vCTO for established service businesses

You're still doing manually what a system should handle.

You've been in business long enough. Revenue is solid. The operation works. What doesn't work is that it still runs on you. I come in, find where work falls through the cracks, and build the technology you need.

Weston Bergmann
I've worked with John in various capacities for almost three years now. He's my absolute go-to technology developer of choice. He will save you money, make you more revenue, and help you build something people actually want.

Weston Bergmann · Investor, BetaBlox Business Incubator

Dave Robertson
John helps plan your MVP and get your app launched quickly and efficiently.

Dave Robertson · Founder and CEO, FlipperForce

John Rake, technical partner for founders
Silver MacBook on a wooden table

I'm the strategic tech partner you've been missing.

You're in the right place if you've been in business five or more years. Real revenue, a team that depends on you, no technical person on staff. You know technology could make this run better. You just have no idea where to start, and every time you've tried to hire for it, you ended up managing the developer instead of the work. I figure out what to build, build it, and stay on to keep it running.

How it works

We start by getting on the same page about what's actually broken. When the direction needs proving, we prototype before committing to a full build. Then we ship for real and stay on if it's working.

  1. Align

    We start with a conversation. You bring what's frustrating, what's manual, and what you've already tried. I mirror what I'm hearing, ask the right questions, and we align on the real problem and what a first win looks like. There's no package to pick on this call. We figure out what actually needs to happen first.

  2. Prototype

    When the path forward isn't obvious, we ship a focused prototype: enough to click through, put in front of your team or users, and make sure we're pointed the right way before a full build. It's not the whole product. It's proof the direction is worth committing to. Straightforward fixes can skip this step and go straight to Launch.

  3. Launch

    Once we're confident in the direction, Launch is the full build. I cut scope to what matters for the first real version, move fast, and ship something you can run the business on. That might be a new product, an internal tool, or untangling something you already have. What's not essential doesn't make the cut.

  4. Orbit

    Orbit isn't something you buy off a menu. It's the ongoing partnership after Launch goes well: a steady week-to-week rhythm where I stay in your corner on the technical side. We ship what's next, respond when something breaks, and keep improving what we've built. You focus on running the business. I keep the tech healthy and moving forward.

Laptop on a deskComputer code on a screen

You're not signing up for a long engagement on day one. We align first, prove the direction when it matters, build one clear win, then decide together if ongoing partnership makes sense.

Business owner mentorship

I've been working with business owners like you for years.

Service businesses, small companies, and growing operations: I've spent years helping owners make smarter technology decisions and build software that actually fits their business.

  • 100+

    Business owners and operators I've worked with directly: coaching, advisory, and hands-on build partnerships.

  • 5,000+

    Business owners mentored through accelerators, BetaBlox Grad School, conferences, and education programs.

What I build

Custom software for established service businesses: web and mobile apps, internal tools, workflow automation, AI integrations, and business systems that fit how you actually operate.

Everything below is work I take on directly with the owner or founder. You bring the business context and priorities. I handle architecture, implementation, deployment, and ongoing technical decisions. If you are not sure which category your project fits, that is normal. We figure it out on the first call.

01

Web & Mobile Apps

Customer-facing and revenue products: SaaS platforms, subscription apps, B2B tools, and mobile experiences. I take you from scoped MVP through production launch, including auth, payments, admin dashboards, and the integrations your product needs on day one.

Examples: multi-tenant SaaS, member portals, booking and scheduling apps, iOS/Android companion apps, marketplaces, investor or client dashboards

02

Internal Tools & Automation

Software your team uses every day to run the business: replacing spreadsheets, manual handoffs, and copy-paste workflows with tools built for your process. I build internal dashboards, automated reporting, approval flows, and ops systems your staff will actually adopt.

Examples: custom CRMs, job tracking boards, automated client onboarding, inventory or fulfillment workflows, scheduled reports, Zapier-style logic owned in your own codebase

03

AI Integrations

Practical AI inside your product or operations: intake assistants, document processing, recommendations, and workflow agents that save real hours. I use modern AI tooling to move faster on builds and ship features that would have been too expensive to justify a few years ago.

Examples: AI client intake and qualification, support assistants trained on your docs, smart search across business data, automated summaries, content or data pipelines with human review built in

04

Business Systems & Custom Software

When off-the-shelf tools force awkward workarounds, I build the missing piece: calculators, portals, payment flows, and glue between systems that do not talk to each other. You get software shaped to your pricing model, compliance needs, and customer experience instead of adapting the business to a generic template.

Examples: embedded quote configurators, Stripe billing and subscriptions, client-facing portals, NFC or hardware-adjacent products, API bridges between Shopify, CRMs, and internal databases

The Tech Blueprint

Join 300+ business owners who get a weekly blueprint for using technology to automate, cut manual work, and build systems that run without them.

  • Automation and integration blueprints that save real time, not shelfware

  • Plain-language maps of AI—what is worth building now and what to skip

  • How to scope, sequence, and build when you do not have a technical team

Weekly. Unsubscribe anytime.

What my clients say

These are a few of the hundreds of business owners I have worked with and thousands that I've mentored.

My website is now a powerful tool for showcasing my copywriting services and deepening expertise.

Jill Pavlov Vazquez

Owner, Your Creative Concierge

My website now consistently drives traffic and leads, helping me implement a sales funnel.

Laura Panozzo

Founder, Marryment

Our website has become a welcoming hub where clients find information online instead of via phone.

Kelly Murray

Owner, True Love Pet Care

The BuildingBlox team helped us fix and launch our landing page — they're rockstars at web design.

Madison Durant

Founder, Thanks It Has Pockets!

I've worked with John in various capacities for almost three years now. He's my absolute go-to technology developer of choice. He will save you money, make you more revenue, and help you build something people actually want.

Weston Bergmann

Investor, BetaBlox Business Incubator

Smart, proactive problem-solvers who are truthful, kind, and helpful even during late-night website issues.

Ann O'Meara

Founder, Fantastic 55

My website is now a powerful tool for showcasing my copywriting services and deepening expertise.

Jill Pavlov Vazquez

Owner, Your Creative Concierge

My website now consistently drives traffic and leads, helping me implement a sales funnel.

Laura Panozzo

Founder, Marryment

Our website has become a welcoming hub where clients find information online instead of via phone.

Kelly Murray

Owner, True Love Pet Care

The BuildingBlox team helped us fix and launch our landing page — they're rockstars at web design.

Madison Durant

Founder, Thanks It Has Pockets!

I've worked with John in various capacities for almost three years now. He's my absolute go-to technology developer of choice. He will save you money, make you more revenue, and help you build something people actually want.

Weston Bergmann

Investor, BetaBlox Business Incubator

Smart, proactive problem-solvers who are truthful, kind, and helpful even during late-night website issues.

Ann O'Meara

Founder, Fantastic 55

Phenomenal to work with, incredibly professional, with impressive skill sets for app development.

David Pochapin

Founder, Gavel It

The process brilliantly blends technology with intuitive design, enabling true collaboration.

Rachel Tahnee Dehler

Founder and CEO, Sonder Breath

Amazing work quality and final product delivered in a remarkably quick timeframe.

Meagan Beam

Founder and CEO, OTTER Reading

Our app is the foundation of our company; success depends on their excellent services.

Brittany Tidwell

Founder and CEO, Verified News Network

Quick response and feedback prevents wasted time on changes that get reverted later.

Jill Zambon

Founder and CEO, The Parent Project

John helps plan your MVP and get your app launched quickly and efficiently.

Dave Robertson

Founder and CEO, FlipperForce

Phenomenal to work with, incredibly professional, with impressive skill sets for app development.

David Pochapin

Founder, Gavel It

The process brilliantly blends technology with intuitive design, enabling true collaboration.

Rachel Tahnee Dehler

Founder and CEO, Sonder Breath

Amazing work quality and final product delivered in a remarkably quick timeframe.

Meagan Beam

Founder and CEO, OTTER Reading

Our app is the foundation of our company; success depends on their excellent services.

Brittany Tidwell

Founder and CEO, Verified News Network

Quick response and feedback prevents wasted time on changes that get reverted later.

Jill Zambon

Founder and CEO, The Parent Project

John helps plan your MVP and get your app launched quickly and efficiently.

Dave Robertson

Founder and CEO, FlipperForce

Common questions

Straight answers on pricing, fit, and how we work together.

What does this cost?

Launch projects are scoped based on what needs to get built. The goal is always to get you to market for less than a traditional build by cutting scope down to what actually matters. A typical software shop might quote $10,000 to $15,000 for a product we'd target getting live for $5,000 to $6,000. You spend less, launch faster, and iterate from real feedback instead of guessing upfront.

Orbit is $500 per week for one dedicated day. The first month is $2,000 upfront, which locks in the engagement and covers the onboarding period. After that, it's $500 every Monday. Simple and consistent. If you need more than one day a week, additional days are available at a 10% discount.

If budget is extremely tight right now, we're probably not the right fit yet. If you have capital to invest and a real problem to solve, let's talk.

What kinds of projects do you take on?

Custom software: web apps, mobile apps, internal tools, automation, AI integrations, business systems. I work best directly with the founder or owner, the person who has the vision and the authority to make decisions. This is a partnership, not a contractor relationship. I'm not looking to join your team and take direction from a manager. I'm looking to work alongside the person who owns the business and help them build something together.

Do I need to be technical to work with you?

No. Most of my best clients have no technical background at all. You bring the business knowledge and the vision. I handle everything technical: the decisions, the building, the maintenance. You don't need to understand how it works going in, and by working with me, you will. Part of what I do is translate the technical side into plain language, document it, and make sure you always know what we have, why it works the way it does, and what it would take to change it.

What does the process look like?

I start with a call to understand your situation and figure out if we're a good fit. If we move forward, we align on scope: what the product actually is, what's in, what's out, and what success looks like at launch. Then we kick off with Launch: moving fast, cutting everything non-essential, and getting something real into the market. You get a working product faster and at a lower cost than a traditional build, with real user feedback to guide what comes next.

From there, most clients transition into Orbit. I shift from sprint mode to a steady weekly rhythm, building out the roadmap, shipping features, handling bugs, and keeping the product healthy over time. You stay involved in priorities and direction. I handle the technical execution. The longer we work together, the more effective we get, because I already know your codebase, your business, and what you're trying to accomplish.

How much of my time does this require?

Not much, but not zero. In Orbit, we do a 30-minute sync at the start of each dedicated day. That's the main recurring ask on your time. You review progress, share what's on your mind, and set priorities for the week. Beyond that, I work independently.

You can send requests, questions, or updates any time through our project management system. Outside of genuine emergencies, I process those on your dedicated day. Not before. That's how I make sure every client gets focused, uninterrupted attention on their day. You'd want the same standard applied to you.

What makes this work is that we both have skin in the game. I'm looking for a partner who cares how this turns out, not a client to manage. That means staying engaged, communicating openly, and trusting each other to handle our respective sides.

What happens if something breaks outside of our scheduled day?

Reach out. Off-hours availability for emergencies is part of the Orbit arrangement. I'll respond within 24 hours, usually faster. If it's a quick fix, I handle it at no extra charge. If it amounts to a significant chunk of work, we pull those hours from your next dedicated day and work through it then. You're never left waiting for a Thursday to find out your site is down.

Do you work with companies that already have a development team?

Generally, no. My best work happens when I'm the technical authority: the person setting direction, making recommendations, and owning the outcomes. That's hard to do when there's already a team in place with their own processes, tools, and rules.

If you're looking for a contractor to plug into an existing team and take direction from a project manager, I'm not the right fit. If you're looking for someone to lead the technical side of your business while you focus on everything else, that's exactly what this is. I'm not here to become an employee or a permanent part of your org. This is a high-trust working partnership, and it works best when we're both clear on that from the start.

Next step

Ready to build something?

If this sounds like what you've been looking for, the next step is a call. We'll talk through your situation, figure out if we're a good fit, and go from there.