What Synapse Studios does

Synapse Studios is a Tempe, Arizona-based custom software development and AI enablement consultancy founded in 2003 by Chris Cardinal (CEO) and Bob Eagan (CTO). The firm operates with just over 40 in-house engineers and consultants, claims 200+ projects delivered over 20+ years, and maintains a 100% in-house development model with no outsourced work. Its client base spans mid-market and enterprise customers across healthcare, IoT/smart home, sports/golf, and real estate, with named engagements for SilverSneakers GO (Tivity Health), PayGround, Breezing Pro, LittleBird, PING/Ballnamic, and Zark Parking.

The company organizes its offering around three pillars: AI Enablement (workshops, readiness assessments, strategy roadmaps, AI agents, governance, and Forward-Deployed Engineers), Custom Software Development (Node.js/React web applications, React Native mobile, HIPAA-compliant healthcare software, IoT companion apps, and QA), and Consulting (CTO-as-a-Service, code audits, and product management training). Its AI capability is built on integrations with third-party foundation models — OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, GitHub Copilot, and Google Gemini — wrapped in proprietary frameworks including the AI Enablement Framework, Build/Boost/Buy decision methodology, AGENT design framework, AI Impact Calculator, and CarbonQA. The firm positions itself as a model-agnostic integrator rather than a foundation-model developer, focusing on operationalizing generative AI for regulated and enterprise buyers.

Commercially, Synapse bills on a value-based time-and-materials basis with multi-year contracts, sells through content marketing, earned media, and discovery-call CTAs, and targets mid-market and enterprise buyers in verticals where regulatory and integration complexity create demand for senior practitioners. The firm is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, no acquisitions, and no geographic expansion beyond its single Arizona headquarters; both co-founders remain active and the leadership team is 40% women.

Name

Synapse Studios

Legal name

Synapse Studios

Website

https://synapsestudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Synapse Studios is a roughly 40-person Tempe, Arizona-based software consultancy offering AI enablement, custom software development, and technical consulting to mid-market and enterprise clients across healthcare, finance, education, retail, IoT, and sports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Software Development Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Other Computer Related Services (541519), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

AI Application Enablement Platforms (Copilot/Agent Frameworks, SDKs) (HDAEANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

DevOps Consulting & Transformation (BPAEAKAA), DevOps, SRE & Platform Engineering (CI/CD, IaC, Containers) (EDABAFAC)

Keywords

• Custom software development
• AI enablement services
• AI strategy consulting
• Mobile app development
• Healthcare software development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

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, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services / Consulting: Synapse Studios generates revenue through professional services engagements including AI Enablement Workshops (30-day sprints), consulting engagements, software development projects, and ongoing embedded engineering partnerships. They bill on a value-based time and materials model, not hourly, with transparent pricing and clear communication.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Synapse Studios is a professional services firm that delivers custom software development and AI enablement services. Its offerings span AI Enablement Workshops, AI readiness assessments, strategy roadmaps, AI agents, process automation, and embedded Forward-Deployed Engineers, combined with full-stack web, mobile, healthcare, and IoT software development. The firm targets enterprise and growth-stage clients with human-led consulting and 100% in-house implementation rather than offshoring.

Product overview

Synapse Studios is a full-service custom software development firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of services built around its core competency of combining 25+ years of software engineering expertise with AI enablement capabilities. The company's offerings span three interconnected service pillars: (1) AI Services including AI Enablement Workshops, AI Readiness Assessment, AI Process Mapping, AI Strategy Roadmaps, AI Governance Framework, AI Agents, AI Process Automation, Forward Deployed Engineers, White Label AI Solutions, and AI Training/Change Management; (2) Software Development including Custom Web Application Development (Node.js/React), Native Mobile App Development (React Native), Healthcare Software Development (HIPAA-compliant), IoT Companion Apps, Quality Assurance & Automated Testing, and User Experience & Product Design; and (3) Consulting Services including CTO as a Service, React Training, Code Audits & Due Diligence, Staffing & Talent Architecture, and Product Management Training. The AI Services and Software Development work in tandem, with AI services augmenting traditional software development capabilities, while consulting services provide strategic guidance and skill development to support the entire portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI Enablement Workshops 30-day sprint workshops that help enterprise leaders build focused, evidence-backed AI strategies through hands-on discovery, live AI experimentation, and prototyping.
• Custom Software Development Full-stack custom software development services including web applications, mobile apps, and enterprise software built with Node.js, React, and React Native for startups, mid-market, and enterprise clients.
• Consulting Services Strategic technology consulting encompassing product management, CTO-as-a-service, React training, code audits, and technical staffing with 100% placement track record.
• AI Readiness Assessment Strategic assessment evaluating operations to prioritize AI investments by identifying where AI can deliver real, measurable impact versus where it should not be applied.
• AI Process Mapping Diagnostic service breaking down critical workflows into component parts to identify where AI can make measurable differences, with AI suitability scoring and bottleneck identification.
• AI Strategy Roadmaps Forward-looking, pragmatic plans helping organizations identify, prioritize, and sequence AI investments aligned with business outcomes using the Build/Boost/Buy framework.
• AI Governance Framework Structured policies, practices, and controls guiding responsible AI development, deployment, and management across organizations including model selection criteria and bias mitigation.
• AI Agents Intelligent software systems designed to automate workflows, decisions, and service interactions with context-awareness, autonomy, and multi-step capabilities using the Buy/Boost/Build decision framework.
• AI Process Automation Agent-driven systems performing tasks traditionally handled by humans faster, more accurately, and at scale, with decision-making, content generation, and contextual interactions.
• Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) Senior software engineers embedded directly within client organizations to accelerate execution of AI Enablement Roadmaps, bringing AI-enabled development fluency and agent implementation expertise.
• White Label AI Solutions Custom-built, unbranded AI agents and tools embedded into client products or platforms for SaaS providers and technology integrators to offer AI capabilities under their own brand.
• Custom Web Application Development Full-stack API-driven web applications built in Node and React serving startups, enterprise clients, and government/academic institutions with complex business workflows.
• Native Mobile App Development Cross-platform iOS and Android development using React Native for mobile applications supporting connected devices, operational workflows, and regulated environments.
• Healthcare Software Development HIPAA-compliant apps for healthcare organizations, medical device apps, and public/behavioral health projects with integration to EHRs, labs, and clearinghouses.
• IoT Companion Apps Connected mobile apps for hardware products enabling device configuration, control, and monitoring via BLE, WiFi, and RFID connectivity protocols.
• Quality Assurance & Automated Testing US-based QA team embedding with development teams to test features, prevent regressions, and build confidence into releases with manual, exploratory, and automated test coverage.
• User Experience & Product Design UX/UI design services transforming complexity into clear interaction for digital products designed for specialized workflows, technical realities, and real-world constraints.
• CTO as a Service On-demand access to senior technical leadership including roadmap validation, team hiring, architecture review, and fundraising support without hiring a full-time CTO.
• React Training Hands-on team-focused training in modern React development using hooks, context, state management, and component architecture for scalable and accessible applications.
• Code Audits & Due Diligence Deep structured assessment of software systems evaluating architecture, maintainability, scalability, and delivery risk for M&A, investment, or internal system validation.
• Staffing & Talent Architecture Technical hiring services helping growth-stage companies design, define, and fill technical roles with structured hiring systems and 100% placement track record.
• Product Management Training Workshops Immersive hands-on sessions designed to level up teams' ability to build, launch, and scale high-impact products combining modern product thinking with real-world delivery experience.
• Product Management & Product Discovery Strategic product management consulting turning vision into velocity through user research, workflow mapping, MVP definition, and risk mapping for startups and enterprises.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deploy AI solutions within weeks, not months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability10 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Globant: Large global IT services and digital transformation firm with significant AI/ML capabilities. Competes with Synapse in AI-powered custom software delivery but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Slalom: Large global consulting firm with deep technology and AI transformation practice serving enterprise and mid-market clients. Overlaps with Synapse's AI enablement and custom engineering offerings, but at far greater scale and breadth.
• Xoriant: Global IT services and product engineering firm offering custom software, cloud, and AI engineering. Overlaps in custom development and emerging technology consulting for enterprise clients, though much larger in headcount and scope.

Direct peers

• Thoughtworks: Global technology consultancy offering custom software development, AI/ML engineering, and digital strategy services. Comparable to Synapse Studios in its blend of bespoke engineering and emerging technology consulting for enterprise and mid-market clients, though Thoughtworks operates at significantly larger scale.
• Rightpoint: Digital experience and technology consultancy offering custom software, AI, and digital transformation services to enterprise clients. Comparable in consultative sales motion and AI-enabled product engineering positioning, though larger in scale.
• Atomic Object: US-based custom software consultancy of comparable size (~50-200 employees) focused on product development for enterprises and growth-stage companies. Directly comparable in service mix (custom software, embedded teams, consulting) and culture of in-house senior engineers, with similar emphasis on long-term client partnerships.
• Modus Create: Digital product consultancy offering custom software, design, and emerging technology services across web, mobile, and cloud. Comparable in consulting-plus-implementation model and enterprise/mid-market focus.
• Sidebench: Boutique digital product consultancy specializing in custom software and emerging technology (including AI) for healthcare and enterprise clients. Highly comparable in size, vertical focus on healthcare/HIPAA, and emerging-tech advisory practice.
• Bounteous: Digital transformation consultancy offering strategy, design, and engineering services with a strong AI and emerging-tech practice. Comparable in offering AI strategy through implementation and serving enterprise/mid-market clients across industries.
• Markovate: AI development and digital product agency offering AI enablement, custom software, and consulting services to enterprise and growth-stage clients. Highly comparable in AI-focused boutique consultancy positioning and service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/synapsestudios
• Facebookfacebook.com/synapsestudios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/synapse-studios

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 Synapse Studios