What this looks like in practice
Real examples from recent advisory engagements -- across custom AI tooling, data research, and implementation strategy.
Custom AI Customer Service Agent for a Local Woodworking Studio
A San Francisco woodworking shop was evaluating off-the-shelf customer service chatbots running $79-$165/month -- tools that weren't purpose-built for their business and required ongoing SaaS subscriptions. Our team designed and built a custom AI agent integrated with their website and Gmail, using the Anthropic API with a FastAPI backend. The agent handles customer inquiries, appointment context from their scheduling system, and common questions about services and lead times -- all trained on the shop's actual voice and offerings. The result: a purpose-built solution for roughly $5-20/month in API costs, with full ownership of the tool and no vendor dependency.
AI-Powered Detail Management Platform -- AEC Software Studio
Partnered with an early-stage AEC software company building an AI-powered architectural detail management platform. The core problem: architecture firms were losing institutional knowledge when project teams turned over, and spending hours re-researching details they'd already solved. We contributed to product strategy and ICP positioning -- helping the team articulate why 'reduce research time by 80%' is the right lead metric, and how to sequence onboarding to demonstrate value before asking for firm-wide adoption. The platform now serves architects, interior designers, and engineering firms as a searchable knowledge repository with AI-enabled design intelligence.
AEC Hub Data Intelligence Platform
Built and maintain 7 live data dashboards pulling from BLS, FRED, Census Bureau, FHWA, and USAspending.gov -- covering construction employment, material prices, building permits, bridge conditions, federal infrastructure spending, site risk, and AEC salaries across 44 occupations and 393 metro areas. Each dashboard is validated against source data, updated automatically, and built to serve real decisions -- not just display numbers. The platform now attracts AEC professionals, researchers, and firms using it as a primary reference for market intelligence.