What Don't Panic Labs does

Don't Panic Labs is a privately-held, B2B software product innovation and consulting firm founded in 2010 and headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. The company partners with organizations ranging from early-stage startups to established enterprises and government entities to design, build, and modernize custom software products. Its core service offering is full-cycle product engineering delivered through a six-phase engagement framework (Imagine, Align, Transform, Empower, Launch, Defend), supported by a proprietary platform called Tenzing that bridges business strategy and software development execution. The company also operates the Pathways Program, an education and talent-development initiative that trains cohorts of individuals into software engineers, sponsored by organizations such as the City of Lincoln, Mutual of Omaha, and Doane University.

The company's technology stack is centered on the Microsoft ecosystem (ASP.NET, .NET/C#, Azure, SQL Server) supplemented by modern web frameworks (Angular, React, Vue, TypeScript), mobile development (Ionic, Xamarin/Kotlin/Swift), and cloud platforms (AWS). AI and machine learning are positioned as integral components of their delivery approach, though the company primarily integrates third-party AI capabilities into client products rather than developing proprietary models. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales targeting US-based clients, with content marketing via a technical blog, free software engineering assessment tool, and partner case studies as primary demand-generation channels. Revenue is generated through custom-priced professional services engagements plus paid Pathways Program sponsorships. Visible named customers span diverse industries and include BetterCulture, HobbyTown, Layer, NSWERS, mySalesman, Fourstarzz, Vosaic, and Nelnet.

The firm has operated without disclosed external funding, acquisitions, or leadership turnover for 16 years, suggesting a bootstrapped, founder-led operating model. Its strategic emphasis on AI integration, engineering quality, and talent development through Pathways positions it as a Midwestern boutique consultancy competing on engineering depth and long-term partnership rather than scale.

Name

Don't Panic Labs

Legal name

Don't Panic Labs

Website

https://dontpaniclabs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Don't Panic Labs is a Lincoln, Nebraska-based software product innovation and consulting firm, founded in 2010, that builds and modernizes custom software for startups, enterprises, and government clients. It combines full-cycle engineering services with the Pathways talent-development program and the proprietary Tenzing platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Development & Engineering Services: Custom software product development and engineering services for organizations building new software products or transforming existing ones. The company partners with clients through their holistic engagement framework (Imagine, Align, Transform, Empower, Launch, Defend) to bring innovators' visions to life.
2. Education & Training Services: The Pathways Program provides software development training to individuals and teams, sponsored by partner organizations. This creates a talent development revenue stream while also building the company's community presence.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Don't Panic Labs is a custom software product development and engineering services firm that partners with organizations to design, build, and advance software products. It combines disciplined software engineering with artificial intelligence capabilities and follows a holistic engagement framework (Imagine, Align, Transform, Empower, Launch, Defend). It also runs the Pathways Program, an educational offering that trains individuals and partner organization employees in software development.

Product overview

Don't Panic Labs is a software product innovation company based in Lincoln, NE, founded in 2010. They do not offer a packaged software product; rather, they provide custom software development and engineering services, combining disciplined software engineering with AI capabilities. Their service offerings include strategic advisory and co-creation (Your Vision), full-stack engineering and development (Our Engineering), and workforce education programs (Education/Pathways). A notable internal platform is Tenzing, which bridges business strategy and software development. They partner with organizations to help them discover problems, ideate solutions, and deliver sustainable innovations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tenzing: A platform that bridges the divide between business strategy and software development and strengthens trust within organizations.
• Pathways Program

Products and services

• Custom Software Development and Engineering Services
• Pathways Program
• Tenzing Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Four new Pathways Program graduates per cohort transitioning from diverse backgrounds to software engineering roles
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Doane UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Academic partnership supporting the Pathways Program. Alec Engebretson at Doane University has been a steady partner in the Pathways initiative, providing educational integration for the software development training program.
• City of LincolnminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Sponsor organization for Pathways Program cohort, investing in people early before they have proven resumes. City employees were trained as software developers through the program.
• Mutual of OmahaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Sponsor organization for Pathways Program cohort, investing in developing software engineering talent within the organization.
• AnchovyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Sponsor organization for Pathways Program cohort, investing in training employees as software developers.
• BVH ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Originator of the Layer project idea. BVH Architecture team conceived Layer during a conditions assessment on the Nebraska State Capitol, which evolved into a platform for building lifecycle management.
• BetterCulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to develop innovative online tools that streamline BetterCulture's offerings and broaden reach, pivoting from service-based to product-based company.
• CareerPathway.comcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-created a social media platform that benefits employers looking for talent and students exploring career paths. Helped founder Bo Jones test hypotheses and create the platform.
• ClassBundlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to adapt ClassBundl's rapidly growing online platform using a proven framework for efficient development, ensuring quality parent experience.
• FourstarzzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitected a social media marketing tool now used by major global brands, helping founders Dennis Doerfl and Daniel Troesch bring their influencer marketing platform idea to life.
• HobbyTowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint team created a modern franchise management and POS system with intelligent pricing, powerful inventory management, and better data sharing among stores using Microsoft Azure.
• LayercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Layer CEO Zach Soflin to develop the project information management platform that accelerates design, construction, and operations of buildings.
• LocalAnyDaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelped CEO Mailani Veney transition from mobile-responsive website to mobile app using Xamarin mobile development expertise.
• mySalesmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIterative discovery partnership to evolve mySalesman from idea into an 'innovation machine' for lead qualification in the fencing industry.
• NSWERScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne-of-a-kind partnership informing decision-making for improving outcomes within Nebraska's education and workforce training systems.
• VosaiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelped Vosaic (formerly Studiocode) create a mobile version of their desktop video analysis software to continue meeting customer needs on an aggressive timeline.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Atomic Object: Custom software product development consultancy based in Grand Rapids, MI. Directly comparable: similar size, Midwestern US base, B2B custom software product development with named customer engagements and similar focus on engineering excellence.
• thoughtbot: Software consultancy that designs, develops, and iterates custom web and mobile products for startups and enterprises. Directly comparable: similar custom product development model, similar consulting-plus-product engagement style.
• 8th Light: Software consultancy specializing in custom application development with strong engineering craftsmanship focus. Directly comparable: similar bespoke software product development services, similar emphasis on disciplined engineering practices.
• Hashrocket: Software consultancy offering custom web and mobile product development for startups and enterprises. Comparable: similar boutique custom-development model serving similar startup and enterprise customer segments.
• DockYard: Digital consultancy building custom software products with engineering, design, and AI capabilities. Comparable: similar end-to-end custom product development services for established organizations and innovators.
• Pillar Technology: Custom software development and consulting firm (now part of Accenture) with emphasis on product innovation and engineering-led delivery. Comparable: similar custom product innovation focus and enterprise/startup dual customer base.
• Chariot Solutions: Software development consultancy delivering custom enterprise applications, modern web platforms, and AI-enabled products. Comparable: similar custom software product development services with deep engineering practices.
• Carbon Five: Custom software consultancy partnering with startups and enterprises to build digital products. Comparable: similar boutique custom development model, similar customer engagement style with both startups and established organizations.

Broad incumbents

• Rightpoint: Larger digital experience and technology consultancy offering custom software, design, and AI services. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same custom software/AI consulting space, though Rightpoint operates at significantly larger scale.
• Slalom: Global consulting firm with deep custom software engineering, AI, and digital transformation practices. Comparable in service offerings (especially AI integration and modernization), though much larger and broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dontpaniclabs
• Facebookfacebook.com/dontpaniclabs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2670667

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Don't Panic Labs