Brainfood

What Brainfood does

Brainfood Inc. is a privately held Dallas, Texas-based web design and application development studio founded in 1991 by brothers Ean Schuessler and Erik Schuessler. The company specializes in custom web, mobile, branding, and enterprise application development, with a distinctive open source-first methodology practiced since 1993. Core technical capabilities include Apache OFBiz ERP implementation, feature-driven development, Java-based web applications (the company shipped its first commercial Java site on Acme.Serve in 1997), and automated testing infrastructure using Selenium and Docker.

The firm operates a project-based professional services model, delivering custom-built experiences for desktop, phones, tablets, and smart devices. Pricing is bespoke per engagement, with the company emphasizing that total project costs are typically below the annual licensing fees of comparable proprietary software. Its portfolio spans roughly 20+ named clients across Fortune 500 brands (Pizza Hut, Ryder, Hanson Robotics, KFC, Microsoft, Samsung, TGI Friday's) and SMBs (Uptown Yoga, Henery Press, 20 Feet Seafood Joint), as well as government (DART) and nonprofit (The MAC, Better Block) engagements. Distribution is direct, with no reseller or partner channel; geographic reach is global via remote delivery anchored from a single Dallas headquarters.

Operations are run by a small, founder-led team with no external funding or private equity ownership. The company maintains four wholly-owned subsidiaries (BigFunPrint, SafetyPlaces, HireMe, InfoBubbles) and is COPPA compliant. Brainfood has pursued thought leadership through speaking at JavaOne, ApacheCon, and OSCON, and via hackathon participation including a 2nd place finish at the AT&T Hackathon Dallas 2016. Revenue figures are not disclosed, and as of the most recent available data, the company operates as a stable, niche open source services studio.

Name

Brainfood

Legal name

Brainfood Inc.

Website

https://brainfood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brainfood is a Dallas-based, bootstrapped web design and application development studio founded in 1991 that delivers custom web, mobile, branding, and OFBiz ERP projects to a mix of Fortune 500 enterprises and SMB clients using an open source-first methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Web Design & Development: Project-based custom web design and application development services. Creates custom built experiences for desktop, phones, tablets and smart devices. Pricing positioned below proprietary software yearly licensing fees.
2. Application Development Studio: Custom application development services including UI/UX design, programming, branding, and strategy services for business solutions.
3. ERP Implementation & Consulting: Implementation and development services for open source ERP systems, specifically Apache OFBiz, including business process automation and system integration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Brainfood is a custom web design and application development studio delivering tailored digital experiences for desktop, mobile, tablet, and smart device platforms. The studio also provides Apache OFBiz open source ERP implementation and consulting, branding, UI/UX design, and business process automation services, with projects priced below comparable proprietary software licensing fees.

Product overview

Brainfood is a Web Design & Application Development Studio providing custom web design and application development services. Their portfolio includes client projects such as the DriverUp auto financing marketplace platform, Private iDNA HIPAA-compliant STD testing platform, Hanson Robotics website, JSM Music website with custom CMS, DART One Call One Click transit system using OFBiz, Rosie Pope ERP and editorial site, Madison Partners property management website, and Uptown Yoga studio website. The company specializes in creating unique digital experiences across desktop, mobile, and tablet platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Web Design & Application Development Custom design and development of web and mobile applications for desktop, phones, tablets, and smart devices, including UI/UX design, branding, programming, and strategy services delivered on a project basis to enterprise and mid-market clients.
• Apache OFBiz ERP Implementation & Consulting Implementation, customization, and consulting for the Apache OFBiz open source ERP system, including custom inventory management, order processing, payment processing, and business process automation for enterprise and government clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects consistently cost less than proprietary software yearly licensing fees
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Debian ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEan Schuessler is an official Debian developer. He collaborated in the creation of the Debian Social Contract which inspired the Open Source Definition. Deep involvement in the Debian community since 1993 with contributions including Debian Kaffe package maintenance.
• Software in the Public Interest (SPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEan Schuessler served as President of Software in the Public Interest, an umbrella organization that holds property and provides services for Debian and other Free Software organizations.
• Apache OFBizcoreTechnology or IntegrationEan is active in the Apache OFBiz effort to create a Free Software ERP system. Brainfood has delivered talks on OFBiz at JavaOne, Apachecon, OSCON, and Forum International Software Livre. Brainfood worked on UI design and branding for the OFBiz community.
• Open Source for AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEan Schuessler serves as Chairman of the technical committee for Open Source for America, working to promote open source adoption in government and enterprise.
• AT&T Developer ProgramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrainfood participated in AT&T Hackathon and DevLab programs designed to educate about mobile application development and provide networking opportunities for app builders.
• Better BlockminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJason Roberts' Better Block project - Brainfood collaborates on design and technical development for community and neighborhood improvement projects. Brainfood worked on DART MyRide project connection to Better Block initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• thoughtbot: A design and development consultancy specializing in custom web and mobile applications using open source tools. Directly comparable to Brainfood's open source custom development services.
• Code and Theory: A digital-first creative agency that designs and engineers custom digital products and platforms for enterprise clients. Directly comparable to Brainfood's studio model.
• Work & Co: A digital product studio that designs and builds custom digital products for brands like Apple, Google, and Nike. Comparable to Brainfood in delivering custom web/application builds for enterprise clients.
• DockYard: A digital product consultancy that builds custom web and mobile applications for enterprise clients. Comparable in services-led custom development model with a focus on open source technologies.
• HUGE: A large digital agency delivering end-to-end design and development for Fortune 500 brands. Comparable in serving enterprise clients with custom digital products, though at significantly larger scale.
• 10up: A distributed agency specializing in open source web development, content management (WordPress/WP Engine), and digital platform engineering. Highly comparable to Brainfood's open source-first custom development model.

Regional players

• Neo4j Solutions Partners (open source consulting): Open source technology consulting partners that deploy and customize enterprise systems on open source foundations. Comparable in leveraging open source expertise as a wedge for enterprise services.

Broad incumbents

• R/GA: A global digital agency offering design, technology, and consulting services across industries. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the custom digital development space where Brainfood also operates.
• Frog (Capgemini Engineering): A global design and innovation firm serving Fortune 500 clients. Comparable in delivering custom design and technology solutions but at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• NetSuite / Oracle NetSuite Consulting Partners: Enterprise ERP consulting and implementation partners. Comparable to Brainfood's OFBiz ERP implementation practice, though operating at much larger scale around proprietary ERP.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Brainfoodies
• Facebookfacebook.com/brainfoodcom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brainfood

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Brainfood