About

Lower Technology LLC

A consulting and software company built on the conviction that when it comes to data, the thankless foundational work is the most important.

We focus on data system design, process improvement, documentation, and governance. We also like to build things!

The Name

Through the pass, not over the mountain

The logo is a mountain pass — the route through the valley instead of over the summit. Less impressive to talk about at a conference. Much better to actually travel.

Lower Technology designs and builds practical, sustainable solutions that fit your organizations needs.

Lower Technology logo — mountain pass diagram

How We Work

A few things we believe

Simplicity

Everyone should be able to explain the system

We bias toward explainable solutions. The one your team can understand and build upon. Complex systems are impressive until you have to figure out what broke

Ownership

You should be able to run it without us

Every engagement ends with a documented, maintainable deliverable your team can own. We're not interested in creating dependencies. Good consulting should reduce the need for more consulting.

Fit

Honest assessments

If you are looking for a sycophant to tell you eveything is great, use ChatGPT. We will ask difficult questions and give honest feedback, even if it's not what you are hoping to hear.


Founder

Dan Tonkovich

Founder & Principal

With a career spanning pre-ipo startups (Affirm, Nerdwallet), Fortune 500 companies (Goldman Sachs), and the public sector (City and County of San Francisco, New Orleans Inspector General), Dan has built teams and data solutions across a diverse set of industries and organizational structures.

He started Lower Technology because working on the thankless foundational work is weirdly what he likes to do and fortunately what he is good at.


Work With Us

Let's find your pass

If you're working on something that matters and your data infrastructure is getting in the way, we'd like to hear about it.

Get in Touch