37 Gears

What 37 Gears does

37 Gears, Inc. (DBA: 37 Gears Web Engineering) is a Columbia, South Carolina-based web engineering firm founded in 2011 by Tom Lacas. The company designs and develops custom websites, digital platforms, and purpose-built software for government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and select enterprise clients. Its core service lines are Web Design & Development and Purpose Built Software, delivered as bespoke project-based engagements rather than packaged products. Notable technical components include modern content management systems, mobile-friendly responsive design, SEO-ready architecture, W3C/508 accessibility compliance, custom eligibility screening systems, multi-language translation capabilities, and immersive 360-degree virtual environments used in educational contexts.

The firm's client portfolio is heavily weighted toward public-serving organizations. Government engagements include First Five South Carolina, First 5 Nevada, First Five Hawaii, the NC Partnership for Children, the SC State Treasurer's Office, the SC Attorney General's Office, SC Emergency Management Division, SC ETV (Reconstruction 360), and SC First Steps. Nonprofit clients include the SC Medical Association, SC Bar, Unumb Center for Neurodevelopment, Palmetto Vision Alliance, and One Columbia. Enterprise work is limited but includes AstenJohnson (global manufacturing) and MGC (law firm). Quantifiable outcomes include 37,016 families served through the First Five SC eligibility screener, a 78% eligibility match rate, and 62% after-hours engagement.

37 Gears operates a project-based professional services model with custom pricing and multi-year contracts, conducting direct client engagement with no intermediary channels. The company is privately held and founder-owned, with no disclosed funding, parent company, or external investment. Geographic footprint has expanded from South Carolina into North Carolina, Nevada, and Hawaii, with a 2023 Webby Honoree recognition (First Five SC) and multiple ADDY awards for the Reconstruction 360 project supporting its brand positioning in the civic-tech and nonprofit digital services space.

Name

37 Gears

Legal name

37 Gears, Inc.

Website

https://37gears.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

37 Gears is a Columbia, SC-based web engineering firm designing custom websites and purpose-built software for government agencies, nonprofits, and select enterprises across multiple U.S. states, with a focus on accessible, family-facing service platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

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. Custom Web Design & Development: Project-based professional services delivering custom web design, development, and digital transformation solutions to government agencies, nonprofits, and enterprise clients. Engagements include discovery, design, development, testing, launch, and training phases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

37 Gears is a web engineering firm that provides custom web design and development services along with purpose-built software solutions for government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and enterprise clients. Deliverables include custom websites, mobile-friendly responsive design, CMS implementations, eligibility screening systems, member portals, and 360-degree virtual environments. Engagements follow a project-based professional services model covering discovery, design, development, testing, launch, and training.

Product overview

37 Gears is a web engineering company offering two core service lines: Web Design & Development and Purpose Built Software. These services are delivered as custom solutions tailored to each client's needs, with no fixed product modules or platform architecture. Web Design & Development encompasses custom web design, mobile-friendly design, CMS implementation, and SEO optimization. Purpose Built Software provides tailormade solutions for specific organizational needs such as grant management and payment processing. The company works primarily with public-serving organizations to create accessible, effective digital tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Web Design & Development

Quantifiable outcome

• 37,016 families served through eligibility screener with 78% eligibility rate and 62% engagement after regular office hours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 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

Feature4 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CivicPlus: Provider of integrated civic engagement, website, and notification platforms for local governments; serves a similar government client base but through packaged SaaS products rather than custom builds.
• Granicus: Established SaaS provider of digital experience, communications, and workflow software to government agencies; broader product suite than 37 Gears but overlapping customer base in state and local governments seeking digital transformation.

Direct peers

• Forum One: Washington, DC-based digital agency building custom web platforms for nonprofits, foundations, and federal agencies; competes head-to-head with 37 Gears for the same public-serving client segment and uses similar content management stacks.
• Big Duck: Communications and branding agency serving nonprofits with messaging, websites, and audience research; overlaps with 37 Gears' nonprofit segment though more weighted toward branding.
• Hero Digital: Digital transformation agency specializing in associations, nonprofits, and public sector clients with strategy, design, and engineering capabilities directly comparable to 37 Gears' offering.
• Blue State: Digital agency building platforms, sites, and campaigns for nonprofits, cultural institutions, and mission-driven brands; comparable use of storytelling, immersive experiences, and integrated software delivery.
• Nava: Public-interest technology consultancy building digital services for federal, state, and mission-driven clients; comparable custom-build approach and government/nonprofit focus.

Emerging players

• Higher Logic: Membership and engagement platform for associations and nonprofits; competes for the SC Bar, SCMA, and similar association clients with packaged software rather than custom builds.

Others

• Code for America: Nonprofit civic technology organization building digital tools for government service delivery, including benefits eligibility screening; conceptual analog to First Five SC though nonprofit rather than commercial.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/37-gears

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 37 Gears