Innovation Built in the Mountains
MORGANTOWN, WV — M&S Consulting is proud to spotlight the growing success of the Appalachia Software Factory (ASF), a custom software initiative rooted in West Virginia and designed to transform how businesses, government agencies, and startups build and deliver meaningful technology solutions.
Born from a collaboration between M&S leaders and local technologists, ASF represents a powerful model for regional innovation. It combines enterprise-grade engineering with the builder spirit of Appalachia, creating opportunities for talent to thrive and for organizations to move faster with high-impact digital solutions.
“We started with a simple question,” said Cody Childers, leader of the Customer Development team at M&S. “What if we created a place where developers could build great products together—not just for clients, but also as founders and co-creators? The ASF grew from that dream.”
A Flexible Model for Custom Software
ASF is not a physical facility. It’s a model built on adaptability, community, and real-world problem-solving. Teams are built to match the challenge—whether launching a greenfield MVP, modernizing an enterprise application, or supporting a government data initiative.
ASF specializes in:
- Custom applications and internal tools
- Data science and analytics platforms
- Dashboards, integrations, and automations
- Startup product incubation, including equity-sharing opportunities
The model emphasizes small, focused teams working iteratively alongside clients to understand core challenges and deliver scalable, resilient solutions.
ASF is proudly based in West Virginia, but its talent and reach extend beyond. With a growing pool of developers, designers, and strategists across the region, ASF is tapping into an often-overlooked source of technical excellence.
Why Appalachia?
“Appalachia has always been a place for builders,” said Childers. “From traditional crafts to high-tech systems, there’s a deep culture of making things that work and last. ASF is part of that story, just written in code.”
With strong university partnerships, a rising tech community in Morgantown, and an increasing demand for remote-ready software teams, Appalachia offers an ideal environment to grow talent and deliver results.
Real Platforms Solving Real Problems
ASF has already helped bring several innovative solutions to life:
- Momentum – A greenhouse labor management platform optimizing how growers track, time, and analyze production tasks
- A.Genta Clip – An upcoming AI-powered productivity tool that reimagines how developers use their clipboard, enabling contextual actions like formatting, transcript generation, and code generation
“If you’ve bought plants or visited certain services online this week, there’s a good chance your data touched software we built,” said Childers.
Whether working on internal tools or public-facing platforms, ASF’s goal remains the same: create software that makes a measurable difference for real people.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, M&S Consulting is investing in the continued growth of ASF as a national leader in custom software development and product innovation. The team aims to keep expanding its talent pipeline, support new product launches, and help more organizations harness the true potential of technology.
“Our vision is simple,” said Childers. “More products solving real-world problems. More builders creating software they’re proud of. More proof that great technology can be built anywhere, including right here in Appalachia.”
To learn more about the Appalachia Software Factory or explore partnership opportunities, contact M&S Consulting.