Devon Seacrest and Hunter Dorhout, Codebuddy
After working together at Penlink, Devon Seacrest and Hunter Dorhout decided to launch their own venture, CodeBuddy.
Billed as the “Ultimate Software Development Experience”, CodeBuddy helps you go from concept to launch and build scalable software like the pros with CodeBuddy rIDE. It's fast, it's code you can trust, it's yours.
A seasoned startup founder with experience raising capital, Devon decided to take the accelerator route especially considering this was Hunter's first time as a founder. Since completing the NMotion Accelerator 2023 cohort, Devon and Hunter have continued to grow the company's revenues at a brisk pace.
They have raised two additional investment rounds and just closed on a $872K Seed round. Devon took the time to share what he's learned.
If you could teleport back to when Hunter and you started CodeBuddy, what advice would you give yourself?
Make sure to apply to NMotion and every other opportunity to connect with mentors, customers, advisors, investors, and advocates.
Actively listen to what everyone has to say, but then throw it away and do what is best. Don't over-inflate or under-inflate your ego. Friction is good as long as you are open, honest, and respectful in your communication. Be intense whenever you can but take care of yourself and family when time calls. Invest in your people to take risks and learn from either outcome. Make sure relationships have mutual value. A lot of these messages became our core values.
What has been the toughest decision you have had to make?
In business, the toughest decisions I've had to make are to decide when to stick with an idea or move on to the next. Mostly because of the impact it has on other people.
There are some ventures that I've worked on that I regret leaving to0 soon and some that I'm glad I timed-out because it led me to CodeBuddy. Or having to make changes when people aren't in the right spots or aren't working well with other people.
Who do you lean on to help refuel and recharge your mind/body/spirit?
Co-founder friends. Non co-founder friends. My family. Therapists. My Swedish YouTube yoga lady. My faith and church family. My surfboard.
What hacks and tricks have you developed to connect with customers?
Usability testing individuals who closely match our ideal customer profile. It's a true win-win on multiple levels.
We gain valuable feedback on bugs, user experience issues, and overall product/company direction. They get to voice their frustrations about similar tools on the market and shape a product they might actually use.
We build genuine relationships with potential future customers, not just by selling to them but by listening to them. They get a chance to experience the product in a low-pressure, collaborative environment—without feeling like they're being sold to.
Learn more about CodeBuddy here.
