CTO-led custom software development in Sydney
Need custom software built, finished or fixed?
Need custom software built, finished or fixed?
Need custom software built, finished or fixed?
I'm Sam Halcrow, and I lead every project my team builds: new custom software, stalled builds and software that's already running.
I'm Sam Halcrow, and I lead every project my team builds: new custom software, stalled builds and software that's already running.
I'm Sam Halcrow, and I lead every project my team builds: new custom software, stalled builds and software that's already running.
16+ yrs
16+ yrs
Leading technology
Leading technology
253
253
Companies I’ve worked with
Companies I’ve worked with
1M+
1M+
Engineering hours delivered
Engineering hours delivered
Your free CTO-led audit starts here
A review of your idea, your build or your live software. Valued at $4,000, free here.
Starts with a 30-minute call with me. (It's not a sales pitch.)
Why you might need me
If you're asking one of these questions, I can help
If you're asking one of these questions, I can help
Before building
Before building
Scoping and costing your software
"What will it actually take to build?"
Scoping and costing your software
"What will it actually take to build?"
Replacing spreadsheets and manual work
"Could software replace the spreadsheets my team relies on?"
Replacing spreadsheets and manual work
"Could software replace the spreadsheets my team relies on?"
Custom or off-the-shelf advice
"Should we build this, or buy something off the shelf?"
Custom or off-the-shelf advice
"Should we build this, or buy something off the shelf?"
While building
While building
Getting a stalled build finished
"Why has this project been 'nearly done' for months?"
Getting a stalled build finished
"Why has this project been 'nearly done' for months?"
Taking over from another developer
"My developer has gone quiet. Who can pick this up?"
Taking over from another developer
"My developer has gone quiet. Who can pick this up?"
Code and quality reviews
"Is what's been built any good?"
Code and quality reviews
"Is what's been built any good?"
After launching
After launching
Rebuilding ageing software
"Our software is too old to change. What now?"
Rebuilding ageing software
"Our software is too old to change. What now?"
Connecting your software
"Why are we still typing the same data in twice?"
Connecting your software
"Why are we still typing the same data in twice?"
Ongoing support
"Who looks after it once it's live?"
Ongoing support
"Who looks after it once it's live?"
WHAT other software DEVELOPERS DON'T OFFER
I'm a Fractional CTO, and I lead every project my team builds
I'm a Fractional CTO, and I lead every project my team builds
I make the technical decisions myself
I make the technical decisions myself
I make the technical decisions myself
Most software projects go wrong in the planning, not the coding. As the CTO on your project, I make the key technical decisions before any code is written, so you don't pay to fix them later.
Most software projects go wrong in the planning, not the coding. As the CTO on your project, I make the key technical decisions before any code is written, so you don't pay to fix them later.
I'll always be accountable for the result
I'll always be accountable for the result
I'll always be accountable for the result
You deal with me, not an account manager passing messages along. If something isn’t right, it’s mine to fix.
You deal with me, not an account manager passing messages along. If something isn’t right, it’s mine to fix.
They quote a project; I own an outcome
They quote a project; I own an outcome
They quote a project; I own an outcome
Before anything is built, we agree what your software has to do for your business. That's how I measure success; it's not about how many features were shipped.
Before anything is built, we agree what your software has to do for your business. That's how I measure success; it's not about how many features were shipped.
Everyone else will say yes, but I'll tell you what I'd do with my own money
Everyone else will say yes, but I'll tell you what I'd do with my own money
Everyone else will say yes, but I'll tell you what I'd do with my own money
Sometimes that's "don't build it". Sometimes it's "use something off the shelf". You'll always know what I really think.
Sometimes that's "don't build it". Sometimes it's "use something off the shelf". You'll always know what I really think.
CLIENTS
253 companies have trusted me and my team with their custom software projects
253 companies have trusted me and my team with their custom software projects
TESTIMONIALS
What our clients say
What our clients say
What our clients say
Angela Bevitt-Parr
National Marketing Manager
AWS Australia
Angela Bevitt-Parr
National Marketing Manager
AWS Australia
Tim Buric
Chief Technology Officer
Agilyx & MUNIvers
Tim Buric
Chief Technology Officer
Agilyx & MUNIvers
Tim Buric
Chief Technology Officer
Agilyx & MUNIvers
Kelvin Kenney
Chief Executive Officer
Bow Wow Meow
Kelvin Kenney
Chief Executive Officer
Bow Wow Meow
Kelvin Kenney
Chief Executive Officer
Bow Wow Meow
“Sam guided us through the design and development process in a way we wouldn’t be able to do on our own. We’re very happy to partner with him and his team.”
Thomas Roper
Engineer, Lendlease
“Sam has a keen understanding of our needs. His team's technical knowledge enables them to deploy solutions that continue to further our growth.”
Michael Kalucy
Managing Director, Workhouse
“Sam and his team operate as a trusted partner at every stage of delivery. They’re pivotal in bringing engineering maturity to coordinate and execute large, complex projects.”
Arun Prasad
Founder, AIWhispr
“We spotted a market gap, and Sam helped us seize it quickly. His team built a product that gave us real advantage.”
Michael Soukie
Founder, Scafflinq
“From the concept design meeting, Sam exceeded our expectations. He understood what our needs were, and his engineers worked quickly from brief to going live.”
Rouad El-Ayoubi
Managing Director, Alliance Project Group
“Sam took a concept and together with his team, turned it into a product we’re genuinely proud of. Their passion makes them a joy to work with.”
Trent Carney
Founder, MyCanary
“Sam guided us through the design and development process in a way we wouldn’t be able to do on our own. We’re very happy to partner with him and his team.”
Thomas Roper
Engineer, Lendlease
“From the concept design meeting, Sam exceeded our expectations. He understood what our needs were, and his engineers worked quickly from brief to going live.”
Rouad El-Ayoubi
Managing Director, Alliance Project Group
“We spotted a market gap, and Sam helped us seize it quickly. His team built a product that gave us real advantage.”
Michael Soukie
Founder, Scafflinq
“Sam and his team operate as a trusted partner at every stage of delivery. They’re pivotal in bringing engineering maturity to coordinate and execute large, complex projects.”
Arun Prasad
Founder, AIWhispr
“Sam has a keen understanding of our needs. His team's technical knowledge enables them to deploy solutions that continue to further our growth.”
Michael Kalucy
Managing Director, Workhouse
“Sam took a concept and together with his team, turned it into a product we’re genuinely proud of. Their passion makes them a joy to work with.”
Trent Carney
Founder, MyCanary
“Sam guided us through the design and development process in a way we wouldn’t be able to do on our own. We’re very happy to partner with him and his team.”
Thomas Roper
Engineer, Lendlease
“Sam and his team operate as a trusted partner at every stage of delivery. They’re pivotal in bringing engineering maturity to coordinate and execute large, complex projects.”
Arun Prasad
Founder, AIWhispr
“From the concept design meeting, Sam exceeded our expectations. He understood what our needs were, and his engineers worked quickly from brief to going live.”
Rouad El-Ayoubi
Managing Director, Alliance Project Group
“Sam has a keen understanding of our needs. His team's technical knowledge enables them to deploy solutions that continue to further our growth.”
Michael Kalucy
Managing Director, Workhouse
“We spotted a market gap, and Sam helped us seize it quickly. His team built a product that gave us real advantage.”
Michael Soukie
Founder, Scafflinq
“Sam took a concept and together with his team, turned it into a product we’re genuinely proud of. Their passion makes them a joy to work with.”
Trent Carney
Founder, MyCanary
Case studies
Every software project starts somewhere different
Every software project starts somewhere different
OzSnow
CUSTOMER SOFTWARE PROJECT · PROJECT RECOVERY
We took over OzSnow’s crashing booking software across 18 sites. It ran with 100% uptime all ski season, and hosting costs dropped by about 40%
We took over OzSnow’s crashing booking software across 18 sites. It ran with 100% uptime all ski season, and hosting costs dropped by about 40%
We took over OzSnow’s crashing booking software across 18 sites. It ran with 100% uptime all ski season, and hosting costs dropped by about 40%
Agrana
WORKFORCE SOFTWARE PROJECT · NEW BUILD
Agrana’s sales team now prices customer orders in 15 minutes instead of half a day, using the SAP-connected software we built
Agrana’s sales team now prices customer orders in 15 minutes instead of half a day, using the SAP-connected software we built
Agrana’s sales team now prices customer orders in 15 minutes instead of half a day, using the SAP-connected software we built
AWS Australia
WORKFORCE SOFTWARE PROJECT · ONGOING SUPPORT
We rebuilt AWS Australia’s product software and keep improving it every month. Product data accuracy rose from 73% to 97.3%
We rebuilt AWS Australia’s product software and keep improving it every month. Product data accuracy rose from 73% to 97.3%
We rebuilt AWS Australia’s product software and keep improving it every month. Product data accuracy rose from 73% to 97.3%
The free audit
Here's what you get in the audit
Here's what you get in the audit
I review what you have and write my recommendations. It's normally $4,000, but I'm offering it for free.
I review what you have and write my recommendations. It's normally $4,000, but I'm offering it for free.
I review what you have and write my recommendations. It's normally $4,000, but I'm offering it for free.
Before building
For customer or staff software that's still an idea, a spreadsheet or a quote.
For customer or staff software that's still an idea, a spreadsheet or a quote.
Review of your process and what the software must do
What version one should include
A cost range for the build
A realistic timeline
Whether to build custom or buy off the shelf
Review of any quotes you've received
While building
For customer or staff software that's stalled, over budget or hard to judge.
For customer or staff software that's stalled, over budget or hard to judge.
Review of the code built so far
Review of the plan and scope
Whether your developers can finish it
Why it's stalled or over budget
What finishing will take, and cost
Risks to fix before launch
After launching
For customer or staff software that's slow, unreliable or hard to change.
For customer or staff software that's slow, unreliable or hard to change.
Review of the code and how it's built
Hosting and security check
How it connects to your other software
What's slowing it down or breaking
A priority list of fixes
Whether to fix, extend or rebuild it
How the audit works
1
Start with a 30-minute call
Start with a 30-minute call
Start with a 30-minute call
Tell me about your idea or your software, and what you need to know. I'll ask a few questions so I know what to look at.
Tell me about your idea or your software, and what you need to know. I'll ask a few questions so I know what to look at.
Tell me about your idea or your software, and what you need to know. I'll ask a few questions so I know what to look at.
2
I conduct the audit
I conduct the audit
I conduct the audit
I review what you have, whether that's your plans and quotes, the code, or the software that's running.
I review what you have, whether that's your plans and quotes, the code, or the software that's running.
I review what you have, whether that's your plans and quotes, the code, or the software that's running.
3
You get my recommendations
You get my recommendations
You get my recommendations
You get the written document. They're yours to keep, whether or not you work with me.
You get the written document. They're yours to keep, whether or not you work with me.
You get the written document. They're yours to keep, whether or not you work with me.
If you want more than the audit
I can lead it, and my team can build it
I can lead it, and my team can build it
After the audit, what you do next is up to you. If you'd like to work together, I'll lead the project as your CTO and my engineering team will do the work. Here's what that looks like.
After the audit, what you do next is up to you. If you'd like to work together, I'll lead the project as your CTO and my engineering team will do the work. Here's what that looks like.
After the audit, what you do next is up to you. If you'd like to work together, I'll lead the project as your CTO and my engineering team will do the work. Here's what that looks like.
Before we build
We agree on what the software needs to achieve
More downloads, more repeat orders, fewer support calls, hours saved for your team. We set the goal first and measure the build against it.
More downloads, more repeat orders, fewer support calls, hours saved for your team. We set the goal first and measure the build against it.
Leadership
I make the technical decisions for you
Custom or off the shelf, which cloud provider, how it connects to your other software, whether AI belongs in it. I decide these before any code is written and explain why, so you're never confused.
Custom or off the shelf, which cloud provider, how it connects to your other software, whether AI belongs in it. I decide these before any code is written and explain why, so you're never confused.
During the build
You always know where it's up to
You deal directly with me and the developers working on your software. Daily check-ins mean there are no surprises. Ever.
You deal directly with me and the developers working on your software. Daily check-ins mean there are no surprises. Ever.
Launch
We roll it out in stages
My team builds in stages and gets your staff or customers using it early, so it fits the way they actually work.
My team builds in stages and gets your staff or customers using it early, so it fits the way they actually work.
After launch
We keep it working
My team keeps your software running, fixes issues as they come up and adds features as your business grows.
My team keeps your software running, fixes issues as they come up and adds features as your business grows.
Before you book
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
What do I get from the free audit?
It starts with a 30-minute call with me. You get an experienced CTO's opinion on your idea or software and a plan for what to do first, free of charge. There's no obligation and no sales pitch.