Innovation

Seadev was founded by James and Cassandra Price, who envisioned creating a company that “honors God and loves others.” Holding this core value at heart along with James’ desire for more meaningful work beyond corporate benefits, James and Cassandra Price moved to Da Nang, Vietnam from the U.S., and created a digital marketing and software development company in 2011, called Seadev. What had originally been focused on creating high-quality websites for international clients, Seadev has developed into providing efficient digital solutions for shed companies across the U.S. and Canada, guided by their sub-product named “ShedPro.” 

Today, Seadev continues to pursue their mission to create real economic and social change for the people working at Seadev and communities through the “Seadev Academy” and “Improve Lives Fund”, led by their 1% Improvement business model. Through the “Seadev Academy,” Seadev aims to reduce poverty and provide quality education in Vietnam by providing opportunities for hands-on experiential learning, internships, and software skill-development in order to move people from low-income to middle-class through tech careers. Moreover, Seadev has established what is called an “Improve-Lives” fund, which collects 15% of its profits (1.5% of revenue), to improve the lives of local communities, such as through orphanage renovations and financial support for those affected by natural disasters (e.g., typhoons, floods, landslides, etc). 

Seadev’s 1% improvement model fosters a people-focused work culture, ensuring an inclusive “Seadev Family” that encourages employees to participate in community-support projects, contributing to Decent Work and Economic Growth. 

Inspiration

James’ inspiration, he revealed, was not only from a desire to add value and create a bigger impact for communities, but also from his father, who was a dedicated educator. Growing up in a small town in the U.S., James would often be present when students, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, would approach his father to express gratitude for the impact he had made in their lives. It wasn’t just a simple “thank you” they offered; it was a heartfelt acknowledgement of a life trajectory forever changed. Listening to these deeply personal expressions of gratitude of how his father’s education career commitment had empowered entire families and communities, James was struck with a passion to create such life-changing impact in people’s lives just as his father did. He realized that the greatest and most last form of success wasn’t measured in revenue, but in the ability to give back that kind of fundamental opportunity. He didn’t want to just create products; he wanted to create pathways. This formative experience became the cornerstone of Seadev, driving its mission to leverage the economic power of the digital world to offer life-changing education and high-value jobs in Vietnam, forever linking the company’s growth to the virtuous cycle of generational uplift that he first witnessed through his father. This inspiration as a result created a vision run by Seadev’s core objective of “Create jobs, improve lives, and Make awesome stuff.”

Overall impact

Seadev’s “1% Improvement” innovation has been transformative both within the company and the surrounding communities. Through the Seadev Academy, many employees have evidently reaped the economic benefits of Seadev’s practice of making small incremental improvements in every area of the company, enabling aspiring developers to pursue and maintain a career path that is 5 to 10 times that of the monthly average salary of $150 USD. 

For example, one of Seadev’s first employees was an intern from a disadvantaged background who aspired to become a web developer. Seadev then began providing opportunities to develop the necessary skills and knowledge, as well as opportunities to participate in real-world projects. As a result of his tremendous progress, his salary increased, enabling him to fund his brother’s university tuition and pay off his parents’ house and land debt. The story of this former Seadev intern provides evidence of the real change in people’s lives that Seadev has already created and continues to strive for today. Through Seadev’s pursuit of incremental improvements for employees, opportunities are created for individuals to slowly climb the ladder in pursuing a tech career in order to make a more livable salary that could change lives of theirs and their families. 

Moreover, Seadev’s “Improve Lives” Fund has had a significant impact on local communities. For example, Seadev connects with orphanages to fund facility renovations and engages the Seadev family to spend quality time with the children, as well as funding organizations that provide aid to those displaced by typhoons and floods in Vietnam. Seadev aims to continue enhancing employee engagement with local communities, as well as to incrementally increase the fund by 5% every year. 

Business benefit

Through this innovation, Seadev has evidently grown in revenue and employee size, originally starting with only two employees and $12,000 in revenue, and now having around 43 employees, serving over 170 clients across North America. Evidently, Seadev’s “1% improvement” business model has encouraged and allowed employees to further develop their skills and knowledge through access to real-world projects, enabling them to not only improve their personal financial security, but to also impactfully contribute to maintaining and improving Seadev’s work. A major outcome of this innovation is successfully positioning Seadev as a leader in the portable-building software niche, through the product of its 3D Shed Configurator, an interactive online tool that allows customers to design, customize, and purchase portable buildings with ease. As a result of Seadev’s vision in supporting aspiring software developers in pursuing their careers, Seadev continues to not only provide opportunities for life-changing financial improvements, but also to establish an effective and united team that continues to strive for making Seadev “the best” at its work in the industry. 

Moreover, Seadev’s innovation has resulted in the “Improve Lives” project, dedicated to improving the wellbeing of individuals in the “Seadev Family” and of the communities around. As a result, members of the Seadev family thrive from Seadev’s tight-knit culture that recognizes everyone for their contributions and role in the company, creating a work environment that encourages conscientiousness and a drive for excellence, a value of people and community, and a habit of making 1% improvements in their daily lives, such as in their work and relationships. 

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Social and environmental benefit

Incorporating 1% improvements in Seadev’s interpersonal relationships, operations, and humanitarian projects have evidently made a positive difference in Vietnam. The Seadev Academy has directly addressed the socioeconomic disparity and skill gaps that exist in Vietnam. Furthermore, many people live off a monthly average salary that is not enough to both resolve financial struggles (e.g., debt), while being able to sufficiently provide for them and their families. This inclusive initiative gives anyone and everyone the opportunity to pursue a tech career sustainably, not only to fulfill their aspirations in becoming a skilled software developer, but also to make salaries that could change the course of their and their families’ financial state. This initiative aims to equip people, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds in Vietnam, with work skills that can move them from low-income to middle-class, helping alleviate poverty in Vietnam. 

In addition to providing quality education necessary for a successful tech career, Seadev reinvests 1.5% of their revenue into supporting community welfare projects, benefitting orphans through renovated living facilities as well as natural disaster relief, strengthening community resilience and social well-being. Together, Seadev’s innovative initiatives not only drives business success, but also actively improves lives by equipping individuals with skills that can pull them out of poverty, as well as practicing their core values through community outreach projects, thus creating real economic and social differences in Vietnam. 

Interview

James Price, CEO

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