Dirigible Systems

What Dirigible Systems does

Dirigible Systems is a privately held, bootstrapped IT services firm founded in October 2018 and headquartered at 2 Locust Lane, Suite 306, Westminster, MD. The firm delivers a portfolio of technology and consulting services including fractional CTO (fCTO) engagements, an "MVPaaS" product-strategy framework, website and web application development, progressive and native mobile app development, IT infrastructure hosting across cloud/fog/edge, IoT prototyping on ARM microcontrollers, and contracting/consulting in Agile, Scrum, DevOps/CI/CD, and Model-Based Systems Engineering. It targets four distinct segments: startups and entrepreneurs (primary), small businesses (primary), enterprise organizations, and government clients including the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.

The technology foundation is full-stack web and mobile development using WordPress with Kadence and Elementor for content sites, Angular with NestJS for dynamic web applications, and Ionic with Capacitor for cross-platform iOS and Android builds. Infrastructure work spans hybrid cloud, fog, and edge computing architectures, with IoT prototyping leveraging Python, MicroPython, and CircuitPython on ARM-based microcontrollers. Proprietary methodologies include MVPaaS for ICP/PMF/GTM-driven MVP scoping and a Context-Based UI approach that adapts content and layout to user behavior, device type, or location.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: professional services consulting (project management and systems engineering), fixed-price development projects with publicly disclosed starting prices ($500 for WordPress sites, $3,000 for Angular/NestJS web apps, $9,500 for mobile apps), and an alternative revenue-sharing model that allows clients to retain full ownership while compensating Dirigible through a share of revenue. Go-to-market is sales-led, driven by direct website consultation requests, Office Hours workshops, community event participation (1 Million Cups Westminster, Carroll Biz Challenge), and a Trusted Partner Network of vetted marketing, financing, and accounting experts. Core leadership comprises Founder/CEO Julius Knapp III (BS Mathematics, UMBC; MS IT Systems Engineering, UMGC; 15+ years DoD/IC), Lead Content Manager Rick Collett, and Jaime Knapp, with disclosed team size of 1-10 employees.

Name

Dirigible Systems

Legal name

Dirigible Systems

Website

https://dirigible.systems

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Systems Engineering Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

DevOps Consulting & Transformation (BPAEAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

DevOps, SRE & Platform Engineering Consulting (BPAHAEAK), Managed DevOps / Platform Operations (Run & Operate) (BPAEAKAO)

Keywords

• Fractional CTO services
• Custom web development
• Mobile app development
• IT infrastructure consulting
• IoT prototyping services

Headquarters

HQ city

Westminster

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 - Project Management and Systems Engineering: Consulting engagement model where Dirigible Systems serves as integral part of client leadership team, managing complex technical projects and designing custom computing systems from cloud to edge.
2. Fixed-Price Development Projects: One-time fixed-price contracts for website development (starting at $500), web app development (starting at $3,000), and mobile app development (starting at $9,500).
3. Revenue Sharing: Alternative payment model where company takes revenue share instead of upfront fees, aligned with client success. Clients retain full ownership of their ideas and business.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dirigible Systems delivers fractional CTO and IT systems engineering services to startups, small businesses, enterprises, and government clients. Core offerings include custom website and web/mobile app development, hybrid cloud-fog-edge IT infrastructure hosting, IoT prototyping, and consulting engagements (MBSE, project management). All engineering work is performed in-house with no outsourcing, and clients may engage via fixed-price projects or a revenue-sharing model.

Product overview

Dirigible Systems is an IT Systems Engineering and Computing Services company offering a portfolio of technology and consulting services rather than a unified software platform. The core offerings include Website and Web App Development (encompassing Progressive Web Applications, WordPress sites with Kadence/Elementor, Angular/NestJS web apps, and mobile apps via Ionic/Capacitor), IT Infrastructure Hosting (cloud/fog/edge computing), IoT Prototyping, and Fractional CTO consulting services. The MVPaaS offering complements the development services by providing product strategy guidance. All services can be engaged independently or combined, with support for entrepreneurs, small businesses, enterprise organizations, and government clients including DoD and Intelligence Community projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fractional CTO (fCTO) Executive-level technology leadership delivered on a fractional basis, helping startups and growing businesses align technology strategy with business goals, manage development teams, and make scalable decisions.
• MVPaaS (Minimum Viable Product as a Service) Consulting offering that guides entrepreneurs and small businesses through defining Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), achieving Product-Market Fit (PMF), and crafting Go-To-Market (GTM) plans to identify the core features an MVP needs.
• Website and Web App Development Design and development of modern, responsive websites and dynamic web applications using WordPress (with Kadence and Elementor) for content sites and Angular with NestJS for dynamic applications, delivered to startups, enterprises, and government clients.
• Progressive Web Application (PWA) Development Cross-platform compatible web applications that deliver an app-like experience without installation, working offline or with weak internet connections and supporting SEO-friendly design.
• Mobile App Development (Ionic and Capacitor) Native mobile application development using Ionic and Capacitor that reuses web app codebases to deploy to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for both iOS and Android.
• IT Infrastructure Hosting Hybrid cloud, fog, and edge computing infrastructure design and hosting services providing scalability, low latency, and real-time processing with dynamic, flexible, and secure infrastructure for clients.
• IoT Prototyping Microcontroller-based prototyping services for IoT device development using Python, MicroPython, and CircuitPython on ARM-based microcontrollers, with sensors, actuators, and wireless communication modules tailored to specific client needs.
• Contracting and Consulting (IT Systems Engineering) IT systems engineering and computing services including Lean Project Management and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), with expertise in Agile, Scrum, DevOps CI/CD practices, and V-Model methodologies for enterprise and government clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully deployed multiple mission-critical computing systems with budgets up to $30M
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AE Studio: AE Studio is a fractional CTO and custom software development agency serving startups and growth-stage companies, offering product strategy, MVP development, and engineering execution — directly overlapping Dirigible's fCTO and MVPaaS offerings.
• Toptal: Toptal is an elite freelance talent marketplace connecting companies with top developers, CTOs, and consultants on demand — competing for the same fractional CTO and senior engineering engagements Dirigible targets.
• Andela: Andela is a global talent marketplace and outsourced engineering services provider that connects companies with vetted technical talent, including fractional engineering leadership roles that overlap with Dirigible's fractional CTO positioning.
• Braintrust: Braintrust is a decentralized talent network for engineers, designers, and product leaders — directly competing for fractional CTO, product, and custom development engagements with startups and enterprises.
• Arc.dev: Arc.dev is a developer matching platform that places senior engineers, fractional CTOs, and product specialists at startups and growth companies — competing in the same fractional leadership and custom dev space.
• Atomic Object: Atomic Object is a custom software consultancy specializing in product development for startups and established businesses, with similar methodology-driven engagements and emphasis on cross-functional delivery teams.

Emerging players

• Glide: Glide is a no-code platform that enables startups and SMBs to build custom web and mobile apps without traditional development — an emerging substitute for boutique custom development services like Dirigible's Angular/NestJS and Ionic/Capacitor offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Thoughtworks: Thoughtworks is a global technology consultancy offering custom software development, DevOps, and platform engineering services — overlapping with Dirigible's consulting, DevOps CI/CD, and systems engineering capabilities at much larger scale.
• Globant: Globant is a large digital and IT services firm providing custom software, cloud, and IoT engineering across industries — competing for the same enterprise and government digital transformation work Dirigible addresses.
• Slalom: Slalom is a business and technology consulting firm delivering custom software, cloud, and digital strategy services — a broader incumbent that overlaps with Dirigible's enterprise transformation and systems engineering engagements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/dirigiblesystems
• GitHubgithub.com/Dirigible-Systems
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DirigibleSystems
• Facebookfacebook.com/dirigiblesystems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dirigiblesystems
• Instagraminstagram.com/dirigiblesystems

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Dirigible Systems