Startup Development
Build your startup's MVP fast. I've helped founders ship products, raise funding, and iterate quickly. No agency overhead, direct communication.
Industry Challenges
Limited runway, need to ship fast
Can't afford full-time senior developer
Need technical guidance, not just code
Might need to pivot mid-build
Previous dev shop over-promised, under-delivered
How I Help
4-8 week MVP builds with weekly demos
Technical co-founder advice included
Flexible scope for pivots
Investor-ready architecture
Handoff documentation for your next hire
Startups need speed. You're burning runway while waiting for features. Agencies give you project managers and timelines that slip.
I work differently. Direct communication with you. Weekly demos of working software. Fixed scope where it makes sense, flexible where you need to pivot.
I've built MVPs that raised funding, MVPs that got acquired, and MVPs that died fast (which is also valuable - you learned quickly).
Why Choose Me
Industry Knowledge
I understand your business context, not just the technology.
Proven Results
Track record of successful projects in this space.
Best Practices
Industry-specific patterns and compliance considerations built in.
Clear Communication
No jargon. Regular updates. You always know what's happening.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you handle limited runway, need to ship fast in the startup development industry?
4-8 week MVP builds with weekly demos
How do you handle can't afford full-time senior developer in the startup development industry?
Technical co-founder advice included
How do you handle need technical guidance, not just code in the startup development industry?
Flexible scope for pivots
How do you handle might need to pivot mid-build in the startup development industry?
Investor-ready architecture
How do you handle previous dev shop over-promised, under-delivered in the startup development industry?
Handoff documentation for your next hire
What experience do you have with startup development projects?
I've worked with multiple startup development clients over 16+ years, delivering solutions that understand the specific challenges and compliance requirements of the industry.
What does the process look like?
Initial call to understand your business context. Detailed brief. Weekly demos as we build. Direct communication throughout — no project managers in the way.
What Clients Say
"One of the things most organisations struggle with is finding that 'bridge' type of resource — someone who can speak product, understand the business, and shape the technical flow for today while keeping an eye firmly on tomorrow. Stu, on multiple occasions where I've hired him over the last 15 years, has been that guy. His consultative skills — listening, challenging back, and shaping technical solutions around what he hears — are second to none. His time management and expectation-setting are spot on too. He'll tell you where the risks are in the new and the unknown, so you're never left biting your nails in the dark. He lives and breathes tech, early-adopts just for the hell of it, but never oversells anything until it's genuinely safe and ready to use."
"Stu hired me and gave me a baptism of fire within AWS and infrastructure. Years later, I'm leading a DevOps team of eight. He's technically brilliant, but what I appreciated most was how he explained things - never made me feel stupid, always made time. We still help each other out regularly."
"Stu and I built an AI-powered documentation review tool together - it handled PR reviews, added frontmatter, found and linked related docs automatically. We went from idea to working product incredibly quickly. He's fast, he gets AI, and he's genuinely fun to collaborate with."
Related Services
Related Technologies
Common Problems
Let's Build Something
Ready to discuss your startup development project?