Jacob Nicotra is the founder and CEO of Jacob Nicotra Web Development, a premiere web development company specializing in custom web development, eCommerce solutions, and WordPress design and development. Jacob comes from a family of entrepreneurs and has always been interested in business and technology. After working in web development for several years, Jacob decided to open his own company.
Jacob Nicotra is a full stack developer who is passionate about programming and is always looking for ways to optimize back end infrastructure and create seamless, user-friendly experiences. With a unique background in the medical field as well as years of scientific research and a strong background in STEM, biochemistry, and thousands of clinical hours, Jacob decided to redirect his career in 2021 to pursue a path in the tech industry as a software engineer. After evaluating market trends and employment opportunities, Nicotra underwent a six month software engineering course. Thus far he has developed four full stack web applications, as well as launched an online web development company that focuses on building websites for small businesses.
Jacob Nicotra is originally from the Chicago Suburbs, including Aurora, Naperville, and Carol Stream. He attended Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois from 2011 to 2015, where he was active in extracurricular activities such as wrestling, model United Nations, and Science Olympiad. After graduating from high school, Nicotra went to the University of Pittsburgh for two years, from 2015 to 2017. Jacob then moved on to Elmhurst University, returning to the Chicago area, from which he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Throughout his time at Elmhurst University, Nicotra was active in the tutoring program and helped hundreds of students to improve in college-level chemistry, statistics, physics, biology, and calculus. Jacob Nicotra is currently developing an estimation tool for a painting and construction company that will support a streamlined estimate process and help generate new business and increased revenue. When he is not coding, you can find him hiking, PC & VR gaming, capturing drone footage, or trying out new restaurants and breweries.
What is Jacob Nicotra Web Development all about?
Jacob Nicotra Web Development is a custom web development company specializing in custom web development, eCommerce solutions, and WordPress design and development. We are a full service web development agency that can help businesses with everything from designing and building your website to optimizing your back end infrastructure and creating a seamless, user-friendly experience.
What inspired you to start your own company?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs and have always been interested in business and technology. After working in web development for several years, I decided to open my own company. I had seen some of the work done by other web development companies and decided that I could provide a better product and service, especially for small businesses that tend to be overlooked when it comes to customized software development. The increased efficiency and productivity that they are able to experience is easily worth the expense of having software and web services that are developed specifically for their business model.
What makes Jacob Nicotra Web Development unique?
There are a few things that make it unique. For one, I have a background in the medical field as well as years of scientific research. This gives me a unique perspective on problem solving and gives me an edge when it comes to developing custom solutions for our clients. Secondly, we are a full stack development company. This means that we have developers who are specialized in both back end and front end development. This allows us to offer a more comprehensive service to our clients and provides a better overall experience. Finally, we are always looking for ways to optimize our back end infrastructure and create seamless, user-friendly experiences.
What are some of the challenges you face as a web development company?
The biggest challenge is definitely keeping up with the latest technology. There is always something new to learn and keeping up with the latest trends can be difficult. Additionally, every project is different and brings its own set of challenges. We have to be flexible and adaptable in order to provide the best possible solution for each client.
What are your plans for the future?
I definitely see Jacob Nicotra Web Development continuing to grow. We have plans to add more developers to our team as well as expanding our services to include mobile app development and digital marketing. Additionally, we are always looking for ways to improve our back end infrastructure and create even more seamless, user-friendly experiences for our clients.
What is your advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
My biggest piece of advice would be to just get started. It can be easy to get bogged down in planning and preparation, but at the end of the day, you just have to take the leap and start working on your business. Additionally, I would advise aspiring entrepreneurs to surround themselves with a good support system. Having people who believe in you and your vision is certainly helpful, but it is also important to have people who can offer advice and help you when things get tough. Finally, I would advise aspiring entrepreneurs to always be learning. Technology and the business world are constantly changing and evolving, so it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends. There is always room for improvement, so never stop learning and expanding your knowledge base.
How do you handle rejection?
I actually view rejection as a good thing. It means that you are putting yourself out there and trying new things. It is impossible to be successful 100% of the time, so it is important to embrace failure and use it as a learning opportunity. I would advise aspiring entrepreneurs to never give up. Rejection is simply a part of the journey, so don’t let it get you down. Keep pushing forward and eventually, you will find success.
What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?
My favorite thing about being an entrepreneur is the freedom and flexibility that it provides. I am able to work on projects that I am passionate about and make my own schedule. There is also a level of connection between me and my clients that I wouldn’t be able to experience if I were working for a large corporation. We are able to meet face to face (even if virtually) and discuss their needs, and I am also able to see for myself the positive effects that my work has had on their business.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I usually start my day with a quick review of my goals for the day, then I get to work on the most important task. I try to avoid distractions as much as possible, but if something urgent does come up then I’ll put it at the top of my list so that I can address it as soon as possible. After completing the most important task, I move on to the next one and continue this process throughout the day. This approach helps me stay focused and prevents any tasks from building up. At the end of the day, I take some time to reflect on what went well and what could be improved for the next day.
What is one trend that really excites you?
One trend that I am really excited about is the rise of conversational interfaces. This technology is still in its early stages, but I think it has a lot of potential. Conversational interfaces allow users to interact with digital products using natural language instead of traditional input methods like keyboards or touch pads.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
If I could go back and give my younger self some advice, it would be to never give up. Pursuing a career in entrepreneurship is not easy, but it is so worth it in the end. There will be times when you want to give up, but don’t. Remember why you started down this path in the first place. The second thing would be the importance of humility. That doesn’t mean being timid or lacking confidence but rather having the understanding that you don’t have all the answers nor should you expect to. Having humility makes it easier to ask for help when you need it and also to improve because you are not operating under the assumption that you have it all figured out.