Strategic Advisory · Cape Town · Globally
I help founders and small business owners think more clearly — before they build, spend, or commit to something they can't undo.
About
I'm Alan. I've spent years building platforms and marketplaces, leading teams, and watching founders make the same costly mistakes — not because they lacked effort, but because they made the wrong call early.
Rework is the advisory practice I built because good early decisions are rare and undervalued. It's not theory. It's pattern recognition from real experience — in UX, service design, software, AI, and operations.
I don't execute for you. I help you think more clearly so you can make better decisions yourself — or connect you to exactly the right person who can.
What I Do
For founders, solo operators, and small business owners who need clarity — not more information.
01
Business Model Thinking
Is this idea viable? Is it too complicated? Are you solving the right problem? I help you pressure-test your thinking before you commit.
02
Early-Stage Direction
You're about to make a decision that can't easily be undone. I help you slow down enough to make the right one.
03
Simplifying What's Overcomplicated
Most businesses are doing too much. I help you cut, focus, and build something that actually works in practice.
04
Practical AI Integration
Not the hype version. Real, operational AI — automating admin, scheduling, workflows. Things that save time and money today.
05
Strategic Connections
Sometimes the right decision is finding the right person. I connect founders with partners, collaborators, and specialists who can actually help.
06
Ongoing Advisory
A monthly retainer for founders who want a trusted thinking partner in their corner — available when decisions need to be made.
"Technology should be useful, not impressive. Businesses should create freedom, not pressure."— The Rework philosophy
Writing
I write about the decisions founders get wrong, the businesses quietly succeeding, and why simple always beats complicated. No noise. Just clear thinking when I have something worth saying.
Free to read. Easy to unsubscribe.
Read on Substack →Recent thinking
Why most founders fail before they even launch
The problem isn't execution. It's the decision made in month one that locks everything else in.
The one-person business is having a moment — and it's not hype
Solo operators are quietly outperforming funded startups. Here's why simplicity is a competitive advantage.
AI for small business: what's actually useful right now
Forget the hype. Three things AI can realistically do for your business this week.
Let's Talk
No pitch. No proposal. No obligation. Tell me what you're working on, what's unclear, or what decision you're stuck on — and we'll see if it makes sense to work together.
Based in
Cape Town, South Africa
Works with
Founders globally