I build AI automations for nimble businesses.
AI adoption is overcomplicated. Most of us don't need enterprise-wide transformations. We need small, focused tools that solve today's problems, not tomorrow's science fiction.
I help category leaders like Double Good and AwardSpring make quantum leaps in productivity with small AI solutions. Each workflow is built to do one thing exceptionally well, integrate with your existing tools, and prove its value immediately. No hype. No bloat. Practical automation that works.
If you ask me what I can build for you, I'll respond by asking you what the most tedious part of your work is. Maybe it's something like:
- Cleaning up complex or messy data
- Sifting through websites or files in search of information
- Creating the same type of documents over and over again
If that's the case, I can help.
Small and fast.
Nearly half of AI pilots are abandoned. Not because AI doesn't work, but because companies try to boil the ocean. Scope creeps. Edge cases multiply like a virus.
It makes sense. AI is the most powerful tool ever invented. It's tempting to shove your chips all in. But AI fundamentally changes the definition of "work" for humans. Organizations can't (and shouldn't) metamorphose overnight. The goal mustn't be to adopt AI as fast as possible, but rather at the pace your organization can safely absorb the change.
Small wins create internal momentum and proof points that pave the way for bigger transformations.
Built within your stack.
Consultants and freelancers often bloat their clients' stack with the tools they're most comfortable with. I can't stand app sprawl. Hell, I cofounded a company solely designed to help SMBs manage it.
My bias is to build systems that meet you where you are, whether that means
- Custom add-ons within Google Workspace
- Pipelines within your data warehouse
- Custom apps on top of your communication tools like Slack or Teams
- Workflows in low-code platforms like Zapier or n8n
If - and only if - the task demands a new tool or highly sophisticated custom build, I'll recommend it.
AI as a last resort.
AI is non-deterministic by nature. It's unpredictable. That's bad for most business workflows that typically have well defined inputs and outputs.
I write deterministic, battle-tested code as much as possible, and then layer on AI only where it creates magic that can't be achieved any other way.
Yes, I'm an AI architect who minimizes AI use. The irony isn't lost on me, but the results speak for themselves. I care about production systems that work, not technology for its own sake.
I'm James. I spent 6 years as the CEO of Screencastify and 2 as the Cofounder and CTO of Hapstack. I then dove deep in to AI automation, where I've been building advanced systems and workflows for the past two years. I speak both business and binary. Every company I've scaled or founded has been bootstrapped, so I'm hardwired to find ways to do more with less. I live in the Chicago suburbs with my wife, 2-year-old daughter, and poorly behaved dog.
My approach
- Discover.
A deep dive into your existing manual workflows and bottlenecks. I'll map exactly where process automation will drive the most impact for your specific needs. No generic solutions, everything tailored to your business.
- Design and build.
Rapid system design that starts small and only grows after it proves value. We're talking hours or days, not weeks or months
- Launch.
Training, integration, and troubleshooting is all included. Your team gets up to speed quickly, and I'me there to support you through any hiccups. The goal is enthusiastic adoption, and no automation has a shot at success if the humans its designed to help aren't fully on board.
- Optimize.
AI is improving weekly. New models come out, new capabilities emerge, and new opportunities appear. I'm always monitoring, optimizing, and upgrading your workflows so that your competitive advantage grows stronger over time. What works today can work even better tomorrow.
"Working with James has been a game-changer. He knows his stuff and approaches every project as a true partner and creative problem solver. We knew that there was opportunity to apply AI technologies more effectively in our business, but no one on our team had the expertise to get us started. We came to James with problems and hopes for what we could do, and James made that a reality. We've been working with him for a couple of months and his work has saved us countless hours."
— Alex Stepien, CEO of AwardSpring
"James is our secret weapon. He gets embedded in your business fast and knows exactly where AI and automation will have the biggest impact. We’ve handed him data nightmares, reporting workflows, and go-to-market projects - he solves all of them."
— Lauren Tharp, VP of Operations at Double Good
Pricing
Choose from two plans based on how much capacity you need. Both include:
- Unlimited projects
- Ongoing maintenance and upgrades
- Private Slack or Teams channel
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No contracts, cancel anytime
In order to maintain high velocity and responsiveness, I limit the number of clients I work with at one time. I'm currently not accepting new clients, but am expanding capacity and anticipate at least one opening in the near future.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, I only work with clients via monthly retainer. I've found this leads to much better results for several reasons:
- I'm able to get fully embedded in your business, and that ROI compounds as I complete more projects.
- AI work benefits from constant tweaks, optimizations, and upgrades. It's possible to draw discrete finish lines for each project, but the quality can suffer.
- Many projects are very quick, and my output is much higher if I spend more time executing and less time scoping.
Most clients see measurable impact within 2-3 weeks (the pricing model makes that important for me). I'll start with quick wins that prove value, then expand systematically.
This varies greatly depending on the project. If we decide that low-code AI workflow building tools make the most sense, I'll use n8n, Zapier, or make.com. If a more powerful solution is needed, I'll typically write custom code in Typescript and deploy the backend logic to Cloudflare.
This is universal. Every company has them, and they're often asking the right questions. It's never been a problem in my experience. I'm a process automator first and foremost. I solve problems that my clients want to have solved using whatever tools get the best results. Whether you're an AI superfan or skeptic, if we agree on how to measure success, then we're on the same team from day one.
I also make it abundantly clear that my mission is to automate rote tasks, not entire jobs. When I succeed, people can spend more time on things that humans are best at doing.
If after the first 30 days you're not happy with the results, I'll send your money back, no questions asked.