Meet Jamie Thomas | Co-founder and CEO of Cognito Forms

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamie Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I am passionate about solving complicated problems and building things, which drove my aspiration to build custom software solutions. It’s essential for businesses to have the tools they need to solve challenges easily, quickly, and effectively. In 2010, I worked as a consultant for custom software development, and I saw a lot of similarities between the types of applications customers were requesting. I noticed the trends in the problems they were trying to solve, the solutions they sought, and how much they were willing to pay for them. I realized most clients needed custom development to meet their needs but often could not afford the cost.
There were a lot of one-size-fits-all solutions on the market that might have worked for some, but nothing that addressed and solved specific needs, and anything that offered custom solutions ended up breaking budgets. That’s when I decided to develop software that allows users to build solutions for their unique challenges and lead the charge in no-code and low-code platforms.
Ultimately, I knew I needed to transition from consulting to developing reusable customizable solutions that truly solved business pain points and make this technology available to businesses across all industries.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Cognito Forms is a powerful no-code platform that automates the steps to move your work forward. Our passion is to empower customers to quickly build the solutions they need themselves – no developer needed. Cognito Forms is designed for any professional, from individuals to enterprise-level businesses, to easily build online forms to collect consistent data from customers and employees and automate workflows using this information. We support our users and clients with thoughtful customization to fit your current processes, something you can’t get with other solutions. What sets us apart is not only our innovative and intuitive form builder but also what happens after the data is collected. Workflow automation brings the right people into the process at the right time with notifications and task assignments. Through the platform, teams can see exactly which items require action, and it will only show those tasks relevant to the specific team member. This allows them to act and easily move on to other tasks in the workflow process.
What we love about this feature is that it offers a simplified view of the work that needs to be done for each individual user. What’s more, if a task is handled by another team member, it’s automatically removed from their view. There’s no need to assign tasks manually. In fact, they will show up automatically based on the information itself, relieving a common pain point with most task management platforms requiring manual task creation and management.
Information overload is plaguing businesses, and we’re happy to offer a solution that allows users to focus on the tasks that matter most.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It’s hard to narrow down what to do in South Carolina in just one week. I love living here and exploring each of these areas. SC has a mix of city life, outdoor adventures, and beach relaxation, each showing a different side of this diverse state. Day 1: Columbia’s Buzz We’d start in Columbia, where the city’s energy is palpable. I’d grab breakfast at a local spot and then stop by the Cognito Forms Home office historic building located in the Vista. For lunch, Saluda’s is my go-to for its great Southern food. We’d then enjoy a walk around the South Carolina State House grounds and USC campus. In the evening, our family loves Ray’s Pizza with its familiar atmosphere and tasty pizza.
Day 2: Lake Murray Run I love starting my day with a 5k run at Lake Murray, especially along the dam, where the views are unbeatable. We’d then hit the Riverbanks Zoo for an afternoon to see exotic wildlife and explore the beautiful Botanic Gardens.
Day 3: Hilton Head Beach A favorite spot on the ocean, Hilton Head Island is great for sun and swimming. The fresh seafood dining along the shore is unmatched.
Day 4: Charleston’s History Charleston is my next stop; my dad still lives there. We would tour the historic district, walk along the Battery, and have lunch with a harbor view. The afternoon is for exploring markets and galleries.
Day 5-6: Appalachian Adventure I’d end the week backpacking the Foothills Trail. The Jocassee Gorges is one of the only temperate rainforests in the United States and where we’d start our adventure. You’ll enjoy perfect scenery and weather, great company, and challenging but extremely well-maintained trails. On a recent trip, we explored 2 lakes, 7 waterfalls, 3 rivers, 75 water crossings, and 48 bridges and traveled 40 miles.
Day 6: Kiawah Island After such a big adventure, Kiawah Island is my favorite ocean spot in South Carolina to unwind and relax. It’s more secluded and peaceful than other beaches, making it the perfect ending to any visit to South Carolina.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
For this Shoutout series, I want to extend my deepest appreciation and recognition to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and GrowCo, two organizations that have played pivotal roles in my journey and the broader mission of fostering leadership and economic opportunity. Firstly, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has been instrumental in shaping the leaders of tomorrow, including myself and my son. Through participation in BSA, we’ve experienced a unique form of education that prioritizes self-reliance, leadership, and personal growth outside the traditional classroom setting. The BSA’s environment allows individuals to explore their capabilities in a world detached from social media’s constant scrutiny, creating a safe space for personal development, and instilling a belief that one can achieve anything. This nurturing setting is crucial in today’s world, where anxiety often stems from a lack of control and constant evaluation.
Secondly, GrowCo deserves a special mention for its efforts to extend the tech ecosystem beyond the confines of Silicon Valley, fostering entrepreneurial spirit in the Midlands. Their work in creating economic opportunities where none existed before aligns with the broader goal of democratizing access to technology and entrepreneurship. GrowCo’s initiative helps regional economic development and inspires a new generation of tech entrepreneurs to dream big and pursue their aspirations irrespective of their geographic location.
These organizations exemplify the essence of leadership development and create new economic and personal development pathways. Their impact extends beyond the individuals they touch, contributing to a more inclusive and empowered society.

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