Independent AI consulting & software engineering
I help founders and product teams turn promising ideas into software that works in the real world, from choosing the right problem to building and integrating the solution.
Led by Austin BurgardBased in St. LouisWorking remotely
Three kinds of work, often in sequence. Each engagement is scoped to your situation, so we start wherever you are.
Before any code, I look at how the work happens today: the workflows, the data, the constraints, and the people involved. Together we decide whether AI fits, what is feasible, and what success should mean.
What you get
I design and build AI features, internal tools, and integrations that connect to the systems you already use. The code is written so your team can read it, run it, and extend it.
What you get
A prototype that works once is a starting point. I test it on real devices, add failure handling and cost limits, and write down why we chose what we chose.
What you get
Illustrative example · Not a client result
As a system
You work with me directly, from the first conversation to the handoff. I build with AI coding agents, and I review and test everything they write before it reaches you.
Before building, I map how things work today and how others solve it, then write it down so we agree.
A short plan. Flags, tables, and services that haven’t earned their place get cut.
Small changes, each reviewed and tried on a real phone or browser. Staging first, then production.
Working code, one-command setup, and a note on what’s done, what’s deferred, and why.
Judgment & responsibility
If a piece isn’t pulling its weight, it comes out. Dead code, unused flags, extra services.
I click through the real thing and try to break it. Clunky, jarring, or generic isn’t done.
AI acts when someone clearly asks, keeps a visible log, and every action can be undone.
The cheapest model that does the job, providers you can swap, and caps on expensive calls.
I’m a senior product engineer with seven years of experience shipping software: full-stack applications, AI pipelines, and platform infrastructure. On my own time I build iOS apps: Offshelf is live on the App Store, and Almost Dawn is in beta.
I started Sólito to work closely with founders and small teams on problems where careful engineering matters as much as the idea. I like problems that are real, scopes that are honest, and work that is measured.
Send me a short note. A few sentences is enough to start, and I read every message myself. It helps to know:
