Your Chief AI Officer
I embed AI into your business — strategy, software, training, and leadership. AI gives me the leverage to go deep with every company I work with.
Based in San Diego, CA · Serving companies nationwide
How We Work Together
Four ways to work together. High-commitment engagements are by application — everything else starts with a call.
Chief AI Officer
I join your leadership team as your AI executive. Strategy, implementation, team training — I own your entire AI roadmap and make it happen.
Typical engagement: 6–12 months
ApplyCustom AI Software
Bespoke AI tools, automations, and systems built for your workflows. Product pipelines, customer service agents, internal copilots — whatever moves the needle.
Delivery: 4–8 weeks for v1
ApplyWorkshops & Seminars
Luxury offsite experiences and hands-on AI training. From C-suite strategy sessions to operator-level tool mastery. Your team leaves thinking differently.
Half-day or full-day, in-person or remote
Book a CallAI Strategy Consulting
AI audits, roadmaps, and implementation plans. Short engagements to get clarity on where AI fits and how to move fast without breaking things.
Deliverable: AI roadmap in 2 weeks
Book a CallHow It Works
Apply
Fill out a short application. I review every one personally within 48 hours.
Discovery Call
30-minute call to discuss your goals and whether I'm the right fit.
Custom Proposal
Tailored engagement plan with clear deliverables, timeline, and investment.
We Build
I embed into your team and start delivering. Weekly updates, real results.
Apply
Fill out a short application. I review every one personally within 48 hours.
Discovery Call
30-minute call to discuss your goals and whether I'm the right fit.
Custom Proposal
Tailored engagement plan with clear deliverables, timeline, and investment.
We Build
I embed into your team and start delivering. Weekly updates, real results.
“Most businesses don’t need an AI tool. They need someone who gets it — someone inside the room who can see what AI can do, build the systems , and lead the change . That’s what I do.”
Mike HodgenHow I Built an AI Operating System for a DTC Brand
As CEO of an 8-figure DTC e-commerce brand, I built AI systems from the inside — an end-to-end product creation pipeline, SEO automation across 313 articles, dynamic pricing for 564+ products, and a multi-LLM architecture that chains Claude, Gemini, and custom models for cost-efficient results. Not as a vendor. As the person running the company.
What People Say
Real results from the brands and systems we've built — backed by years of hands-on e-commerce experience.
“Mike built AI systems that cut our product content time from 30 minutes to 2 minutes per SKU — across 564+ products. The efficiency gains were game-changing.”
“83% reduction in CPA and 33% lift in conversion rate through the community-powered growth program Mike designed. Results were immediate.”
“108% year-over-year revenue growth after implementing AI-powered inventory management and demand forecasting. The system paid for itself in the first month.”
Latest Thinking
AI news, guides, case studies, and thoughts.
72 Commits, 10 Projects, One Week: AI Development Velocity
One operator, 72 commits across 10 projects in 5 days. A real look at AI development velocity — what shipped, what compounded, and what AI still can't do.
I Built an AI Production OS That Replaced 4 SaaS Tools
How I replaced ShipBob, Redo, Google Drive, and tribal knowledge with a single AI-powered system for a 10-person fashion company. 6 AI agents, 47 API routes, built with Claude Code.
I Built an 8-Agent AI Trading Bot. Here's What I Learned.
I built a multi-agent AI trading bot with 8 specialized agents — Grok sentiment, Bayesian learning, prediction markets, and stat-arb — running 24/7 on paper. The bugs I found would have lost real money.
Common Questions
Consultants give you a deck and leave. I embed into your team — I build the systems, train your people, and stick around to make sure it actually works. I'm not advising from the outside. I'm operating from the inside.
A handful. AI gives me leverage to go deep with every company I work with, but I'm selective about who I take on. Every engagement gets my full attention — that's why there's an application process.
Yes. I'm a hands-on builder, not a project manager. I architect systems, write production code, and deploy. When a project needs additional engineering, I bring in trusted collaborators — but I'm always the one driving.
I've built AI systems for e-commerce, manufacturing, professional services, and startups. The common thread is companies doing $1M–$50M in revenue that want to move fast on AI without hiring a full-time team.
A short form about your business and goals. I review every application personally within 48 hours. If it's a fit, we hop on a 30-minute discovery call. No pressure, no sales pitch — just a conversation about what's possible.
Typically within 2–4 weeks of signing. Discovery calls and proposals move fast — most of the timeline depends on your availability for onboarding and access to your systems.
Ways to work together
I'm selective about who I work with. Every engagement gets my full attention.
Strategy Session
Get clarity on where AI fits your business
- AI audit of current operations
- Custom roadmap and priorities
- Implementation timeline
Workshop / Seminar
Train your team to work with AI
- Half-day or full-day sessions
- Hands-on tool training
- Custom curriculum for your industry
Custom AI Software
Bespoke AI systems for your workflows
- AI agents and automations
- Internal tools and copilots
- Ongoing support and iteration
Chief AI Officer
Embedded AI leadership for your company
- Join your leadership team
- Own your AI strategy end-to-end
- Build, deploy, and train
Get in Touch
I read every message and respond within 24 hours.
For CAIO retainers and software builds, apply here. For workshops and consulting, book a call or drop a message.
Book a Discovery Call