Custom Software, Mobile Apps & AI Integration | Experienced Team (Chicago)

Hi, I'm Joel Pyska with Sofmen. For more than 15 years, our team has helped businesses build, improve, and support custom software.

Some clients come to us with an idea for a new web or mobile application. Others already have software that needs new features, better integrations, modernization, or help from a development team that can take over an existing project.

I work directly with our clients to understand what they are trying to accomplish, help define the right approach, and stay involved throughout development and testing. If you are not sure exactly what technology you need, that is fine. We can start with the business problem and work from there.

Custom Software Development

• Custom web applications and business software
• iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile apps
• SaaS platforms, customer portals, and internal business tools
• New product and MVP development
• Legacy application modernization and software rewrites
• Enhancements, maintenance, and ongoing technical support
• Taking over or repairing projects started by another development team

AI Development and Integration

We also help businesses add practical AI capabilities to new or existing software. This may include integrating OpenAI, ChatGPT, or other AI services to:

• Automate repetitive business processes
• Extract and organize information from documents or data
• Summarize content, conversations, or reports
• Create internal knowledge assistants and smarter search tools
• Add AI-assisted customer support or workflow features
• Connect AI capabilities with existing applications and databases

We focus on AI features that solve a real problem or reduce manual work—not adding AI simply because it is a popular term.

Integrations and Technical Services

• API development and third-party system integrations
• Payment processing, communications, healthcare, POS, and business platform integrations
• Cloud deployment and infrastructure
• Data processing and automation
• Code reviews, security evaluations, and technical assessments

Technology Experience

Our experience includes React, React Native, Node.js, Python, PHP, Laravel, Java, .NET, iOS, Android, MySQL, PostgreSQL, AWS, Google Cloud, Firebase, Twilio, Stripe, and other APIs and cloud services.

Why Clients Work With Us

• More than 15 years of custom software experience
• Direct communication with an experienced client and product lead
• Ability to understand unusual business processes and turn them into practical software
• Experience with both new product development and existing systems
• Flexible options for individual projects or ongoing development
• Clear communication about scope, progress, cost, and technical tradeoffs

Rates and Engagement Options

• Hourly development services are generally $40 per hour
• Dedicated full-time developers are available starting at $4,000 per month (approximately $25 per hour)
• Fixed-price quotes are available for projects with clearly defined requirements
• Discovery and technical planning are available for larger or more complex projects

Contact Joel

If you would like to discuss a project, call, email through Craigslist, or schedule a time to talk. You do not need to have a complete specification before contacting me. A general description of the problem or project is enough to start the conversation.

• Phone: (312) 586-9492
• Website: https://www.sofmen.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelpyska/
• Schedule a call: https://joelpyska.youcanbook.me/

Learn More About How We Work

These short videos explain our development process, how we approach projects, and what clients can expect when working with Sofmen:

• Working With Sofmen – Video 1: https://youtu.be/ZIjEbIEXVuo
• Working With Sofmen – Video 2: https://youtu.be/8q3PWhVL7b4
• Working With Sofmen – Video 3: https://youtu.be/K9k1TxZWH4w

If you think we might be a good fit, feel free to call or send me a brief description of your project. I'm happy to have an initial conversation and help you determine the next step.