The supplier problem
you have is actually
an architecture problem.

Architecture & Dependency Diagnosis

Find out which decisions made two years ago are now limiting your options — and what it would take to change them. I map the structural dependencies in your product architecture and identify where supplier lock-in, cost drift, or scale fragility is embedded. You walk away with a prioritised findings document: every structural risk named, ranked by business impact, with specific remediation options and cost estimates. Most clients find this document alone worth the engagement.

China Sourcing & Supplier Strategy

Understand exactly how exposed you are if your key Chinese supplier changes price, quality, or availability — and build a credible alternative. I engage directly in Mandarin with ODMs, component vendors, and factory engineers to access information that is simply unavailable through intermediaries. You walk away with a qualified shortlist of alternative suppliers, a negotiation brief, and a clear picture of your current exposure — in your language, not theirs.

Scale Readiness & Operational Architecture

See where your current architecture is creating costs and bottlenecks that will get worse as you scale. I translate product and supplier decisions into operational consequences — identifying the structural changes required before you hit the next growth stage. You walk away with a concrete, prioritised adaptation plan: what to change, in what order, and what it will cost — before the next growth stage forces your hand.

AI & Automation Readiness

Cut through the AI hype with a structured evaluation: where automation creates measurable, bounded value in your operations — and where it increases risk, complexity, or cost. I help you build a pragmatic AI roadmap grounded in your actual data architecture, not vendor promises. You walk away with a clear yes/no/not-yet verdict on each AI opportunity you are considering — with the reasoning, not just the conclusion.

AI Literacy Workshop (EU AI Act)

Since February 2025, Article 4 of the EU AI Act requires every company using AI systems to ensure sufficient AI literacy among its staff. I deliver targeted workshops for technical and management teams — not generic compliance training, but a grounded session covering how neural networks actually work, what current AI can and cannot do, and how to evaluate AI claims from suppliers and vendors. Built on hands-on experience programming ML systems before the current AI boom. This includes addressing the human side of AI adoption: building genuine understanding rather than fear, so that teams actually use the tools you invest in.

China is not a yes-or-no
decision. It is a design decision.

Chinese manufacturing offers real cost and speed advantages — but it also introduces IP exposure, geopolitical risk, regulatory complexity (EU CRA, RED Directive), and deep supplier dependency. The right answer is rarely "all in" or "get out." It is a structured decision about what belongs in China, what does not, and how to architect the system so that the answer can change without breaking everything.

I bring something most advisors cannot: the ability to engage directly in Mandarin with Chinese engineering teams, read the full technical documentation (not just the translated summary), and navigate supplier relationships without a middleman — while applying the same analytical rigour to the business, regulatory, and geopolitical trade-offs that determine whether China is the right choice for each part of your system.

Architecture & Dependency Diagnosis

Map where your current architecture creates fragility, cost drift, or supplier lock-in. This is the foundation of every engagement — we need to see the full picture before recommending anything.

China Sourcing & Supplier Strategy

Define your China sourcing pathway, evaluate ODM/OEM options, and build negotiation leverage — with direct Mandarin-language engagement where needed. This is where the language advantage becomes concrete.

Architectural Restructuring Plan

Define the specific architectural changes required to reduce lock-in and create substitution optionality. This is a concrete, prioritized plan — not a strategic framework.

Implementation Support

Work alongside your team as a senior decision partner during execution. I do not disappear after the strategy phase — if desired, I stay engaged through the critical decisions.

Fluent in Mandarin.
Experienced System Architect.
Grounded in reality (technical and business).

I am a former deep-tech Managing Director and systems architect. My background spans software architecture, machine learning, and leading hardware-software product organizations from early prototype to production scale.

I am fluent in Mandarin Chinese (HSK 6) and have worked directly with Chinese engineering teams, ODMs, and component vendors. In a market where most advisors rely on intermediaries or machine translation to navigate Chinese supplier relationships, I can read the contracts, access the full Chinese-language technical documentation, and communicate directly with the engineers who matter — without a middleman.

My focus is on system architecture and strategic supplier positioning — the structural layer where product decisions, cost trajectories, and supplier dependencies are shaped. I ask the questions that teams deep in day-to-day execution rarely have the bandwidth to step back and consider, and I bring in the right specialists when deep domain-specific work is needed.

On AI: I built and trained neural networks and machine learning algorithms from scratch before ChatGPT and the current AI wave existed. I understand how these systems work internally — which means I can tell the difference between genuine capability and marketing hype. That makes me a more useful advisor when the question is not "should we use AI" but "where does it actually create value in our specific operations, and where does it introduce risk we cannot afford."

"Sebastian conducted a scalability audit of our systems and supply chain and helped us define a development and procurement roadmap aligned with our financial constraints. He identified a better-fit hardware component and supplier in China, projected to save tens of thousands of euros at scale, and supported the efficient integration into our software stack."

"Sebastian combines deep technical understanding with strong system-level thinking across software, hardware, and global supply chains. He consistently demonstrated excellent analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex topics clearly across engineering and executive teams."

"Sebastian led the implementation of a cloud-based platform with integrated edge devices for our municipality. He coordinated across software, hardware, and stakeholder groups and successfully delivered a system that operates reliably at scale. His ability to translate complex technical requirements into practical solutions was particularly valuable."

Real questions,
direct answers.