8th Light

Working with 8th Light: What Clients Should Know Before Starting a Development Project

8th Light is a Chicago-based software consultancy known for engineering craftsmanship and collaborative delivery. They partner with clients to build custom digital products, modernize legacy systems, and upskill in-house teams. Public buyer feedback highlights strong technical quality, pragmatic communication, and knowledge transfer. Their model favors agile, embedded teams and emphasizes sustainable code quality through practices like test-driven development and pairing.

What they deliver ✅

  • Custom software engineering for web, mobile, and platforms, including system modernization and integration 🔧
  • Product strategy, discovery, and human-centered design spanning UX research, UI, and prototyping 🎯
  • Cloud and DevOps services, including cloud-native architecture, CI-CD, infrastructure as code, and platform engineering ☁️
  • Data engineering and analytics enablement, from pipelines to insights 📊
  • Advisory, audits, and capability uplift, including training, coaching, and a well-known apprenticeship program 🎓
  • Engagement models: end-to-end delivery, team augmentation, and advisory partnerships 🤝

Where they excel ⭐

  • Strong engineering discipline: TDD, pair programming, continuous delivery, and clean architecture are core to their approach, helping with maintainability and defect reduction over time 🧪
  • Embedded collaboration and enablement: clients often note effective knowledge transfer and that teams leave stronger than they started
  • Positive client sentiment on third-party marketplaces, with verified reviews citing quality, responsiveness, and reliability
  • Breadth across industries and problem spaces, evidenced by a diverse portfolio of case studies, from modernization to greenfield builds
  • Talent cultivation through a long-running apprenticeship pipeline, which can support consistent practices and culture across teams

Risks and tradeoffs to consider

  • Boutique consultancy scale: may not match the bench depth or geographic reach of large global integrators for mega-programs
  • Cost profile: emphasis on senior talent, pairing, and rigorous testing can raise up-front investment compared to low-cost vendors
  • Pace vs. rigor: craftsmanship practices may feel slower at project start, though they typically aim to lower downstream rework
  • Engagement fit: outcomes tend to be strongest with collaborative, agile delivery rather than rigid fixed-scope, fixed-price models
  • Availability: demand and team composition can affect start dates and staffing flexibility, so early planning helps

References
8thlight.com/
clutch.co/profile/8th-light

Pros

  • Established Chicago-headquartered software consultancy with a long-running reputation in software craftsmanship and quality-focused engineering practices such as test-driven development and pair programming, as described on its official materials and public talks
  • Broad service mix that covers custom software development, product strategy, UX/UI design, cloud and DevOps, and modernization, with polyglot expertise across common enterprise stacks, per its website and case study descriptions
  • Consistently positive third-party reviews highlighting collaboration, communication, and code quality, including on platforms
  • Embedded, co-creative delivery model that focuses on knowledge transfer and upskilling client teams, reinforced by its publicly documented apprenticeship and training programs
  • Experience with both greenfield builds and legacy modernisation is reflected in published case studies and thought leadership
  • Clear engineering culture and process discipline that can reduce long-term maintenance risk and improve reliability, according to client feedback trends and published practices

Cons

  • Premium pricing relative to offshore or large-scale nearshore firms, with directory listings indicating mid-to-high minimum project sizes, which may not fit smaller budgets
  • Limited public information on formal compliance frameworks or certifications, such as ISO, SOC 2, or CMMI, which may require additional due diligence in regulated industries
  • Primarily US and UK presence and staffing, which may limit cost advantages and around-the-clock global delivery compared to larger multinational providers
  • An iterative, time-and-materials–oriented approach may not align with clients seeking fixed-price, rigidly scoped engagements
  • Collaboration-heavy practices like pairing and extensive testing can require higher upfront investment and may affect perceived velocity for teams unfamiliar with these methods
Reviewed by: Elena Paraschiv-Pop

About 8th Light

8th Light is a pioneering tech company based in Chicago, IL, dedicated to pushing boundaries and redefining possibilities in the digital realm. With a passion for innovation and a commitment to excellence, we pride ourselves on delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower businesses to thrive in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
At 8th Light, we offer a diverse range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.
Our expertise spans across a wide spectrum of IT solutions, including DevOps, eCommerce Development, API Development, Artificial Intelligence, Testing, Blockchain, and Cloud Computing.
Here's what sets us apart:
  • Unmatched technical proficiency combined with creative problem-solving skills
  • Customized strategies to drive digital transformation and achieve business goals
  • Proven track record of delivering scalable and secure solutions
  • Collaborative approach that ensures seamless integration and implementation
Our team of experts is dedicated to staying ahead of the curve, leveraging the latest technologies to drive innovation and maximize efficiency for our clients.
Whether you're looking to streamline your operations, enhance customer experiences, or unlock new revenue streams, 8th Light is your trusted partner in navigating the complexities of the digital landscape. Let's embark on a transformative journey together and unlock the full potential of your business.
Reach out to us today and discover how 8th Light can help you achieve your digital ambitions!

Languages Supported: English

  • Location

    Chicago, IL
  • Min. project size

    $250,000 to $500,000
  • Avg. hourly rate

    Not Disclosed
  • Employees

    51-100
  • Founded

    Not Disclosed

Capabilities

DevOps - 10%

eCommerce Development - 10%

API Development - 15%

Artificial Intelligence - 5%

Testing - 5%

AI Consulting - 5%

Application Testing - 5%

8th Light Reviews

8th Light does not have any reviews added yet. Click here to be the first one to review 8th Light.

8th Light Competitors

Nest Software provides complementary services in Big Data & BI, IT consulting, outsourcing and IT support. These functions act...

  • 11-20 employees
  • $25 - $49 / hr
  • $5,000 to $10,000
  • Shivala Road, Tilak Nagar, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Big Data & BI | Cloud Computing | IT Consulting | Outsourcing | ERP | Testing | IT Support

Perfsys, an AWS Select Tier Partner, empowers startups and SMBs with secure, scalable, and cost-efficient cloud solutions. Ou...

  • 11-20 employees
  • $25 - $49 / hr
  • $5,000 to $10,000
  • Dnipro, Ukraine

Cloud Computing | Cyber Security | DevOps

As a small or medium-sized business, you may face challenges in growing and staying competitive. At Serenichron, we are here to gu...

  • 2-10 employees
  • $50 - $99 / hr
  • $5,000 to $10,000
  • Bucharest, Romania

Cloud Computing | Cyber Security | Database Administration | IT Consulting | DevOps | System Administration | CRM | Testing | IT Support

8th Light FAQs

8th Light has its registered office/HQ at: Chicago, Illinois, United States.

No, 8th Light doesn't have any other offices.

8th Light's core competence is in AI Consulting, and Application Testing.

 

8th Light has experience working with clients in the following industries: Startup, Startup, Startup, Startup, ECommerce, ECommerce, ECommerce, ECommerce, Healthcare, Healthcare, Healthcare, Healthcare, and Food Delivery

Information regarding 8th Light's founding year is not available.

8th Light has 51-100 employees as per the record.

Information regarding 8th Light's hourly rate is not available.

Min. project size requirement for 8th Light is $250,000 to $500,000.

8th Light has proficiency in the following language(s): English

Contact 8th Light

Registered office:

Chicago, IL

Other Locations:
How we get this information: This profile was created using publicly available information by the ITProfiles editorial team. The company has not yet claimed it, so details may be limited or outdated. Updated on January 12, 2026.