Droege took a job at Duke University Medical Center as a programmer. He started taking consulting jobs on the side and in 1985, he left to found his aptly named Droege Computing firm. A majority of the firm's business today comes from developing custom software applications for business customers. Droege Computing also sells some packaged software and runs an online stamp auction site for upscale auction houses. Although the PC world has matured significantly in the past 15 years, there still aren't software solutions for every type of business need.
Some industries are too small to show up on the radars of mass-market software companies.
Others have such specific needs that a generic program would never do the job. For example, one of Droege Computing's clients analyzes the toxicity of chemicals used in arts and crafts materials. Those are the kinds of customers who see an advantage to custom software. You don't get all the extra stuff that you don't need. The years of experience also gives Droege Computing an edge, Droege said.