An Entrepreneur's Journey: Insights from Switchplane MD Tom Fielder

On a recent episode of the Founders Unplugged podcast, host Greg Mccallum sat down for a two-hour conversation with Tom Fielder , Managing Director of Eastbourne-based software engineering firm Switchplane .

Fielder shared the story of how he and his brother started Switchplane back in 2003 out of their parents' garage as "just a couple of software geeks." In the early days, they took on any project for any price to gain experience. It wasn't until 2008 that they began to take the business more seriously, renting their first office space.

One of Switchplane's first major clients was a local taxi firm, for whom they developed a booking and dispatch system - groundbreaking technology at the time that allowed real-time vehicle tracking and booking. This project gave Fielder insight into how technology could transform industries.

Over the past two decades, Switchplane has grown to focus on custom software development and solving complex problems, particularly in helping manufacturers integrate their systems. Fielder discussed their participation in the Digifest conference and plans to speak there again on topics like getting started with AI.

When asked about challenges, Fielder mentioned the difficulty of making topics like AI relevant to different audiences. He emphasized the importance of continuous learning and encouraging employees to dedicate time to professional development.

Fielder sees AI as "your most productive employee" and advises businesses not to ignore it, even if they don't fully understand it. With expertise across many industries, Switchplane now offers AI consultancy services to help other companies leverage new technologies.

For entrepreneurs considering working with an agency, Fielder stressed the importance of clear communication and ensuring projects stick to minimum viable products to avoid scope creep. His journey highlights the value of perseverance and solving meaningful problems for clients.

To hear more from Tom Fielder on his experiences scaling Switchplane over the past two decades, be sure to listen to the full Founders Unplugged episode from tomorrow morning.

Alternatively, you can listen on Spotify, Apple Music and more here.