About · John Rake

About

The person who owns your technical side

I work with business owners who are already running real businesses. You have revenue, customers, and operations that still depend on you more than they should. What you do not have is a technical person in your corner who will diagnose the problem, tell you what is worth building, and then actually build it.

What changes when we work together

You stop being the default owner of every tech decision. Instead of guessing what is possible, what it should cost, or which vendor to trust, you have one person who already knows your business, your product, and your constraints.

That means clearer priorities, faster answers, and software that matches how you operate instead of how a template thinks you should. Most clients start with a focused Launch project. When that goes well, we move into Orbit: a steady weekly rhythm where I keep shipping, fixing, and improving what we have built together.

Why I work this way

I have been building software since 2017 and mentoring business owners inside the BetaBlox ecosystem for years. The pattern I kept seeing was the same: capable owners stuck between agencies that only execute tickets, freelancers who disappear after launch, and dev hires they end up managing without the background to evaluate.

The businesses that grew smoothly had something different: one trusted technical person who could see the whole board, speak plainly, and stay engaged after go-live. That is the role I fill now. Not a dev shop handing you a team. Not a contractor waiting for a spec. A strategic partner who figures out what should happen next and makes it real.

Partnership detail

What working together actually looks like

Process, proof, and fit. The sections below are what business owners usually want to know before they book a call.

What working with me looks like

We start by getting aligned on what is actually broken and what a first win looks like. When the direction needs proof, we prototype before a full build. Then we ship a scoped Launch version you can run the business on. If the fit is right, Orbit is the ongoing partnership: your dedicated technical day each week, plain-language updates, and someone who picks up context instead of starting from zero every month.

You work directly with me. I set technical direction, write the code, and document what we have so you are never in the dark. When business questions overlap with product decisions (pricing, positioning, what to build first), I can weigh in from years of working with small and mid-sized companies, not just from an engineering checklist.

Experience that supports the partnership

I have launched products, inherited broken codebases, rebuilt them, and kept them running in production. Client work spans SaaS, mobile apps, internal ops tools, payments, and AI-powered workflows across industries. Representative engagements include FlipperForce (SaaS for real estate investors), Catalyst (NFC business cards with ongoing development), and long-running technical work with BetaBlox on applications that run day-to-day operations.

That range matters because your problem rarely fits a single framework or stack. You need someone who can choose the right approach, scope the smallest useful version, and execute without you becoming a part-time project manager.

Who this is for (and who it is not)

Strong fit

You are running an established service business, you have budget to invest in custom software, and you want a long-term technical partner rather than a one-off build quote.

Probably not a fit

You are pre-revenue, need someone to join an existing dev team and take orders from a manager, or are looking for the cheapest possible website to test an unproven idea. I am selective on purpose. The best outcomes happen when we are both clear that this is a high-trust partnership, not a commodity project.

What my clients say

These are a few of the hundreds of business owners I have worked with and thousands that I've mentored.

“My website is now a powerful tool for showcasing my copywriting services and deepening expertise.”

Jill Pavlov Vazquez

Owner, Your Creative Concierge

“My website now consistently drives traffic and leads, helping me implement a sales funnel.”

Laura Panozzo

Founder, Marryment

“Our website has become a welcoming hub where clients find information online instead of via phone.”

Kelly Murray

Owner, True Love Pet Care

“The BuildingBlox team helped us fix and launch our landing page — they're rockstars at web design.”

Madison Durant

Founder, Thanks It Has Pockets!

“I've worked with John in various capacities for almost three years now. He's my absolute go-to technology developer of choice. He will save you money, make you more revenue, and help you build something people actually want.”

Weston Bergmann

Investor, BetaBlox Business Incubator

“Smart, proactive problem-solvers who are truthful, kind, and helpful even during late-night website issues.”

Ann O'Meara

Founder, Fantastic 55

“My website is now a powerful tool for showcasing my copywriting services and deepening expertise.”

Jill Pavlov Vazquez

Owner, Your Creative Concierge

“My website now consistently drives traffic and leads, helping me implement a sales funnel.”

Laura Panozzo

Founder, Marryment

“Our website has become a welcoming hub where clients find information online instead of via phone.”

Kelly Murray

Owner, True Love Pet Care

“The BuildingBlox team helped us fix and launch our landing page — they're rockstars at web design.”

Madison Durant

Founder, Thanks It Has Pockets!

Weston Bergmann

Investor, BetaBlox Business Incubator

“Smart, proactive problem-solvers who are truthful, kind, and helpful even during late-night website issues.”

Ann O'Meara

Founder, Fantastic 55

“Phenomenal to work with, incredibly professional, with impressive skill sets for app development.”

David Pochapin

Founder, Gavel It

“The process brilliantly blends technology with intuitive design, enabling true collaboration.”

Rachel Tahnee Dehler

Founder and CEO, Sonder Breath

“Amazing work quality and final product delivered in a remarkably quick timeframe.”

Meagan Beam

Founder and CEO, OTTER Reading

“Our app is the foundation of our company; success depends on their excellent services.”

Brittany Tidwell

Founder and CEO, Verified News Network

“Quick response and feedback prevents wasted time on changes that get reverted later.”

Jill Zambon

Founder and CEO, The Parent Project

“John helps plan your MVP and get your app launched quickly and efficiently.”

Dave Robertson

Founder and CEO, FlipperForce