James Walker, PhD
I take new ideas to revenue.
I build the first version of new products. Deep on AI when it matters, plain software when it doesn't. PhD in machine learning, former CEO, bootstrapped operator. I do that work now for other founders and teams.
Who I am
An operator with research-grade depth.
I've spent the last decade in software — as an engineer, a CEO, and a researcher. I came up at an enterprise software business that was later acquired, then bootstrapped my own for seven years as CEO without venture capital, with customers across multiple continents. My PhD is in machine learning, with 500+ citations in the field.
I'm hands-on in production code most days — and equally comfortable in a board meeting or in front of investors. I've shipped research-grade systems to enterprises that pay real money. I know which ideas are worth building and which ones aren't.
What I do
Engagements I take on.
For founders and CTOs in the early stages — pre-product, pre-traction, or shipping the first version of a new product line. No fixed packages; each engagement is scoped in conversation.
Build the first version of your new product.
Embedded with you from blank page to shipped thing. AI-heavy or plain software, whichever the problem actually wants.
Validate a product thesis before you bet the budget.
A short, structured engagement that turns a high-level idea into a clear answer: is this real, what would it cost to build, and what's the shortest path to proof.
Architect new products from scratch.
Senior judgement on the system shape — data, services, infrastructure, and where AI earns its place — before your team commits to code that's hard to back out of.
Fractional CTO through the first build.
The credible technical seat in the room, including in front of investors, while you're still pre-product or pre-traction.
How I build
The stack I ship with.
Current practice, not aspiration. Everything here I've shipped to paying users.
AI & ML
- Anthropic & OpenAI APIs
- Claude Code / agent loops
- RAG architectures
- Vector databases
- Eval harnesses
Engineering
- TypeScript
- Python
- Next.js / React
- Postgres + Drizzle / Prisma
- Tailwind / shadcn
Production
- AWS / GCP
- Docker
- CI/CD
- Multi-tenant SaaS
- Monitoring & logging
What I've done
Selected work.
What I've actually shipped. Outcome first, stack second.
Got something new to build?
Email me, or book a 30-minute consult — no pitch, just a fit conversation.