14 years building, scaling, and selling software companies — including the ones I ran into the ground. Now I help founders and agency owners skip the mistakes that cost me years.
You have a product gaining traction but no one to own the technical vision. I join your team part-time and own it with you.
Architecture, hiring your first engineers, and making sure what you're building is solid — technically, architecturally, and when it matters most.
Most agency owners face one of two problems: you can't create demand reliably — or you have demand but can't deliver it sustainably.
Everything in between — hiring, scoping, pricing — is tactical and solvable. These two are what actually keep you stuck. We focus there.
30 minutes. We talk through what's stuck. If I can't help, I'll point you somewhere better — promised.
A focused first session to map the actual problem — not the one that's loudest. You leave with a written read.
Monthly or weekly working sessions plus async access. Built around your team's calendar, not mine.
The goal is systems that run without me. We end when you're stronger — usually 6–12 months in.
I've founded, scaled, and sold software companies for over a decade. I've also run them into the ground, hired the wrong people, and made technical bets that cost me years.
I started my first agency in 2012. We built products for clients like Amazon, HUGO BOSS, and Daimler — became early movers in voice technology, pivoted into blockchain, raised venture capital — and at some point I burned out because I had no idea how to actually run what I'd built. Nobody teaches you that part. Not how to find clients, not how to keep good people, not how to say no to the wrong projects.
So I started over. Rebuilt my agency around speed and a lean freelancer network instead of headcount. Got honest about what I didn't know. And now I help founders and agency owners skip the expensive lessons I had to learn the hard way.
I've run every flavor of business. Each one charges its own tax — in time, money, or sleep. Calm is the one I'd choose again.
First agency. Voice tech, IoT, mobile. Amazon, HUGO BOSS, Daimler as clients. Learned how to ship — not how to run a business.
Crypto & venture-backed. Pivoted into blockchain. Raised venture capital, scaled fast, burned out faster. The expensive lessons happen here.
Head of Engineering, Flowcarbon. Built and led the engineering org of an a16z-backed climate company. Front-end to back-end to chain.
Speedrun Studio. A lean agency built around speed and a freelancer network. The bullshit-free version of everything I learned the hard way.
Alex brought deep insight and a sharp strategic lens to every interaction. His ability to cut to the heart of an issue while keeping conversations constructive made him a valuable voice in the room.
Alex worked as the Head of Engineering at Flowcarbon, known for his technical skills and professionalism. His expertise covered everything from front-end to back-end and blockchain — making him an incredibly versatile asset.
Honest answers to the things people actually ask before booking a call.
Two things, mostly. Either you're not generating enough demand — struggling to find leads, close deals, and convince clients you're not a commodity. Or you have demand but you're working yourself into the ground trying to deliver it all. The tactical stuff in between — hiring, scoping, writing proposals — that's easier to solve once the bigger issue is clear.
Depends on how much access you need. At minimum, we meet once a month for a focused session on whatever's stuck. If you want more support, we can do weekly calls with async access in between — voice notes, quick questions, feedback on proposals or pricing. The goal is to build systems that work without me, not create dependency.
Honest answer: it depends. On what you're trying to fix, how quickly you implement, and what you're starting with. I can't promise you'll double revenue in 90 days — anyone who does is lying. What I can promise is clarity on what's actually stuck, a concrete plan to fix it, and someone who's seen enough agency problems to help you avoid the obvious mistakes.
Yes. If after the first mentoring session you feel like this isn't working for you, I'll refund you in full — no questions asked. I'd rather you walk away than stay in something that isn't helping.
Check out Selling Engineering — a course I built for exactly this situation. It covers how to sell your technical skills without feeling like a salesperson: positioning, pricing, closing, handling objections. If you're struggling with the demand side, start there.
You don't compete with AI — you compete with other agencies who are panicking about AI. The ones who win can articulate the value of experience, judgment, and accountability. AI can generate code. It can't own the outcome. If you're losing deals to "we'll just use AI," the problem isn't AI — it's positioning.
I've run the same business you're running. I've made the pricing mistakes, the hiring mistakes, the "yes to every project" mistakes. This isn't theory from someone who's never shipped a product — it's pattern recognition from building agencies for over a decade.
Agency owners running teams of 3–30 people. Big enough to have real problems — hiring, delivery, pricing, burnout. Small enough that your decisions still shape everything. Solo freelancers should start with the course; 50+ person agencies need a more specialized operator.
My calm agency. Lean freelancer network, no headcount tax. We design and ship digital products at speed.
speedrun.studio ↗ →For technical founders and freelancers who want to charge what they're worth without feeling like a salesperson.
selling.engineering ↗ →Honest conversations with founders about what actually happened — the deals, the mistakes, what they'd do differently.
founderexperience.fm ↗ →Short, opinionated takes on tech leadership, hiring, and running an agency without burning out. New every few weeks.
youtube.com/@alexgutjahr ↗ →Most agency owners price based on costs, not value. Here's how to choose a pricing model that attracts better clients and protects your margins.
Read →Most agencies rely on referrals and hope. Here's a systematic approach to agency lead generation that works—without cold outreach or expensive ads.
Read →We'll talk through what's stuck, and I'll tell you honestly if I can help — or point you somewhere better.
