How Our Digital Agency Was Born
Ladies and gentlemen,
My name is Jose Miguel and today, I want to share the story of BerylCode, a small web and app development agency that I recently launched. I hope it resonates with you!
The idea for BerylCode was born back in 2017. At that time, I was at a crossroads between jobs, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty. But I knew one thing for sure: creating software was not just a job; it was my lifelong passion. So, I decided to turn that passion into purpose, to create a platform where I could truly express myself. And let’s not forget, a little income boost wouldn’t hurt either!
I embarked on a journey of brainstorming, compiling a list of phrases that felt cool and inspiring. With this list in hand, I meticulously ensured that the name BerylCode was not already being used by another business and that a web domain was readily available.
I even designed some logos, driven by the belief that the right branding sets the stage for success, even before you have a prototype to show. For me, having the correct name made it feel real before it was real. It was the necessary void for something extraordinary to occur.
Yet, despite my enthusiasm, nothing happened. I didn’t have the money to start, or so I thought. But perhaps the real barriers were my lack of confidence, experience, and enough motivation to push through. I had ideas for apps, tried to implement one, but quickly got demotivated. It’s a feeling many of you might have experienced at some point in your lives.
But here’s the thing: dreams don’t die overnight. They linger in your mind, in your notes, keeping the spark alive. It took six and a half years, a global pandemic, and a newfound sense of confidence, experience, and resources to turn that dream into reality. On June 23, 2023, I registered the LLC entity, and BerylCode was officially born. The domain, which I had bought two years earlier, was finally put to good use, dusting off the remnants of my earlier attempts and symbolizing a new beginning.
One of the driving forces behind BerylCode was a little macOS app called Requesto. I had been working on it for months, my goal with it was to learn Swift and SwiftUI, to expand my skillset, and to master the art of publishing an app to the App Store. Now, Requesto is our first product, a testament to the potential of BerylCode.
Even though Requesto was in development, I had no product to sell. Registering the LLC before having any money flowing in was a risk I was willing to take. If I hadn’t done that, I might have lost momentum and let my dream fade away once more. It’s one of those moments when you have to burn your ships to never return. It’s the leap of faith that sometimes we need to take. From here on, the only path is the one that lies ahead.
As weird as it sounds, the corporate bills I have now to pay, provides the fuel I need to think and work hard to create awesome digital products that delight users. In a sense, it’s a counterintuitive way to start things off but it’s working for me so far.
Requesto is still a free-to-download app with limited functionality, but I have exciting plans to improve it and make it unique. And so far, it has 15 downloads in the App Store. To some, that might seem like a small number, but to me, it’s an achievement I once considered impossible. It’s liberating to break free from the chains of self-doubt, to accomplish not only what others think is impossible but what you once thought was impossible for yourself.
In recent months, I lost my job, and instead of seeing it as a setback, I saw it as an opportunity. I invested more time into BerylCode, and now, we are offering website, app, and API development services alongside our in-house developed products. I cannot envision a day where I’m not thinking about creating digital tools that can make our lives easier.
Our approach to digital product development is distilled into four essential core values:
- We work closely with our clients and users to understand their unique needs and goals.
- We create beautiful, intuitive designs that prioritize user experience.
- We build robust, high-performance applications that deliver results.
- We prioritize security and data protection to safeguard your digital assets.
The competition is fierce, and the odds of success are slim. But I want to give this a shot. I believe that our unique approach to digital product development and our thoughtful products will connect with our clients and users on a deeper level.
For this to succeed, our message must be seen by as many people as possible. I rely on you, dear readers, to spread the word about BerylCode, Requesto, and my passion for digital product development.
I will keep you all updated about this journey. No matter the outcome, you and me will have enriched our souls, at least a little, from this crazy experiment.
Thank you for reading, and for believing in the power of dreams!
