Where innovation meets impact: How Develocode is shaping tech for public good

In Cincinnati’s growing tech community, Develocode, a Black-owned tech company, is gaining recognition for the kind of software development work that sits at the intersection of innovation and social impact. The company, founded by CEO and software developer Marcus Casswell and his longtime collaborator Dennis Smith, focuses on building technology for organizations working to improve public safety, accessibility, and community wellbeing.

Develocode’s projects often begin with founders who are trying to solve real problems in their communities. The team evaluates opportunities not only on technical feasibility, but also on whether the work aligns with its mission of creating practical, people-focused technology.

“We have seen a lot of bad ethics and people getting taken advantage of,” he said. “We wanted to help people who may not have all the money in the world to build an app but are working to build something for themselves and other people.”

Casswell, a self-taught developer who has worked in IT for more than a decade, said he and his co-founder saw too many people taken advantage of in the tech space. They envisioned a company where ethics, transparency, and community impact were core values. That philosophy has led Develocode to partnerships with mission-driven founders, including two emerging companies creating technology with life-saving implications.

One of the firm’s earliest and most meaningful collaborations is with Cocoon Technologies, a company designing a contactless policing solution intended to reduce violent encounters between police and civilians during traffic stops. Casswell said the idea came from a local entrepreneur who approached Develocode about building the application. Together, they developed the LARA app, a tool that allows drivers to verify identity and share information with officers without opening a car door.

As the platform grows, Casswell believes it can help prevent tragedies involving police and motorists.

“We hear about people like Philando Castile and so many others,” he said. “Something like this can keep people safe.”

Another project, A.A.R.O.N. Wearable Technologies, focuses on protecting individuals with cognitive disabilities who may struggle to communicate during emergencies. Develocode helped build a system that includes a mobile watch app, caregiver app, and a web dashboard for law enforcement. The tools allow caregivers to locate loved ones and give officers advance information when interacting with someone who may be nonverbal or confused.

Casswell referenced some cases of children with autism wandering off this year in the Greater Cincinnati area that ended in tragedy. He believes the technology his team built can help prevent similar outcomes.

“It really presses on me when I hear stuff like that,” noted Casswell. “What we are building right now could prevent that.”

Develocode also highlights mission-driven founders through its Founder Fridays series, a video interview program that features innovators who are using technology to address real community needs. The series has showcased local leaders like Mayor Aftab Pureval and experts working in healthcare, public safety, workforce development, and accessibility, offering a broader look at the region’s growing ecosystem of social impact technology. Casswell said the goal is to elevate the stories behind these solutions and show how local founders are using tech to support people and communities in practical ways.

For Casswell, the desire to create technology that supports vulnerable communities is personal. He spent parts of his youth homeless and without family support and said the help he received from others guided his path.

“I was an orphan. I did not really have much of a family growing up,” he said. “I am here because of the good grace of other people, and I want to continue to give that good grace to other people.”

As Develocode grows, the company continues to pursue projects that address public safety, mental health, and accessibility. The team has been in early discussions with partners exploring new mental health technology and expects to see additional social impact collaborations in the future. Through these partnerships, Casswell believes the Midwest is demonstrating that meaningful technology does not have to originate in coastal tech hubs. The company’s guiding principle reflects that conviction. Casswell said, “Tech should work for humans, not the other way around.”