Solo senior builder. I turn strategy into working software.

Most teams have plenty of strategy and not enough shipped. I close that gap, end to end, in production.

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Production ML since 2019 · 50M+ pages/month at peak · Solo-built AI SaaS live now

SELECTED WORK

Case studies


LIVE PRODUCT

Dead Gossip

A live genealogy SaaS I built solo end to end. Real product, real users, same stack I use for client work.

See the Case Study →

SERVICES

Where to start

Three ways in. Pick what fits the problem.

Build Engagement

Custom production AI software, built solo end to end

$60K-$120K 6-32 weeks

Workflow Audit

Find the highest-leverage automation opportunities. Written assessment, no obligation to build.

$8K-$15K 2-3 weeks

Advisory Hour

Direct access for feasibility, architecture, or vendor decisions. Brief written summary follows.

$300/hr, 2-hour recommended


HOW I WORK

Solo, senior, fully accountable

PO to QA, all me

Strategy, scoping, architecture, build, QA, deploy. No team to wrangle, no handoffs to lose context across.

Systems thinking, not feature thinking

I look at how your whole operation works before deciding what to build. Sometimes the answer is a smaller tool. Sometimes it's a process change. Sometimes both. You get the answer that fits your actual operation.

Translation between tech and business

You don't need to learn developer language to work with me. I've spent a decade explaining software to executives, ops leads, underwriters and more. The conversation happens in your terms.

Operating costs stay visible

Build cost and run cost are two different numbers. I keep run cost in view through the build and flag the decisions that move it, so nothing about ongoing cost surprises you at delivery.

Documentation you can actually use

You get the working software plus the docs to maintain it. What it does. Why it was built that way. How to change it later. If you ever bring in another developer, they have what they need to take over.


ABOUT

Nikki Smith

I've spent a decade delivering AI and automation products in complex enterprise environments. I build products end to end, combining strategy, product leadership and execution in one role. I'm the founder of Smith Digital LLC and creator of Dead Gossip, an AI-powered genealogy platform. I work with organizations that need a builder who can both define the vision and bring it to life.


Let's see if we're a fit

Book a discovery call →