Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

Softeq

Softeq Development Corporation is a privately held company based in Houston in the US State of Texas that offers full-stack development company focusing on low-level programming hardware,, and software apps for web, desktop, and mobile. Softeq builds end-to-end IoT and cloud infrastructure solutions, and provides technology business consulting services.

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Jul 30, 2026
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Softeq Development Corp.
TypePrivate company
Founded1997 (1997)
HeadquartersHouston, Texas, United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Christopher A. Howard
(Founder & CEO)1
Services
  • Hardware
  • Embedded
  • Mobile
  • Web
  • Desktop
  • IoT
  • Blockchain
  • Robotics
  • AR/VR solutions
  • Game apps
Number of employees
>500 (2023)
Websitewww.softeq.com

Softeq Development Corporation is a privately held company based in Houston in the US State of Texas that offers full-stack development company focusing on low-level programming (drivers, firmware,) hardware, (from PCBs to full-scale devices), and software apps for web, desktop, and mobile.2 Softeq builds end-to-end IoT and cloud infrastructure solutions, and provides technology business consulting services.

History

Softeq was founded by Christopher A. Howard in Houston, Texas in 1997. The name “Softeq” is a combination of the terms "software" and "technical". That year, the company secured Compaq as its first client, developing the Compaq PC Theater during the early days of the convergence of computers and television technology. Softeq was involved in app development for the HP iPAQ handheld PDA. In 2001, Compaq was acquired by Hewlett-Packard.3

In 2008, the company opened a full-stack research and development (R&D) center in High Tech Park located in Minsk, Belarus, which became its development center, and now has 300 employees.45

In 2018, Softeq acquired NearShore Solutions GmbH. which was rebranded as Softeq Development GmbH and became Softeq's European sales office in Munich, Germany.6

In 2020, Softeq established a sales office in London, United Kingdom. In November 2020, Softeq Innovation Lab was launched, which is a virtual lab with online boot camps for corporate executives and product teams.7

In February 2021, Softeq opened a full-stack development center in Vilnius, Lithuania. Later that year, the company launched a startup accelerator program – Softeq Venture Studio.8

In 2022, Softeq Venture Fund,9 was created to provide capital to the Softeq Venture Studio.1011

Softeq is a Gold Application Development Partner of Microsoft, Xamarin Authorized Consulting Partner, and an official member of Apple Inc.’s MFi Program.5

Brands

DURATEQ

DURATEQ is a handheld device designed for assistive listening and closed captioning in public venues.1213 The system was developed with contributions from the WGBH Media Access Group (MAG) and the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM).1415

The device has been deployed across multiple sites, including facilities operated by the National Park Service,16 as well as locations such as George Washington's Mount Vernon, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, the World of Coca-Cola museum, the Hall at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Massachusetts,1718 AT&T Stadium in Dallas,192021 and the National Museum of the American Indian.

Softeq Venture Studio

Softeq Venture Studio is a startup accelerator established in 2021.2223 The studio provides engineering support, startup development services, and funding to early-stage companies in exchange for equity.24 Participant enrollment began in October 2021. In 2022, the studio organized two cohorts, bringing the total number of participating startups to 49.25 Participating companies have included startups in areas such as wellness, medical technology, and sports technology.2627

Softeq Venture Fund

Softeq Venture Fund is a venture capital fund established in 2022 with a reported size of $40 million.28 The fund provides capital to companies associated with Softeq Venture Studio and participates in seed and Series A funding rounds. Jumana Capital,9 a Houston-based single-family office, invested in the fund in 2022,27 and Royal Eagle Capital Partners committed $3 million in the same year.29

Softeq Innovation Lab

Softeq Innovation Lab is an initiative launched in 2020 in Houston, Texas.30 It includes training programs and collaborative projects for corporate teams working on product development and innovation.31 The program covers areas such as IoT, artificial intelligence, and computer vision, and includes collaboration with external participants.

Spinoffs

Softeq Flash Solutions

Softeq’s spin-off became part of SK Hynix's R&D center for flash memory products. Softeq established a team of flash firmware and software engineers with experience in semiconductor and flash memory projects. The team was spun off as Softeq Flash Solutions.32 In 2014, South Korean SK Hynix, the world's second-largest memory chip maker acquired the NAND Flash memory development unit of Softeq in Minsk leading to the formation of Softeq Flash Solution LLC.33

zGames

zGames LLC, the game development brand of Softeq, was launched in 2008.34 The company provides full-cycle game design and development services and makes casual, mixed reality, educational, and gambling apps for mobile, desktop, web, VR, and AR. zGames also remade several classic game titles, including Pong World35 and QIX Galaxy.36 In 2012, zGames won the Pong® Indie Developer Challenge by Atari, beating out over 100 other developers to recreate Pong for mobile gaming. zGames was spun off in 2012.37

References

References

  1. "Chris Howard - CEO-in-Houston". about.me. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  2. "Chris Howard - Softeq - Texas Business Radio". vimeo.com. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  3. "CEO Talk: Chris Howard of Softeq". HardwareBee. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  4. "Belarus cracks the code for IT success". fdiintelligence.com. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  5. "Innovators create smart accessories for smart phones. By Purva Patel, HOUSTON CHRONICLE". Chron.com. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  6. "#tech_talks: CEO of Softeq: technology is a byproduct of talent". KTU Startup Space. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  7. Mathews, Chris (2023-11-23). "Softeq opening new Houston innovation lab, expanding European footprint". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  8. "Softeq Spins Off Development Venture". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  9. "Houston-Based Softeq Launches $40M Venture Fund Designed for Early-Stage Tech Startups". AP NEWS. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  10. "Softeq Launches Development Center in Monterrey, Mexico". EIN Presswire. 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  11. "Softeq Announces New Limited Partner and Welcomes Q2 2022 Cohort of Startups". www.businesswire.com. 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  12. "Disney Unveils First-of-its-Kind Outdoor Audio Description Technology for Guests with Disabilities". ncam.wgbh.org. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  13. "BADCast Special – Champions In Accessibility Interview With NCAM". blindabilities.com. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  14. "Softeq Hearing and Visual Impairment Assistance Device". disabled-world.com. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  15. "Patriots' Museum Lets Deaf, Blind Experience Football". ablebody.com. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  16. "Pats' hall of fame levels playing field". boston.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  17. "Cowboys Stadium to offer new devices to help visually or hearing-impaired fans". dallasnews.com. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
  18. "New Wireless Captioning System Debuts at Dallas Cowboys Stadium". gtri.gatech.edu. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  19. "Softeq Ramps Up Cowboys Stadium with Durateq Live". highbeam.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  20. "Softeq Announces New Limited Partner and Welcomes Q2 2022 Cohort of Startups". www.businesswire.com. 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  21. "Softeq adds new startups for accelerator, investors for tech investment fund". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  22. "Softeq Venture Studio funds 5 startups for fall 2021 cohort". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  23. "Softeq Venture Studio Funds Investors Startups". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  24. "Houston tech company adds 22 startups to its accelerator - InnovationMap". houston.innovationmap.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  25. "Houston tech company launches $40M fund to invest in early-stage startups - InnovationMap". houston.innovationmap.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  26. "Houston tech firm launches $40M venture capital fund to invest in tech startups". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  27. "Houston tech company's venture studio names new partner and cohort - InnovationMap". houston.innovationmap.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  28. "Softeq opening new Houston innovation lab, expanding European footprint". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  29. "Houston-Based Softeq Launches $40M Venture Fund Designed for Early-Stage Tech Startups". www.businesswire.com. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  30. "SK hynix acquires Softeq's firmware". koreaherald.com. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  31. Hyung-ki, Park (2014-06-05). "SK hynix acquires Softeq's firmware". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 2025-05-31. Retrieved 2026-04-21.
  32. Vorobyov, Artyom (2013-02-11). "Postmortem: zGames' Pong World". Game Developer. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  33. "Postmortem: zGames' Pong World". gamasutra.com. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  34. "Qix Galaxy Review". Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  35. "First Pong videogame for smartphone and tablets". Guinness World Records. November 29, 2012. Retrieved 2026-04-21.