Fractional CTO & senior software development
Studio Five27 is led by John Rush: two tours at Microsoft, a bootstrapped startup acquired by Adobe, and four years as CTO of Fluent Forever. Whether you need a fractional CTO or a senior team that ships, you work with John directly.
Selected clients
Services
We take responsibility for the technical side of your business, from the first architecture decision to the team that maintains it. Sometimes that means John as your CTO a few days a month. Sometimes it means a senior team that ships while you build your own.
Our roots are in C# and C++ product engineering, cloud infrastructure on Azure, and cross-platform mobile. We've shipped professional desktop audio software, Xbox test infrastructure, Unity simulations, and a language-learning app with a patented fluency system.
No two engagements look alike. The first job is figuring out the right level of involvement, and we would rather tell you that you need less than sell you more.
What people say
“From our very first phone call, I was impressed with the way John could combine his masterful technical prowess with a keen understanding of how technology impacts business: he understood that every choice we made in terms of architecture would have consequences to our business in the short, medium and long term. That combination of skills truly sets him apart.”Gabriel Wyner · CEO, Fluent Forever
“Not only is John an exceptionally skilled technologist, but he is also an excellent leader who is great at coming up with solutions to large, complex problems, and helping those under him develop and reach their potential.”Patrick O. · Developer
“John was a joy to work with. It's not just the demeanor, but John would work at whatever level needed, and would help and mentor at any time. His management and charisma are a rare find with someone this knowledgeable.”Mat C. · Developer
“John's unique blend of technical expertise, effective communication, and dedication to his team makes him an invaluable asset to any organization.”Ale A. · Developer
“John's talent and willingness to learn new skills make him an excellent programmer, and his curiosity and creativity in problem-solving make it easy to face impossible tasks.”Gonzalo B. · Developer
“I learned a lot about scalable enterprise systems from John through at least a dozen projects in our time working on Fluent Forever. I can't recommend him highly enough!”Chris S. · Marketer
About
Thirty years in software, on both sides of the table: as the engineer shipping the product and as the executive accountable for it.
I started at Microsoft in 1996 building search technology for Encarta and Windows Help, then joined Syntrillium Software as its second developer. We bootstrapped Cool Edit Pro to an acquisition by Adobe, where I shipped Audition 1.0 through 2.0. Back at Microsoft, I led a team of 10 to 15 engineers building test infrastructure for Xbox and PC games.
From 2018 to 2022 I was CTO of Fluent Forever. I took over an outsourced development effort, replaced it with a small remote in-house team, and kept unwanted turnover near zero for four years. On the leadership team I set funding strategy, handled due diligence and acquisition discussions, and wrote the plan that took the company to profitability in 2023. The fluency system we built is patented.
Tell me what you're building and where it's stuck. I take on a small number of engagements at a time, so the first conversation is about whether I'm the right fit.