PROFILE 2019
ENLISTED NAVAL PERSONNEL HAVE ONE OF THE MOST
stressful jobs in the world. Oftentimes, their success—
whether mastering complex navigation systems or keep-
ing the ship safe during months at sea—comes down to
stellar training.
Enter Beast Code, a Fort Walton Beach, Fla.–based
startup fi nding success by changing what high-stakes
naval training feels like through realistic training apps that
incorporate 3D ship and aircraft models.
By building lifelike models of the U.S. Navy’s platforms
in its game-based, interactive software application, Beast
Code is able to offer training with realistic scenarios in lieu
of basic instructions. “For a sailor, taking our course is like
playing a video game. The training materials keep them
engaged, allowing them to grasp lifesaving maneuvers,”
says Beast Code president Matt Zimmermann.
Beast Code is not just creating the most authentic and
engaging software—it’s also accelerating timelines.
In the case of its training software, Beast Code was
to develop apps.
“It’s a source of pride for us to develop
a solution quickly and get it in the hands
of the warfi ghter,” Zimmermann says.
“That’s why we come to work every day.”
For Zimmermann, who launched the
company in 2014 with just six cofound-
ers—there are now 80 employees—build-
ing a culture of committed employees is
a key ingredient for success. Recruiting
people with relevant backgrounds plays
an essential role in the company’s ability
to deliver its innovative products in record
time and is one of the reasons Beast Code
was named to Fortune’s Best Small Work-
places list. “We have diverse teams with a
mix of young engineers, industry experts,
and military veterans,” says Zimmermann.
“Our success really comes down to our
company’s culture.”
These days, Beast Coders are work-
ing on cloud-based offerings that allow
for greater customization and scalability,
and the company is expanding beyond
defense contracts to commercial and
international markets. Once a solution is
built, employees stay committed to the
product, and developers get direct cus-
tomer feedback regarding user experience
and functionality so they can tweak the
product for usability.
“We’re changing the way the military
is doing business,” Zimmermann says.
And that’s the ultimate testament to the
potential big impact of an innovative small
company. ■
How software startup Beast Code is changing the traditional
defense industry, one app at a time.
The Defense
Contractor Creating
the Offense
PHOTO: J.D. COMPTON
ABOVE: When users click on components of this interactive
3D model of a V-22 aircraft, they can view associated data,
like technical documentation or schematics, and actually
operate the equipment. LEFT: (L-R) Matt Zimmermann, CEO;
Christian Wirth, director of engineering; John Zimmermann,
COO; Shawn Shelton, product owner; Crystal Cole, director
of administration; and John Wargo, product owner, hanging
out in the Beast Code lounge.
