What Geist Interactive does

Geist Interactive, doing business as Proof (legal name Proof Systems & Humans), is a Claris Platinum Partner founded in 1998 and headquartered in Newbury Park, California. The company provides consulting, development, and managed cloud hosting services for the Claris FileMaker platform, targeting organizations that have invested in FileMaker and need to modernize, integrate, or operate these applications. Its core product architecture centers on Ottomatic, a managed FileMaker cloud hosting platform built on dedicated Docker containers with self-serve file management, backups, monitoring, and domain/SSL management; OttoFMS, a free server-management tool that automates data migrations, webhook receivers, file transfers, and offsite backups; and ProofChat, a conversational AI layer that allows natural-language querying, record updates, and workflow creation inside FileMaker applications. Adjacent utilities include ProofKit (an open-source CLI tool with AI-agent integration for generating web code and FileMaker web viewers), FMPerception (FileMaker structure analysis), FMComparison (file diff), Ledgerlink (data synchronization), SimpleQ (queuing for webhooks), and visualization tools (FMLayoutlens, ModLog, fmSVG). The underlying technology stack combines the Claris/FileMaker platform with NextAuth, NextJS, Vercel, and Tailwind UI for web-facing components.

The business model mixes subscription revenue from Ottomatic hosting, professional services revenue from FileMaker consulting and Education Solutions (K-12/Higher Ed via ProofED), and a freemium developer-tools motion where OttoFMS and ProofKit are distributed at no cost to drive adoption into the paid hosting and consulting surface. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for hosting tiers, and the company has achieved SOC2 Type 2 certification to support enterprise sales. The company serves two primary segments: general business customers seeking to modernize FileMaker solutions and integrate them with other systems, and education institutions with multiple systems requiring similar data. Named logos include Netflix, Columbia, Lawrence, and Coffman Engineers, with go-to-market split between a self-serve PLG channel (Ottomatic) and direct enterprise sales (consulting). The company is privately held with no disclosed external investors, operates with 1-10 employees, and has accumulated 7 Claris FileMaker excellence awards alongside Platinum Partner status.

Name

Geist Interactive

Legal name

Proof Systems & Humans

Website

https://geistinteractive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Geist Interactive (operating as Proof) is a Claris Platinum Partner that provides managed FileMaker cloud hosting, consulting, and free developer tools for organizations modernizing and integrating Claris FileMaker applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Newbury Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. FileMaker Cloud Hosting (Ottomatic): Managed cloud hosting services for Claris FileMaker applications with dedicated Docker containers, enhanced performance and control, self-serve file management, and full OttoFMS support.
2. Software Development & Consulting: Consulting and development services focused on aligning FileMaker and the Claris platform with existing systems to build modern solutions.
3. FileMaker Tools (Freemium): Various tools including OttoFMS (completely free), ProofKit (free/open-source), FMPerception, FMComparison, and other utilities. Some tools have paid tiers.
4. Education Solutions: ProofED services for K-12 and Higher Education institutions, helping schools integrate systems and automate processes.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Geist Interactive (Proof+) sells a managed FileMaker cloud hosting platform (Ottomatic) together with a suite of free and paid developer tools (OttoFMS, ProofKit, ProofChat, FMPerception, FMComparison, Ledgerlink, SimpleQ, ModLog, fmSVG, FMLayoutlens) and delivers bespoke FileMaker/Claris consulting, custom development, and education technology services for enterprises and schools.

Product overview

Proof+Geist (Geist Interactive) offers a platform-plus-products architecture centered on the Claris FileMaker ecosystem. The core platform is Ottomatic, a managed cloud hosting service, which hosts FileMaker applications developed and managed using OttoFMS (free server management tools) and enhanced with AI capabilities via ProofChat. Additional tools include ProofKit (AI agent integration for web development), FMPerception (app structure analysis), FMComparison (file comparison), Ledgerlink (data synchronization), FMLayoutlens (3D layout visualization), ModLog (change tracking), fmSVG (SVG conversion), and SimpleQ (queuing system). Services include FileMaker consulting and Education Solutions for K-12 and Higher Education institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ottomatic: Managed FileMaker Cloud Hosting platform with world-class infrastructure focused on speed, security, and flexibility.
• OttoFMS
• ProofKit
• ProofChat

Products and services

• Ottomatic Managed FileMaker cloud hosting platform with world-class infrastructure focused on speed, security, and flexibility for developing, hosting, and deploying modern Claris FileMaker applications, including Docker containers, FileMaker data centers, domain and SSL, backups, and monitoring.
• OttoFMS Free server management tool that helps developers automate data migrations, transfer files between servers, create receivers for incoming webhooks, perform offsite backups, and provides easier access to server features including Server API and Google Groups integration.
• ProofKit Free and open-source command line tool for generating production-ready web code with special features for FileMaker use cases, including AI agent integration via MCP to build, test, refine, and deploy web apps and FileMaker web viewer integrations.
• ProofChat Conversational AI integration for FileMaker applications that enables users to query data, generate insights, update records, and create powerful workflows using natural language commands.
• FMPerception FileMaker analysis tool that provides instant answers about the structure of custom apps, eliminating the need to wait for long analysis reports or settle for stale data.
• FMComparison Comparison tool that provides an actionable list of differences between any two FileMaker files.
• Ledgerlink Data integration tool that eliminates duplicate data entry and synchronization frustrations between systems.
• SimpleQ Lightweight queuing system built in FileMaker that makes it easier to build loosely-coupled applications and is designed to integrate with OttoFMS for receiving webhooks.
• FileMaker Consulting Consulting and development services focused on solving business problems using the Claris platform, including software design, development, and integration with modern technologies like NextAuth, NextJS, Vercel, and Tailwind UI.
• Education Solutions (ProofED) Education technology solutions for K-12 and Higher Education schools, including admissions, student information systems, advancement, and enhanced support, with modern web portals for students and parents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7 Claris FileMaker excellence awards received
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ClariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClaris Platinum Partner - the highest tier partnership status. Proof+Geist serves as trusted advisors for Claris with certified developers on staff. They provide both free and paid tools to the Claris community and play active roles in community-based events and programs created by Claris.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Beezwax Datatools: Claris Platinum partner focused on FileMaker development, custom apps, and integrations, including MBS plugins and DevOps tooling. Direct peer in the FileMaker dev/consulting market with overlapping tooling and hosting-adjacent offerings.
• MightyData: Boutique FileMaker consulting firm serving SMB and enterprise clients with custom development and integrations. Smaller direct peer with a similar consulting-centric, niche-FileMaker focus.
• DB Services: Claris Platinum partner that offers FileMaker development, hosting, and business process automation. Closely comparable to Proof+Geist in business model, customer base (SMB/enterprise FileMaker users), and range of services.
• Codence: Claris Platinum consulting firm specializing in FileMaker custom app development, integrations, and ongoing support. Merged with Mutek in 2024, forming a larger direct competitor to Proof+Geist in FileMaker consulting and managed services.
• Soliant Consulting: Long-standing Claris FileMaker Platinum consulting firm that provides custom development, integration, and hosting services. Direct competitor to Geist Interactive's consulting and Ottomatic hosting business within the same FileMaker/Claris ecosystem.
• Skeleton Key: Claris Platinum consulting firm providing custom FileMaker solutions, integrations, and modern web portals. Competes directly with Geist Interactive's consulting and platform-integration offerings for enterprise FileMaker customers.

Broad incumbents

• AppSheet (Google Cloud): Google's low-code/no-code application platform targeting similar business-process automation use cases that FileMaker custom apps solve. Represents the broader competitive threat to the FileMaker ecosystem Proof+Geist depends on.
• Airtable: Mainstream low-code platform for building custom business applications and workflows. Targets the same SMB/mid-market custom-database use cases that FileMaker historically served, representing indirect ecosystem-level competition.
• Claris International: Owner of the FileMaker/Claris platform, including the direct FileMaker Cloud hosting product. Functions as both platform partner and partial competitor — Claris sells native hosting that overlaps with Ottomatic.

Others

• Zapier: Workflow automation and integration platform that increasingly absorbs the 'connect legacy systems' use case that Geist Interactive's consulting and Ledgerlink/SimpleQ tools address. Relevant as an enabling/alternative ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/geistinteractiv
• Facebookfacebook.com/geistinteractive

Compliance1 record

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 Geist Interactive