The special Startups of The Year 2024 Winners Interview series is a celebration of all this year’s Tech Champions around the world.
Tell us about you.
Coffey & Consult is a technology consulting firm based in Norman, Oklahoma, that helps small and medium-sized businesses capitalize on their tech. We specialize in tech audits, hands-on tech training workshops, podcast coaching, and AI integration — all tailored to empower people, not overwhelm them. Our mission is simple: to bridge the gap between technology and business so that our clients can work in their zone of genius and grow confidently in the digital age.
Tell us how your startup is changing the world.
We’re helping businesses turn complexity into clarity. Whether it’s streamlining a company’s operations with a Software Scout™ Blueprint or demystifying AI for small businesses with high volume, we build custom, tech-forward solutions that create real “aha” moments. Coffey & Consult doesn’t just implement tools — we empower people. Our approach transforms businesses from reactive to proactive, giving leaders the confidence to innovate and scale sustainably.
What sets you apart from the competition?
Coffey & Consult brings a rare mix of deep technical expertise and human-centered coaching. We combine the strategic mind of a tech consultant with the creativity of a change catalyst. Our process is hands-on, collaborative, and always rooted in your business goals. We’re not here to sell software — we’re here to simplify it, teach it, and integrate it in a way that fuels long-term impact. That’s why clients come back and refer us.
What does it mean for you to win this title?
Being named Norman’s Best Startup — and the #3 Training & Consulting Startup in the world — affirms the heart of our work. This title recognizes not just our progress, but our purpose. It’s a testament to what’s possible when you put clarity, candor, and community first. We’re honored, we’re grateful, and we’re energized to continue helping others do more with less stress and more strategy.
What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to set out for this mission?
Our team is united by curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for our clients’ time and trust. We are strategists, creators, and educators — and every one of us believes that technology should be a tool, not a burden. We foster innovation by staying ahead of tech trends while staying grounded in people-first values. Together, we’re on a mission to shift how businesses experience technology — with less jargon, more value.
Looking back, what milestone was the biggest turning point for your startup?
Launching our Software Scout™ service in 2024 was a major milestone. It addressed a clear need: SMBs needed unbiased, strategic guidance on their tech stacks — not just more tools. That offering clarified our niche and positioned us as trusted advisors, not just implementers. It’s a reminder that product-market fit isn’t found by casting a wide net; it’s found by listening, iterating, and serving with purpose.
What’s one valuable lesson you learned this year that you’d pass on to other startups?
In 2024, we learned that clarity fuels momentum. When your services, systems, and messaging are aligned, growth happens naturally. We refined our offers, invested in client education, and made tech more approachable — and that translated into stronger outcomes and referrals. The takeaway? Streamline before you scale. Empower your clients, and your brand will grow with integrity.
How do you envision your industry evolving in the coming years, and how will your startup stay ahead?
The consulting and education sectors are moving toward personalization, automation, and tangible use of AI. At Coffey & Consult, we’re staying ahead by combining strategy with service — demystifying AI for everyday users and offering tools that actually solve problems. The future belongs to firms that can teach, translate, and transform. We’re ready to lead that movement, especially for underrepresented and underserved communities in tech.
How do you or your company intend to embrace the responsibility of this title in 2025?
This title is a platform, not a pedestal. In 2025, we’ll use this recognition to spotlight more small businesses and help others grow through results-driven tech education and strategic guidance. We plan to launch a community mentorship initiative and expand our workshop series to underserved sectors. Recognition means responsibility — and we’re here for it.
What goals are you looking forward to accomplishing in 2025?
In 2025, we’re launching a digital course library focused on AI adoption for small to medium-sized businesses. We’re also scaling our podcast coaching program and rolling out tiered versions of our Software Scout™ service to support more businesses across high-demand industries. Every goal is tied to our mission: helping people spend more time in their zone of genius through simplified tech.
2024 has been crazy, with all the new techs, and all the geopolitics fluctuations. What are the impacts of these to your startup, and to your industry as a whole? Be as brief or as detailed as you like.
2024 reminded us that agility isn’t optional — it’s essential. While AI tools boomed and global dynamics shifted, our clients needed not just information, but interpretation. We leaned into our educator role, updated service structures for clarity, and stayed human in the face of hype. The result? Resilience, relevance, and stronger relationships with clients navigating similar change.
We would love your feedback on HackerNoon as a tech publication! How has your experience been with us?
HackerNoon is one of the few platforms where grassroots innovators can sit beside global giants. We appreciate the emphasis on founder stories and real-world tech application. It’s a publication that gets what today’s readers need — accessibility, authenticity, and actionable insight. Keep doing what you do.
Any words of wisdom you’d like to share with us?
Your clarity is your currency. In a noisy, fast-moving tech world, the brands that endure are the ones who stay focused on their purpose. Lead with empathy, build with integrity, and trust that small, smart steps will compound over time. That’s what we’ve done — and it’s what we’ll keep doing!
About HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year
Startups of The Year 2024 is HackerNoon’s flagship community-driven event celebrating startups, technology, and the spirit of innovation. Currently in its third iteration, the prestigious Internet award recognizes and celebrates tech startups of all shapes and sizes. This year, over 150,000 entities across 4200+ cities, 6 continents, and 100+ industries will participate in a bid to be crowned the best startup of the year! Millions of votes have been cast over the past few years, and many stories have been written about these daring and rising startups.
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