BUSINESS

Beast Code to expand into FWB industrial park

Tom McLaughlin
tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com
The company, created in 2014 by a group of seven computer scientists, settled in Okaloosa County two years later. News releases issued by the governor’s office and the county’s Economic Development Council said plans are to expand locally and add 40 new employees to its present 37 by 2021.

Beast Code, an employee owned and operated software engineering company that has called Fort Walton Beach home since 2016, announced plans Monday to double in size in the next three years.

The company, created in 2014 by a group of seven computer scientists, settled in Okaloosa County two years later. News releases issued by the governor’s office and the county’s Economic Development Council said plans are to expand locally and add 40 new employees to its present 37 by 2021.

A company website states Beast Code specializes in operational training, modeling and simulation and data mining, primarily for the military. Expansion will include purchasing new equipment, creating a dedicated quality assurance area and building collaborative work spaces, the release said.

Jobs created will pay well over twice the average income for the area, according to Nathan Sparks, the executive director of the EDC.

When Beast Code moved to Fort Walton Beach, business projections indicated its current facility would accommodate growth for five years, the release said.

“However, since then, Beast Code has been awarded several Department of Defense contracts and operations have quickly scaled to 37 full time employees,” it said.

Expansion is occurring well ahead of schedule, with present calculations calling for the company to employ more than 100 in the next few years, company CEO Matt Zimmermann said in the release.

“The opportunities presented by the EDC and Gov (Rick) Scott, will allow Beast Code to continue expanding its operations and provide greater support to the warfighter,” Zimmermann said.

Okaloosa County Commission Chairman Graham Fountain said the county is “thrilled” to be a part of the growth of the software engineering company.

“As a technology-oriented business led by young entrepreneurs, Beast Code had their pick of places to grow their next phase of operations. The fact that they selected Okaloosa County speaks volumes about our community's ability to accommodate a business like theirs,” Fountain said in the release.

Beast Code’s expansion has moved the company from a Beal Parkway location close to the back gate of Hurlburt Field and into the Fort Walton Beach Commerce and Technology Park.

The move “is proof positive that the City's focus on revitalization of the park is paying off,” Fort Walton Beach Mayor Dick Rynearson said.

Scott called the Okaloosa business expansion a win for Florida families and economy.

“Every time a business chooses to invest in Florida’s communities and create jobs, families win,” he said in the release.