Work with me
Startup and technology consulting
A practical second opinion on technical direction, product decisions, engineering trade-offs, or where AI genuinely helps.
Who it’s for
Founders, early-stage teams, product leaders and engineers who are weighing a technical decision and want to talk it through with someone who has built and shipped software in different settings.
You don't need a finished plan. A rough idea, a stuck decision or a specific problem is enough to start.
What we might discuss
- Assessing your technical options and what each would cost you later
- Thinking through what a first version (MVP) really needs
- Reviewing an architecture or a set of engineering trade-offs
- Working out where AI is useful for your product, and where it isn't
- Unpicking a specific product or engineering problem you're stuck on
How it works
- Tell me what you're working on
When you book or send an enquiry, add a few lines about the situation. Keep it short. Please leave out confidential material and secrets.
- We talk it through
We meet on Zoom. I'll ask questions, say how I would approach it, and be direct about trade-offs and unknowns.
- You decide what's next
Sometimes one conversation is enough. If a longer piece of work would help, we can talk about what that might look like.
What’s included, and what isn’t
Included
- A focused one-to-one conversation about your question
- Candid opinions, trade-offs and next steps to consider
Not included
- Hands-on build work, unless we separately agree an engagement
- Legal, financial, tax or security-audit advice
- Guaranteed outcomes: I can help you think clearly, but the decision and the results are yours
Relevant experience
I've spent over a decade building software: telecom infrastructure, design tools, machine-learning and ranking systems on large social platforms, payroll and tax systems, and climate data for financial professionals. I've led a small team, shipped features to millions of people and worked with distributed systems. I'm an engineer who cares about what the technology is for.
Questions
Do I need a fully formed idea?
No. Many useful conversations start with a half-formed idea or a decision you can't quite frame yet.
Will you build it for me?
This service is about thinking and decisions. If hands-on work would help, we can talk about whether and how, as a separate conversation.
Is what I share private?
I won't publish or share what you tell me. If you need a formal confidentiality agreement, tell me before sharing sensitive details.
Can we work together for longer than one session?
Possibly. Tell me what you have in mind through the enquiry form and we'll see whether it makes sense. Nothing longer-term is set up in advance.
Which timezone will times be shown in?
Your own. The booking page detects your timezone and adjusts for daylight saving.