Interim Tech Lead & CTO

Building teams and technology that actually ship.

I partner with startups and SMEs as their interim technical leader — bridging the gap between business vision and engineering execution. I make difficult IT concepts accessible and transferrable, so your team keeps moving long after I leave.

What I work with

AI & LLM Infrastructure

RAG pipelinesAgent orchestrationLangChainPydantic AIPrompt engineeringLLM response testingAI routes & gatewaysDocument ingestionVector databasesLangfuseLiveKitWeb scraping

Web App Development

React / Next.jsTypeScriptNode.jsRuby on RailsPHPVue / NuxtSQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL)RedisREST & GraphQL APIsTailwind CSS

Architecture & DevOps

System architectureCloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, Heroku)CI/CD pipelinesMicroservices designMVP scoping & deliveryData privacy & compliancePerformance optimisationTechnical consulting

Currently building

Active

AI Recruiting Platform

Intelligent candidate matching and screening powered by RAG pipelines, agent orchestration, and document ingestion across large-scale resume vector stores.

RAGLangChainVector DBScraping
Active

AI Mental Health Therapy

Real-time conversational AI for therapeutic support, integrating LiveKit for voice, Langfuse for observability, and rigorous LLM response testing for safety.

LiveKitLangfusePrompt EngineeringPydantic AI
Active

AI Mergers & Acquisitions

Automated deal analysis and due diligence through document ingestion pipelines, AI-driven financial modelling, and multi-agent workflows for complex M&A data.

Agent OrchestrationDocument IngestionAI Gateways
Active

AI Shift & Reservation Management

Agentic scheduling system for hospitality venues, automating shift planning, conflict resolution, and reservation coordination through multi-agent workflows and real-time availability management.

Agent OrchestrationReal-timeHonoNext.js

The journey

10+ years building web applications and leading technical teams, based in the Netherlands. Started as a part-time developer in Utrecht, freelanced across full-stack projects from Amsterdam, then co-founded two Berlin-based ventures.

Shopboostr — a funded e-commerce ML startup through the EXIST program, award-winning. Karyan Daze — scaled a dev agency to 15 engineers, serving clients across Europe before moving on.

Since 2017, running an independent practice serving 60+ clients across the DACH region and France. Current focus on AI infrastructure, cloud architecture, and MVP consulting for startups.

What I bring to the table

Thrives in chaos

I strive in challenging environments. The messier the problem, the more energised I get. Complexity is where I do my best work.

3x founder

Proven record as a team leader, developer, and entrepreneur. Three-time founder, agency owner, and tech lead across multiple companies.

Quality over shortcuts

Strict values regarding quality, ensuring that solutions are long term and not only led by short term demands.

Brainstorm addict

A passion for brainstorming, even in topics outside my specialisation. The best ideas emerge at the intersection of disciplines.

Loyalty first

Loyalty is key to me, constantly reinventing partnerships along the way. Relationships that are built to last.

Perpetual learner

Self-learning as a constant. Started with a master in business & economics, ended up programming, and turned CTO.

What clients say

Hendrik worked as Head of Engineering at my startup, Hirespace.io. He was on track to become CTO. Hendrik was my trusted partner in building the company. He contributed not only on the technology side, but also to product, design, and hiring, which was critical. He helped shape the company’s culture — you are who you hire. His entrepreneurial mindset helped him deliver in a 0-to-1 environment where chaos and ambiguity are high. I could not have hoped for a better technology leader. I am grateful I had the opportunity to work with him, and I would love to work with him again. He’s a real A player. A rare talent.
Elad Leschem

Elad Leschem

5x Founder · CEO, Hirespace.io · Client

I’m very satisfied with our collaboration. He is highly professional and brings advanced expertise in the IT field. This know-how was instrumental in helping us solve our challenges efficiently and continue to grow. Clear recommendation.
Aaron Tobias

Aaron Tobias

Zumera GmbH & Agency · Client

Hendrik combines strong technical expertise with a clear strategic mindset. He breaks down complex problems into actionable steps and consistently delivers high-quality results. What really stands out is his ownership — he doesn’t just execute tasks, he takes responsibility for outcomes. He communicates clearly, supports others, and brings a calm, solution-oriented approach even in challenging situations.
Ali Kilicaslan

Ali Kilicaslan

Marketing & Growth · Managed Hendrik directly

He built our website and CRM and did an amazing job with both. He is super responsive and always quick to jump in when something comes up. No challenge ever felt too big for him — he just finds a way to make things work. Reliable, easy to work with, and someone you can count on throughout the whole process.
Janja Cerar Gazvoda

Janja Cerar Gazvoda

Marketing Manager, SVP Yachts · Client