I build AI-powered software that ships in weeks, not months.
Tired of developers who execute tasks but don't own outcomes? I'm a fractional CTO who architects your system, leads the build, and reviews every line so you get senior-quality software without the senior-hire price tag.
30 minutes. No pitch. Just an honest conversation.
What I Do
I work with startups and growth-stage companies who need senior technical leadership, not another pair of hands.
AI-Powered Software Development
Ship production AI features, not prototypes.
LLM integrations, multi-agent systems, and full-stack SaaS platforms. Node.js, React, Next.js, PostgreSQL, and whatever the problem demands.
See Case Studies →AI Systems & Automation
Replace manual processes with intelligent pipelines.
From 77-intent conversational AI to autonomous web agents: custom AI systems that work reliably in production, not just in demos.
See Case Studies →Technical Leadership
Senior decision-making without a full-time hire.
Fractional CTO and architect for teams that need someone to own the technical direction, run code reviews, and make the hard calls, including what NOT to build.
See Case Studies →Technologies I work with
Projects that shipped and made an impact.
A selection from 100+ projects across AI, SaaS, automation, logistics, finance, and more.
How I Work
A clear, proven process that removes risk and gets you to production fast. No ambiguity, no scope creep, no surprises.
Discovery Call
We talk about your problem, your goals, and your constraints. No slides, no sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about whether I'm the right fit.
Architecture & Plan
Before any code is written, I design the system. You get a clear technical plan with defined scope, milestones, and deliverables. No surprises.
Build & Ship
My team executes while I architect and review every pull request. You get senior-level quality delivered at 3-5x the speed of a traditional team, powered by AI-assisted development tools built specifically for this.
Trusted by founders and teams who needed to move fast
100+ projects delivered. 100% client success rate. Zero production incidents from delivered code.
Top Rated Plus on Upwork · 5.0 from 34 reviews · 100% Job Success"Jacob has been an outstanding technical partner and one of the strongest engineers I have worked with. He took ownership of a complex AI and full-stack platform... He does not simply complete assigned tasks. He identifies risks early, thinks through how decisions will affect the product long term, and recommends practical solutions based on real-world experience."Senior AI/Full-Stack Engineer & Technical Lead, Enterprise SaaS Platform (134 hours)
"Jacob is the best developer I've worked with, and I've hired through Toptal, so that's saying something... You're not just getting a developer, you're getting someone who thinks like a partner."KnockPro, Founding AI Systems Engineer
"Jacob put together a detailed plan for a swarm of sophisticated AI agents to help with developing and maintaining our SaaS platform codebase in a matter of hours. The first agents built since are working incredibly well."Engineering Agents for Startup Codebase Client
"Jacob exceeded my expectations in every way and my company is now in a much stronger position thanks to him. Highly recommended!"B2B SaaS Automation Client (267 hours)
"Jacob completed a substantial implementation spec within 24 hours that exceeded our expectations in every way. He delivered clear C4 architecture diagrams, detailed AI/ML infrastructure planning with cost projections..."AI SaaS Architecture Design Client
"I have hired a number of people on Upwork, with varying results. Jacob is by far the most professional and well qualified person I have worked with."Next.js & Vercel Engineering Client
"Jacob was incredible to work with. His visionary thinking contributed to a number of high-level product improvements that proved absolutely critical."Prompt Engineering Client
About Jacob
I built my first software company at 17 and have spent the last 15+ years shipping production software, from iOS apps to enterprise SaaS platforms to AI-native systems.
Today I run Serene Labs, an AI-augmented software consulting firm that delivers at 3-5x traditional speed, and Paisa Labs, an AI consulting and software company based in Medellín. Before that, I co-founded FancyAI and led its product and engineering as President & CTO, and ran operations as a partner at Fancy Awesome, a digital agency serving hundreds of brands including SKIMS.
I take limited engagements so I can go deep and drive real results.
Leadership Experience
Let's talk about what you're building.
30-minute discovery call. Free. No pitch, no pressure, just an honest conversation about your project and whether I'm the right fit.
Prefer email? Reach me at jacob@jacobralph.com