Software Second Opinion · 90 minutes
An independent read from a senior engineer before you sign, spend more, or start over.
Not technical? You don't need to be. In a 90-minute session we go through your quote, plan, codebase or AI idea in plain language, and within 2 business days you get a written summary you can forward.
Pay by bank (ACH) or card, securely through Stripe. You pick your session time right after paying.
When a second opinion helps
- You have a quote or a proposal and no way to tell if it's fair.
- Your team or your vendor says it needs a rewrite, and you want an outside view first.
- You want to use AI, but you need to know what's realistic before you spend.
Free options call or paid second opinion?
Free · 20 minutes
Options call
We find out if I can help.
$500 · 90 minutes
Second opinion
I help — you leave with answers and a written summary.
Good fit
- Owners weighing a quote, a proposal or a vendor who want an independent read before signing
- Founders who want a senior engineer to pressure-test a plan, a stack or an AI idea
- Teams with one stuck problem who need a clear next step, not a full engagement
Not a fit
- Work that needs a full plan and a fixed quote (that's the Scoping Sprint)
- Hands-on building or debugging during the session
- Finding out whether we're a fit (the 20-minute options call is free)
What you get
-
A 90-minute working session
By video call. We go through your question, the documents or the code, and the options, and I give you my honest read.
-
A written summary
Within 2 business days: what we looked at, my recommendations, the risks and the next steps. Written so you can forward it to your team, a vendor or an investor.
-
Credit toward a sprint
Book a Scoping Sprint within 30 days and the full $500 comes off it.
How it works
-
Step 1
Pay and book
Pay online, then pick a 90-minute slot.
-
Before the session
Send what you have
The quote, the proposal, the architecture doc, repository access or a short description of the problem.
-
The session
Work through it together
90 minutes on your question, with answers, not a pitch.
-
Within 2 business days
Get the summary
My recommendations and next steps, in writing.
A 90-minute session, with the written summary within 2 business days.
Pricing
$500
Fixed price. 100% credited toward a Scoping Sprint booked within 30 days.
Timeline: A 90-minute session, with the written summary within 2 business days
If the answer is "this needs a proper plan", the Scoping Sprint is the next step, and your $500 comes off it if you book within 30 days.
Pay by bank (ACH) or card, securely through Stripe. You pick your session time right after paying.
Why work with me
Mischa Serlin
Fractional CTO · zCube8
I build AI automation and software that grows revenue and takes manual work off your team. Then I keep it running.
- Technical authority for 50+ Realtor.com engineers across web, iOS, Android, backend; none reported to me
- AI-assisted analysis led to a 50% cut in a project's third-party API spend
- Solely responsible for every technical decision at the company for three years
- Led engineering on the technology that powers Realtor.com's FlyAround; Realtor.com reports a 2x increase in mobile map engagement Source ↗
FAQ
How is this different from the free options call?
How is it different from the Scoping Sprint?
What can I bring?
Will you just recommend hiring you?
Can I reschedule?
What if the session isn't useful?
How do I pay?
Get a straight answer before you commit.
90 minutes, a written summary within 2 business days, $500, credited toward a Scoping Sprint booked within 30 days.
Pay by bank (ACH) or card, securely through Stripe. You pick your session time right after paying.