About Touchstone Data
A technology consulting firm founded on a simple principle: the person who sells the engagement should be the person who delivers it.
Meet Joshua Garza, Founder
Joshua Garza is a software and data governance architect who has spent his career at the intersection of data, software, and governance. He has worked hands-on across the full stack of enterprise technology: data architecture, platform engineering, DevOps, software design, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
His experience spans organizations of all sizes, from growth-stage startups that need their first technical leader to enterprise organizations navigating complex regulatory landscapes. He has designed data governance programs, built data quality monitoring systems, led architecture modernization initiatives, and implemented CI/CD pipelines and platform engineering strategies.
What distinguishes Joshua from generalist consultants is his practitioner-first orientation. He builds systems, not slide decks. His expertise in agentic AI development and dark factory principles -- autonomous agent workflows where AI systems generate, test, and validate code without human review -- allows him to deliver consulting engagements that are faster, more thorough, and more consistent than traditional approaches.
Joshua founded Touchstone Data in 2026 because he kept encountering the same pattern: organizations needed deep expertise in data governance, AI governance, and software architecture, but the large consultancies charged premium rates for junior staff, and independent consultants lacked the breadth to see how these domains interconnect. Touchstone Data was built to fill that gap.
Joshua is based in Dallas, Texas, and serves clients nationally and internationally.
Our Mission
To be the standard by which organizations measure the quality of their data, the integrity of their AI systems, and the soundness of their software architecture.
Our Values
Depth over breadth of engagement.
We go deep on every engagement. We would rather serve fewer clients exceptionally well than spread ourselves thin across many. Every project gets senior-architect attention from start to finish.
Honesty over salesmanship.
We tell you what we find, not what you want to hear. If your data governance program has critical gaps, we will say so clearly. If Touchstone Data is not the right fit for your needs, we will tell you that too.
Delivery over promises.
We are measured by the quality of our deliverables, not the polish of our proposals. Agent-accelerated delivery and scenario-based validation are not marketing language -- they are how we work every day.
Continuous improvement over perfection.
Our dark factory approach embraces convergence: iterate, validate, improve. This applies to our own operations just as it applies to client engagements. Every project teaches us something that makes the next one better.
Why “Touchstone”?
A touchstone is a piece of finely grained dark stone that was historically used to test the quality of gold and silver alloys. A goldsmith would rub a metal against the touchstone and compare the streak it left to known samples -- a precise, reliable method of assessing quality that predates modern chemistry.
The metaphor is intentional. Touchstone Data exists to be the standard against which organizations test the quality of their data, the governance of their AI systems, and the soundness of their technical architecture. We provide the rigorous, systematic assessment that tells you exactly where you stand -- and a clear path to where you need to be.
How We Work
Every engagement follows a structured four-phase methodology:
Discovery
We start by understanding your situation. Stakeholder interviews, requirements gathering, current-state assessment, and artifact collection. Most importantly, we define scenarios for success: what does a successful outcome look like, specifically, for your organization?
Analysis
Deep technical analysis using agent-augmented workflows. We examine your data, systems, and processes with a level of thoroughness that would take traditional consultants weeks longer. Gap identification, risk assessment, and draft deliverable generation happen in parallel.
Synthesis
Findings are synthesized into structured deliverables. Every deliverable is validated against the success scenarios we defined in Phase 1. This is not a single-reviewer spot-check -- it is systematic verification that our work addresses your specific needs.
Delivery and Transfer
Client presentation and walkthrough, feedback incorporation, knowledge transfer, and handoff documentation. We do not just hand you a report and disappear. We make sure your team understands the findings and has a clear path forward.
Typical engagement timeline: 2-6 weeks for assessments, 6-12 weeks for implementation projects.
Ready to raise the standard?
Whether you need a data governance assessment, AI compliance readiness review, architecture modernization roadmap, or a fractional CTO to guide your technology strategy -- the first step is a conversation.
No pressure, no sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about your situation and whether Touchstone Data is the right fit.