PlanIT Impact was a building analytics platform that helped architects and engineers calculate energy and resource costs for construction projects. When development stalled for 6 months, I stepped in to rescue the project and help the company achieve its vision.
PlanIT Impact had an ambitious vision: create a platform that would revolutionize how architects, engineers, and planners make decisions about building sustainability. The tool would link geospatial data with project locations to provide real-time feedback on energy usage, stormwater management, greenhouse gas emissions, and more.
The problem? Development had completely stalled.
A marketing agency had been hired to build the initial version using their own custom framework. After months of work, their developer hit a wall. The custom framework wasn't well-suited to the project's complexity, and without deep development experience, they couldn't figure out how to move forward. The project sat untouched for six months.
That's when I was brought in.
I didn't have the luxury of starting over. The budget had already been spent on the existing codebase, and the team needed a working demo as soon as possible. My job was to figure out the custom framework, understand where things had gone wrong, and find a path forward.
Reviewed the existing working code to understand the patterns and conventions of the custom framework. No documentation existed—I had to learn by reading.
Systematically tested approaches to implement the remaining features. Some worked, some didn't. Each failure narrowed down what would actually work within the framework's constraints.
Focused on getting the app functional, not perfect. The goal was a working demo that could be shown to investors and grant committees—not a production-ready system.
Working as the solo developer, I completed the MVP in under three months. The app could finally be demonstrated and used to pursue funding.
PlanIT Impact was a first-of-its-kind resource impact tool for the planning, design, and construction industries. It linked locally available geospatial data with a project's location to provide visually immersive feedback on critical impact factors.
Joined after 6 months of no progress. As the solo developer, I learned the custom framework, identified the blockers, and delivered a working MVP in under 3 months. The app could finally be demonstrated to potential funders.
The working MVP enabled PlanIT Impact to secure a grant from the KC Digital Sandbox. This funding would be used to rebuild the platform properly for Phase 1—with a production-ready architecture.
I represented PlanIT Impact at the Global City Teams Challenge Tech JAM at NIST Campus in Gaithersburg, MD. When the company's leadership couldn't attend, I stepped up to present the platform to the smart city conference audience.
With grant funding secured, another development agency was brought in to rebuild the platform. I oversaw the development process—reviewing tasks, breaking down requirements, and ensuring the project stayed on track. When they finished, I took over full development with one of my team members to complete Phase 1.
PlanIT Impact secured two funding rounds in 2018 (March and October), plus a $50K LaunchKC grant in 2017 and additional investment from the Missouri Technology Corporation. Total funding: over $1.7 million from investors including Bulldog Innovation Group and Target Hill Capital. The company was listed among Kansas City's Top VC-Backed Companies.
Built the MVP single-handedly, working within the constraints of an unfamiliar custom framework.
Managed the Phase 1 rebuild, reviewing tasks and coordinating development across teams.
Presented at NIST when leadership couldn't attend—going above and beyond the developer role.
"Chris and his team are very responsive and easy to work with. They can take on technical challenges and will work like an extension of your team to see projects through."
Dominique Davison
Founder, PlanIT Impact
Total Funding Raised
Months to MVP
Month Stall Overcome
KC VC-Backed Company
While PlanIT Impact successfully launched and raised significant funding, the company was impacted by COVID-19 and has since scaled back operations. The platform is now used internally. The company's journey—from stalled project to funded startup—demonstrates what's possible when the right development partner steps in at a critical moment.
Whether your project is stuck, your team hit a wall, or you need someone to pick up where others left off—let's talk about how I can help get things moving again.