By: Kattie Muniz
Jon Darbyshire’s journey through the tech industry blends vision, persistence, and innovation. With extensive experience in the field, he has built an impressive career rooted in technical expertise and an understanding of business. His career path from Archer Technologies to SmartSuite is a testament to how dedication to innovation and a customer-focused approach can create a lasting impact.
The Early Days: EY and Archer Technologies
In his early career, Jon Darbyshire had the rare opportunity to rise through the ranks at Ernst & Young (EY). He was already a National Partner at EY, where he played a key role in building and managing a global consulting practice. This required strong leadership and the ability to manage complex business challenges while staying focused on the overall goals. His time at EY sharpened his consulting skills and helped solidify his understanding of the broader technology landscape.
Jon’s passion for technology led him to found Archer Technologies, where he took on the challenge of pioneering the Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) sector. This move would prove to be a defining moment in his career. Archer Technologies grew to serve a wide range of clients, including many top financial services firms and Fortune companies. Through Archer, Jon contributed to improving how businesses approach risk and compliance, helping create practical and user-friendly software. His focus on simplifying complex challenges and delivering clear solutions played a key role in the company’s approach.
Building Smartsuite: A Vision for No-Code Solutions
Archer’s success led to its acquisition by EMC, a significant moment in Jon’s career. After the acquisition, Jon took a brief break from the tech world, during which he advised and invested in early-stage tech companies, including Rapid7. However, his interest in innovation and development remained strong, and he eventually focused on creating a platform to help teams manage work and automate business processes.
SmartSuite was developed as the culmination of Jon’s years of experience, built from his desire to create something new in the no-code software space. The idea behind SmartSuite was simple: to provide companies with a platform that allows them to automate and manage work efficiently without the need for complex coding. Unlike many other startups seeking outside funding to grow, Jon decided to bootstrap SmartSuite, building the platform over three years with a team of developers. This approach allowed for a meticulous focus on quality and vision, ensuring that SmartSuite was ready to meet the needs of its users from day one.
“We didn’t want to rush the process,” Jon explained in an interview. “SmartSuite needed to be something businesses could rely on from the start. We focused on customer feedback every step of the way, ensuring we were building something that could solve real problems.”
By the time SmartSuite launched in Q1 2023, The platform had established a strong foundation, and it quickly gained traction. In its first year, SmartSuite saw significant growth and is expected to continue expanding in the coming years.
A Customer-First Approach: The Key to Smartsuite’s Success
SmartSuite takes a collaborative approach by involving its customers in the development process. Jon has made it a priority to gather feedback from users, partners, and the wider business community. He regularly hosts bi-monthly webinars titled “What’s New at SmartSuite,” where he shares updates and demos of the platform. These sessions consistently draw over live attendees, a testament to the strong community that SmartSuite has made notable progress in a relatively short period.
“We listen to our customers,” Jon emphasized during a recent webinar. “Their input shapes the roadmap for SmartSuite. We believe that the products are the ones that evolve based on real-world requirements.”
This customer-focused approach has helped SmartSuite establish a presence in the work management space. While some platforms try to cover a wide range of functions, SmartSuite focuses on offering a straightforward solution that helps businesses work more efficiently.
His clear and effective communication marks Jon’s leadership. Whether engaging with developers or business leaders, he has a talent for explaining complex ideas in an accessible way, helping to build trust with both his team and customers.
Jon Darbyshire’s path from Archer Technologies to SmartSuite highlights his strong grasp of the tech industry and his ability to address evolving business needs. His focus on innovation and customer engagement has shaped his approach to the changing tech landscape. Whether developing software or supporting emerging tech entrepreneurs, Jon’s work continues to influence the industry.
Published by Charlie N.
