modern wireless age will likely need some type of mobile app platform, either for internal communications or connecting with customers.
“Just as websites were in the late 1990s and 2000s, mobile apps have become a business necessity in this decade,” he says. “Now that people are starting to understand mobile, we’re showing them that staying on the forefront of the technology can improve their productivity, lower their costs and increase their market presence.”
To help clients meet those challenges, The App Pros currently employs a team of three: Chaffin, Rutter and a full-time developer, as well as one as-needed contract programmer. The company also has benefited from some pro bono assistance, utilizing the business development expertise of Chaffin’s wife, Angela, and recruiting a student from MSU’s computer sciences program for a summer internship.
Beyond providing a vital 21st-century business service, The App Pros have a strong commitment to community service. A progressive and flexible paid-time off policy offers staff extra hours each year to complete charity service projects on the company’s tab, which have included work with Convoy of Hope and rebuilding efforts after tornados in Joplin, Moore, Okla., and Slidell, La.
Click here to read about other honorees.
