Tell us more about yourself. What is your role at your company? Why do you do this work?
I’m Julius Hubbard, co-founder and graphic designer at Firesight Studios. I have a passion for art, spanning from surrealistic paintings to digital logos. Firesight allows me to use my creativity and love for storytelling to create visual experiences that connect with users. Outside of Firesight, I am the Lieutenant of the Chattanooga Fire Department.
What inspired you to create your app? What does it do? When did you launch?
My co-founder, Justin, and I met in 2016 while working at the Chattanooga Fire Department. With his software development talent and my background in art, we created Firesight Studios to help local businesses with their digital needs. In 2024, we launched our first app, Palette Splash, on the Google Play Store—a puzzle game where players mix and match colors to solve creative challenges. Today, Palette Splash has been downloaded over 60,000 times. This summer, we also released a new game, Word Mayhem, which lets users design their own levels and compete with others.
What digital tools are most helpful in supporting your work? Are there any tools of particular interest or concern to you?
Easy-to-use and affordable tools like digital advertising, Apple’s App Store, and Google’s Firebase and Play Store are essential for our work. They empower small teams like ours to turn creative ideas into reality and share them with a global audience. As a two-person team, our biggest challenge is gaining visibility—but launching on the Play Store instantly places our apps in front of millions of potential users.
How did you decide to use your voice to influence policymakers as they consider legislation that could affect your work?
I wanted to use my voice to help lawmakers better understand the app industry. There is a misconception that all apps are created by large companies with endless resources. In reality, most apps are made by companies like Firesight Studios—two people with a cool idea. I wanted lawmakers to see that today’s app platforms are true equalizers, enabling anyone with a vision to build and launch something impactful.
What issues facing developers today, from AI to data privacy, are you most passionate about or monitoring closely? Why?
I’m most focused on issues surrounding app store competition. As they operate today, app stores make it easy and affordable for developers to reach millions of users. The Play Store also has extremely high security requirements that apps must meet, which not only protect users but also help build trust between developers and their audiences. Overregulating or fundamentally changing how these app stores function could harm countless small developers who benefit from both the visibility and security these platforms provide.
Tell us a story about when you advocated for a public policy issue you believed in. How did it make you feel? What were the results?
In the Spring of 2025, I flew to Washington, DC, to meet with Members of Congress and share my experiences as an app creator. I explained how certain tech policy proposals could impact not just my business, but the entire ecosystem as a whole.
We discussed the need for a balanced national data privacy law because the patchwork of state laws is extremely burdensome and confusing for small companies. I also emphasized the critical role platforms like the Play Store play in connecting developers with users and ensuring safety and trust. Contributing our perspective as a small studio was empowering—and it reinforced how important it is for independent developers to have a voice in these conversations.
Why do you think it’s important for other developers like you to advocate for public policy advocacy?
Your federal, state, and local representatives want to help, but they don’t know what matters to you unless you tell them. In my case, if independent developers don’t speak up, the policies that shape our industry may not reflect our needs. Advocacy helps ensure that the industry that allowed Justin and me to turn our ideas into reality remains fair and open to all.
