Meet Anton Gera | Founder | Government contractor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anton Gera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anton, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to build a company where the output is real, measurable, and used by real people — not “demo-day theater.” I’ve always been drawn to systems that have to work in the physical world: transportation, operations, safety, autonomy. Starting Codective was my way of betting on craftsmanship: if we build reliable products and show up consistently, the trust and opportunities follow.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Codective is an engineering company that builds mission-critical digital products and autonomy tech — basically, systems that have to work in the real world, not just in a demo. On the public-sector side, we help power the rider-facing visual information people rely on when using public transportation in LA County: the kind of real-time, clear, “where do I go and what’s happening right now?” information that makes a city feel more navigable. On the product side, we’re also developing dual-use autonomous navigation technology, focused on reliability in messy, real conditions.

What sets us apart is that we’re builders with a reliability mindset. We don’t optimize for hype — we optimize for uptime, clarity, and systems that keep working when conditions aren’t perfect. I’m most proud that we’ve earned trust in environments where expectations are high and mistakes are very visible. And I’m excited about how our work in civic infrastructure and autonomy cross-pollinate: public transportation teaches you discipline and accountability, and autonomy forces you to be inventive and rigorous.

Getting here wasn’t easy at all. It was a lot of learning through shipping: proving ourselves on smaller scopes, documenting everything, fixing issues fast, and being consistent enough that trust compounded over time. The hardest parts were staying focused while juggling too many opportunities, and pushing through the “in-between” stage where you’re not a tiny startup anymore, but you’re not a big company either. I overcame that by being very practical: tighten priorities, build repeatable processes, and keep relationships strong — because in the real world, trust is the most important asset.

The biggest lessons I’ve learned: be clear about what you do, don’t overpromise, and treat execution as your marketing. Also, it’s okay to move fast — just don’t move sloppy. What I want the world to know about our brand is simple: we build technology that people can depend on. Whether it’s information a rider sees on a daily commute or navigation systems that need to perform under pressure, our story is about making complex systems feel reliable, human, and real.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend had a full week in LA, I’d plan it like LA actually works: a little iconic, a little local, lots of outdoors, and food that’s worth the line.

**Day 1 – “Welcome to LA”**

* Sunset walk at **Santa Monica** into **Venice** (boardwalk energy + people-watching).
* Dinner somewhere casual and classic on the Westside (tacos or something seafood-y by the coast).

**Day 2 – Views + culture**

* Morning at **Griffith Observatory** / Griffith Park trails.
* Afternoon at **The Getty Center** (it’s peak LA: art + architecture + views).
* Late-night: a low-key bar in **Los Feliz** or **Silver Lake**.

**Day 3 – Downtown day**

* **Grand Central Market** for lunch — everyone can pick their own adventure.
* Walk around **The Broad** / MOCA area.
* Rooftop drink in DTLA for the skyline moment.

**Day 4 – Malibu reset**

* Drive up **PCH**, coffee stop, then **Malibu** beaches.
* If we’re feeling active: a hike in **Topanga** or **Solstice Canyon**.
* Dinner back in the city — something cozy and not too trendy.

**Day 5 – “LA is a food city”**

* Explore a food neighborhood: **Koreatown** for BBQ, **Thai Town**, or a proper taco crawl.
* End the night with live music or a comedy set (LA does both really well).

**Day 6 – Artsy + weird in a good way**

* **LACMA** / Academy Museum area, or gallery hopping if that’s their vibe.
* Afternoon in **Atwater** / **Eagle Rock** for relaxed cafés and shops.
* Night: a speakeasy-style place or a small venue show.

**Day 7 – The slow finale**

* Brunch somewhere bright and simple.
* Long walk at **Manhattan Beach** or **Hermosa** to decompress.
* Sunset: wherever feels right — rooftop, beach, or a quiet lookout.

For “most fun” LA experiences, I always tell people: don’t try to do *everything* — pick a few neighborhoods, leave space for random discoveries, and let the city surprise you. The best part of LA is the mix: beach to mountains, street food to museums, chill mornings to loud nights, all in the same week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to give a shoutout to my co-founder and our team — they’re the ones who show up every day, solve the hard problems, and turn a big vision into something real and reliable. And I also want to shout out the LA tech and innovation community. I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from the builders here — the energy, the creativity, the “let’s just build it” mindset — and it’s definitely helped shape my own path.

Website: https://www.codective.one/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antongera_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antongera/

Twitter: https://x.com/anton_gera_

Image Credits
not applicable