For Satish Shetty, owning a technology startup has always been a dream.

After working in the technology field for nearly 15 years, he finally decided to make that dream a reality. In 2011, he started Codeproof and began developing a security and management software for mobile devices.

Shetty, a Redmond resident, spent seven years at Microsoft Corp. working on the development of the Windows operating system, and prior to that, another seven years at McAfee working on security products.

“The issue was always timing and figuring out when to go for it,” he said. “Working at Microsoft for a while, I realized that the number of mobile devices was beginning to explode, which is when I decided to start developing mobile management software. Building a startup like Codeproof is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The software has three areas of focus: mobile policy management, application management and device management.

Codeproof provides a platform for companies to protect their data on employee-owned devices by remotely wiping them in the event of a device being lost or stolen. It also allows for companies to use their devices in “kiosk mode,” in which only one application is activated — a useful feature for hotels, schools and currently, even an ambulance company in California.

Additionally, applications can be mass-uploaded to clients’ devices remotely, even when they are out in the field. This allows for immediate updates for any number of devices without the hassle of updating each phone individually. Location-based mobile policies (also called geofencing, in which permissions are allowed based on location), time-bound policies and jailbreak detection are only a few of the additional features that are offered.

It is an SAAS-based (software as a service) platform that uses the Amazon Cloud for greater scalability, and currently supports Apple iOS, Samsung Galaxy and various Android devices.

Codeproof is a subscription-based service unlike other “perpetual license” software programs, which is a one-time cost. SAAS platforms are becoming increasingly popular with major technology companies such as Google and Microsoft.

At $29.99 per device per year, the company licensed the services to more than 100 business customers globally. With the service being used today in 15 countries, Shetty is looking to expand to larger organizations over the next year and increase Codeproof’s global footprint.

“Our product works just as well for a company with 10 devices as it does for a company with thousands of devices,” Shetty said.

Shetty’s main focus is customer support.

“The first thing that I do every morning is check my email and reply to customers. I explain to them how to better manage their mobile devices policies, troubleshoot any issues and discuss any new features we have,” he said. “Startups can win customers by assisting them and going the extra mile even if there’s no immediate profit in it. And you will be judged by what you do, not what you say.”

With clients both in the United States and internationally, Shetty makes every effort to connect with them personally, even using Skype to engage with potential international customers.

The company has been running out of Shetty’s garage for nearly three years, with the product officially launching in October 2012. After spending nearly a year on the coding alone — “hibernating in my garage,” he called it – Shetty got Codeproof up and running.

“I love that I get to be a part of everything,” Shetty said. “I absolutely love what I’m doing.”

Starting a company from scratch is a difficult task. Growth tends to be slow and most of the development falls on just a few individuals.

“The biggest challenge isn’t money, it’s the motivation. You can’t lose focus, because you’re the one in charge, leading everything,” Shetty said. “When you have a lot of people around you, in a team, it’s easy to get motivation from others. But on your own, you have to find that motivation within yourself to get it going”.

One contract employee, who does inside sales, is currently the only paid employee in the company. Shetty doesn’t draw a salary.

Shetty hopes that the company will expand and move into an office, hire additional sales personnel and receive funding from local investors. Additionally, he hopes the company will be able to support Windows devices.

“We’re being compared against companies around the world and we want clients to see the unique value in what we’re offering,” Shetty said. “I truly think that we can be a multi-million dollar company that will attract a potential acquisition offer from a larger tech company looking to enhance their portfolio with the technology we have.”

Shetty will be attending a SuperMobility conference in Las Vegas, representing Codeproof, in late September.

Shetty lives in Redmond with his wife and two sons, ages 7 and 3 months. His wife, Shilpa, is a software test engineer working at BigFishGames in Seattle.

“I say to people that I have three kids, and the third one is my Codeproof baby,” Shetty joked.

For more information, visit codeproof.com.