A New Lair for the Beast

What began with seven founders gathered around a folding table has evolved into one of Northwest Florida’s most dynamic tech success stories. Beast Code, known for its cutting-edge digital twin technology and data aggregation software, has grown from a start-up experiment into a company shaping how the Department of Defense visualizes and manages complex systems.

Now, as the company enters its second decade, Beast Code is preparing for a major leap forward with the construction of a 36,000-square-foot headquarters in Fort Walton Beach’s Freedom Tech Center, a hub of innovation located on U.S. Air Force-owned land. The project, unanimously approved by the Fort Walton Beach City Council, is expected to be completed by September 2026.

Growing Beyond the Table

According to CEO Matthew Zimmerman, the decision to expand was years in the making.

“We’ve run out of space at our current facility, both for our employees and for the ability to host events,” Zimmerman explains. “The new layout allows us to customize the type of space we need to accommodate our growth.”

What began with 70 employees in 2019 has ballooned to a workforce too large for Beast Code’s original headquarters. The new facility is designed not only for capacity but also for collaboration, culture, and connection, the same traits that have driven Beast Code’s rise.

The Right Fit for a Growing Company

Fort Walton Beach is more than Beast Code’s home; it is part of its identity. The new location places the company just 10 minutes from the airport, within walking distance of hundreds of apartments, and surrounded by planned amenities, including restaurants, event spaces, and premium hotels.

“A big function of the new headquarters is hosting our clients. It’s part of the Beast Code Experience,” Zimmerman says. “The developers are working on adding restaurants to the Tech Center, making travel to Beast Code easy.”

The company’s new home will also be immersed in community life, thanks to Freedom Tech Center developer, The Jay Odom Group, which plans to host events like farmers markets, food truck rallies, and football parties. Zimmerman praises the collaboration among the Economic Development Council, local government, and The Jay Odom Group in bringing the project to life.

“We’re very thankful for our partners in the community who have helped us grow,” he adds.

Photo courtesy of Beast Code

Designed for Collaboration

The new headquarters will center around what Beast Code calls the Experience Center, a reconfigurable space designed to host large-scale demonstrations, user design sessions, and collaborative events.

“It’s all about collaboration for us and building an environment that fosters it,” Zimmerman says.

The facility will include interconnected conference spaces, lounges, and flexible “breakaway” rooms that encourage cross-team creativity. With much of Beast Code’s workforce operating in hybrid or remote roles, the layout also prioritizes adaptability with reservable workspaces, dedicated team areas, and technology-integrated collaboration zones that ensure employees can easily connect in person when needed.

Innovation Without Competition

Beast Code’s expansion aligns with its philosophy of partnership over rivalry.

“Our strategy employs a ‘friendly neighborhood Spider-Man approach,’” Zimmerman explains. “We don’t want to compete with anyone, so instead, our product enables other organizations to integrate with us.”

Rather than replacing existing systems, Beast Code’s software acts as connective tissue, unifying disparate tools and data-sets across the defense industry. It’s an approach that has made Beast Code a trusted collaborator for multiple branches of the U.S. military and international allies under the AUKUS agreement.

Photo courtesy of Beast Code

Looking Forward

As Beast Code continues to evolve, its mission remains clear: to transform how the Department of Defense uses data to streamline operations and strengthen national security.

“Our five-year vision is to be at the core of bringing together the data and tools needed to increase our nation’s manufacturing capacity, streamline how we operate, and enable collaboration across the Department of Defense and industry,” Zimmerman says.

From folding tables to a flagship campus, Beast Code’s story mirrors the kind of growth it now helps others achieve: to scale complexity through clarity, connection, and a bit of that original entrepreneurial grit. ▪

Inside the New Beast Code Headquarters

→ 36,000 Square Feet of Collaboration

The facility will feature a reconfigurable Experience Center for demonstrations and design sessions, connected to multiple conference rooms and creative collaboration zones.

→ Hybrid-Friendly Design

Recognizing a blended workforce, the new layout includes reservable workstations and flexible team spaces—making in-person collaboration simple for remote and hybrid staff.

→ Location with Purpose

Situated within Fort Walton Beach’s Freedom Tech Center, the headquarters places Beast Code near the airport, hotels, restaurants, and within walking distance of hundreds of new apartments.

→ Community Connection

Through its partnership with The Jay Odom Group and the Economic Development Council, Beast Code’s new home will share space with community events such as food truck rallies, farmers markets, and outdoor gatherings.

→ Completion Target: September 2026

Approved unanimously by the Fort Walton Beach City Council, construction is now underway, marking the next evolution in Beast Code’s journey from start-up to regional powerhouse.