Why I Built Cold Start Lab

After 20+ years of working with technology—starting with taking apart family computers at age 12—I've seen a pattern repeat itself: people and organizations with real technical problems struggling to find straightforward solutions without the sales pitch overhead.

The Problem with Typical Consulting

Most technical consulting follows a familiar pattern:

Initial contact requires navigating sales processes
Mandatory ongoing contracts lock you in
Documentation is minimal or proprietary
You're dependent on the consultant indefinitely

Note

This works for some situations, but it's not what everyone needs.

A Different Approach

Cold Start Lab exists to serve clients who:

Have clearly defined technical problems
Prefer straightforward communication
Want systems they can maintain or hand off
Don't need mandatory ongoing relationships

What This Means in Practice

When you work with Cold Start Lab, you get:

Direct Communication: No sales pitches. We discuss your actual problem and whether I can help.

Clean Handoffs: Every system I build is fully documented. You own it completely.

Optional Support: Ongoing care is available if you want it, but never required.

Technical Authenticity: I explain decisions in plain language and don't use AI or complexity for its own sake.

Current Reality

I'm currently running about 70 self-hosted applications in my homelab—file storage, automation tools, monitoring systems, databases, and more.

Note

This isn't theory—these are systems I maintain daily. The experience from managing my own infrastructure directly informs how I build systems for others.

Who This Serves

This approach works best for:

Engineers seeking guidance on specific problems
Local businesses with defined needs
Remote professionals wanting data control
Anyone who values transparency over marketing

What's Next

If you have a clearly defined technical problem and prefer straightforward collaboration, get in touch. Even if it's not something I do, I'm happy to point you in the right direction.