One engineer, idea to production
Architecture, backend, frontend, mobile, and deployment. No handoffs between three vendors.
Built WatchTower's detection engine, dashboard, and marketing site end to end.
Available for new projectsShip your productwithout hiringa whole team
I'm John Graham, a fullstack engineer who has been CTO at three startups. I take your idea from first commit to production, and I stay for what happens after launch.
Start your projectShipped for teams at
Most founders end up with the wrong kind of help
The usual options
- An agency hands over a codebase and moves on to the next client.
- A junior freelancer needs a ticket for every decision.
- You end up managing technical work you can't fully judge.
What you get instead
- One senior engineer who decides what to build and then builds it.
- Plain answers on cost, stack, and tradeoffs before any code.
- Someone who still picks up the phone after launch.
Why founders hire me
Technical calls made with the business in mind
I've been CTO at Lastmal, Kredentic, and Forhey. I pick a stack you can hire for and afford to run.
"Realistic about the business." 0xDrew, Translucid
Range across hard problems
Fraud detection, industrial security dashboards, Web3 apps, logistics, and mobile apps in Flutter and React Native.
11 shipped projects, from WordPress plugins to OT security.
Easy to work with across timezones
Based in Accra on GMT. I've shipped with teams in the US, Israel, and the UAE.
"Deliver projects on time and within budget." Kelvin, Web3 Accelerators
I build your product like it's my own company, because I've been the CTO who had to live with the code.
Selected work
Products I built and still stand behind
ShepherdCircle
Founder and engineer
Church management for Ghana. QR self check-in on Sunday, giving and expenses by category on Monday, and a view of who has not been in lately.
- Next.js
- tRPC
- Supabase
- PostgreSQL
WatchTower
CTO and cofounder, Kredentic
Fraud detection for businesses impersonated on Google Maps. Scans 22 Ghanaian districts, scores every listing, captures screenshot evidence, and alerts owners on WhatsApp.
- Next.js
- Python
- PostgreSQL
- Redis
SIGA SigaGuard
Senior frontend developer
Operator dashboard for an OT cybersecurity platform that reads industrial sensors at the signal level, for energy, water, and manufacturing sites.
- Vue.js
- PrimeVue
Lastmal Merchant Platform
CTO and cofounder
Payments, delivery, and fulfillment for West African merchants from one dashboard. I led a team of three engineers across four products.
- Laravel
- Vue.js
How it works
From first call to launch in three steps
- Step 1
Intro call
Tell me what you're building and where you're stuck. I'll tell you honestly if I'm the right fit.
- Step 2
Written plan
Before any code, you get the scope, the stack, milestones, and an estimate in writing.
- Step 3
Build and ship
I build in milestones and demo each one, so you see working software instead of status updates. Then we launch.
What clients say
Founders and teams I have shipped with
“Graham is an exceptional developer who consistently delivers high-quality code. His problem-solving abilities and attention to detail have been invaluable to our team projects. Working alongside him has been both educational and inspiring.”
Agg
Metrix Capital · @aggcult
“John's attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and ability to collaborate effectively make him an invaluable member of any team. He is a quick learner who is always willing to go above and beyond to deliver projects on time and within budget.”
Kelvin
Web3 Accelerators · @KEmmra
“It's been great working with John. He has great ideas, is highly skilled, realistic about the business, and well connected in the industry. Would recommend to anyone working in this space.”
0xDrew
Translucid · @_0xdrew
“As a co-founder and CTO, you have been an integral part of Lastmal's success. Your technical expertise and leadership skills have been invaluable in driving our product development and technology strategy. Thank you”
Kell Bakorkor
Lastmal · @kbakorkor
FAQ
Questions founders ask before we start
What kind of projects are a good fit?
First versions of products for early stage startups: SaaS apps, dashboards, marketplaces, Web3 apps, and mobile apps. If you have an idea and no senior engineer yet, that is the sweet spot.
What stack do you use?
Mostly Next.js, TypeScript, Node, NestJS, Laravel, Vue, PostgreSQL, and Supabase, plus Flutter or React Native for mobile. I pick what your future team can maintain, not what is trendy.
How much does it cost?
It depends on scope. After the intro call you get a written estimate broken into milestones, so you know the cost before work starts.
Can you join my existing team instead?
Yes. I do contract development, embedding with your team for a sprint, a quarter, or longer.
Do you work as a fractional CTO?
Yes. Part time technical leadership for early teams: stack decisions, hiring, architecture reviews, and keeping delivery on track.
Where are you based?
Accra, Ghana, on GMT. I've worked with teams in the US, Israel, and the UAE, and plan overlap hours with you up front.
Who owns the code?
You do. The repository lives in your account from day one.
What happens after launch?
I can stay on for fixes, improvements, and new features on a monthly basis, or hand over to your team with documentation.
Have something you want shipped?
Send me a few lines about it. The intro call is free, and if I'm not the right fit I'll point you to someone who is.
Start your project