Chicago Software Studio lead by Jake Dakich

Meet Jake

I’m Zeljko (Jake) Dakich - founder of Built by Dakic, a Chicago-based digital studio with a practical, outcome-driven mindset. I partner with teams who value clarity, momentum, and craftsmanship. My focus: use human-centric technology to solve real problems and ship software that advances your business.

Why I Built This Studio

After years inside large organizations, I saw how great ideas stall: unclear priorities, heavy ceremony, and slow decision-making. Built by Dakic exists to be the opposite - lean, responsive, and disciplined. We keep scope clear, communication honest, and delivery constant.

Human-Centric Technology

Technology should serve people and business outcomes. I design systems around users - not tools - and I choose the simplest approach that reliably delivers. AI is part of the toolbox, but it never replaces judgment.

  • Understand users and constraints first
  • Favor clarity over complexity
  • Build only what moves the needle
  • We use AI to remove friction and accelerate delivery

Super Agile: Week-Long Focused Sprints

Our process is inspired by Agile and modernized for speed and accountability. We call it Super Agile - a one-week sprint rhythm that keeps teams aligned and shipping.

Sprint rhythm

  • Monday: Align on one outcome, define scope, and set a clear plan
  • Tue-Thu: Focused build cycles with fast feedback and visible progress
  • Friday: Ship something real, review, and reset the backlog for next week

What you can expect

  • Tight weekly cadence and predictable delivery
  • Transparent backlog and honest communication
  • Lightweight documentation (AI-assisted where useful)
  • Demos and decisions at the end of every week

What Makes Us Different

Great products aren’t defined by trendy stacks - they’re defined by outcomes. We blend disciplined execution with practical tools to deliver software that is usable, reliable, and on time.

Explore our portfolio of successful projects to see how we turn vision into validated, revenue-driving digital assets.

Our approach includes:

  • Clear, Iterative Delivery: We break projects into small, valuable increments - shipping early and often.
  • Client-Centered Planning: Your goals drive our roadmap, not internal assumptions.
  • Lightweight Process: No unnecessary ceremonies. Just clear roles, regular syncs, and predictable cadence.
  • Tool-Augmented Efficiency: AI helps draft docs, summarize feedback, and automate testing setup - so you get more value per hour.

Values

  • Delivery Over Drama: We measure success by what ships.
  • Transparency: Clear timelines, real updates, no surprises.
  • Simplicity: Remove complexity that doesn’t add value.
  • Genuineness: Direct communication and real collaboration.
  • Excellence: Pride in craft and accountability for outcomes.

Focus Areas

  • Prototyping and MVPs: Validate ideas quickly with working software - not slides.
  • Web and Mobile Apps: Clean, performant applications designed around real users.
  • Marketing Automation: Reliable systems that streamline campaigns and lead capture.

Ready to work together?

We’re here to help you launch, grow, and scale - with a process that respects your time, your goals, and your bottom line.

Get in touch with our Chicago team for a free consultation.