Entrepreneurs Charlotte and Isak Rydlund came up with a unique solution when they couldn’t find a skilled computer programmer in Halifax: they taught themselves to write code.

Now, the contract management system they created has been named a tech startup to keep an eye on.

The Halifax couple is thrilled that their PACTA system has been named one of 25 information and communication technology companies to watch by the Branham Group.

Earlier this year, they spent five weeks teaching themselves to code using free online resources. Then they wrote the code for their system.

The situation arose after they were unable to find an experienced developer.

“We’d interviewed potential clients and knew they had a problem. We didn’t want to let our lack of experience in computer science stop us from building our system,” said Charlotte, the CEO, as she sat in the PACTA office at Volta, Halifax’s startup house.

Isak, the chief operating officer, is a Swedish-born businessman and lawyer. He wrote most of the code for the system.

Charlotte learned the code language Python in order to better understand the product they were creating.

“Now I speak English, German, French, Swedish and Python,” she said with a laugh.

Both have years of experience in the business world, including in marketing and strategic purchasing, requiring them to negotiate multimillion-dollar contracts.

For seven years, they worked for Procter & Gamble in Switzerland, where they learned how difficult it is for companies to manage the many contracts they have with each business contact.

“You need to keep track of what you’ve agreed to,” Charlotte said.

“There are dates, pricing changes, milestones and checkpoints. Multiply that by hundreds or thousands of contracts.”

Contract details can be stored on spreadsheets, but they are a passive way of checking obligations, she said.

“There are custom-made contract systems, but you must check contract details yourself.

“Our system automates the extraction of key information like price change and expiry dates and proactively notifies you by email or text. Our automatic extraction and proactive notifications are unique.”

Since launching the system in April, the couple has acquired three customers.

Funding for their product was provided by a strategic investment from a large New York company that became their first client. The money has helped them hire computer science specialist and St. Mary’s University student Gaurav Rao.

The Rydlunds feel they have benefited from the supportive ecosystem that helps entrepreneurs in this region. They completed the Launch 36 program run by regional accelerator PropelICT. Now, they are part of the first cohort participating in Propel’s Build program for more developed startups.

They intend to establish their business in Halifax, although they initially set up their company on Vancouver Island.

“We found we missed the east coast,” Isak said. “The people here are more real. We didn’t feel at home out west and moved to Halifax after six months.”

The couple met while studying at Dalhousie University in 2002.

Charlotte, who has Maritime roots, was studying management. She had returned to Eastern Canada after being raised mostly in Vienna. Her father is a professor of music, specializing in the harpsichord, at the University of Vienna.

Isak, who was born and raised in Sweden, was finishing his master’s of law in information technology and media law.

The couple met near Fenwick Towers and later named their black lab Fenwick.

“We have gotten a lot out of Halifax and feel we can give back to other companies who may benefit from our international experience,” Isak said.

“We feel the startup ecosystem here is on the cusp of getting going,” added Charlotte. “And we want to be able to contribute.”