Los Angeles · Custom Software
Operational software built to spec.
ShipyardLA is one senior engineer — 13 years building production software on Rails and Elixir. I build custom web tools, AI workflows, and system integrations for organizations that need software built for their specific operations.
Fixed scope. Fixed price. Fixed ship date.
Production stack
What we build together
Custom tools designed around your operations. Scope and price are defined before work begins.
Custom operational software, built to spec.
Intake and case management systems, compliance and reporting dashboards, customer and supplier portals, system integrations, and automation tools — designed around how your organization actually works. The scope is fixed before work starts. The price is fixed before work starts. The codebase is yours when it's done.
Book a discovery call
AI where it actually works.
LLM integrations built into real operational workflows — document generation, data translation, content drafting, classification. One validated use case scoped and built before expanding. Not AI for its own sake — one specific workflow problem, solved and tested against your actual data.
See AI workflow services
Technical audit and roadmap.
2–3 weeks to map what you're actually running and produce a written roadmap: what to fix, what to defer, what to replace. Fixed fee. You walk away with a plain-language assessment of your current systems and a prioritized path forward — regardless of whether you continue with ShipyardLA.
Learn about audits
Every kind of tool we ship.
From intake systems to AI integrations — built for the specific platforms your organization already uses.
Intake and case management
Custom web forms writing directly to HMIS, CalJOBS, or Bonterra ETO. Multilingual, offline-capable, mobile-first.
Compliance and reporting dashboards
Multi-funder report assemblers, Measure A compliance trackers, board packet generators.
System integrations
Connecting Salesforce, QuickBooks, Bonterra ETO, HMIS, and CalJOBS — with documented data models.
Ongoing engineering retainer
Continued development, maintenance, and improvements. Minimum 3-month commitment.
Compliance automation
Web tools that assemble compliance reports, automate data collection across systems, and generate board-ready output.
AI workflow integration
Grant drafts, case note translation, board report narratives from structured data. One tested use case before expanding.
Featured project
Eviction prevention · Public tool · Los Angeles
LA Housing Help
A free eviction-prevention navigator for LA renters — built to help tenants in South and East LA understand their rights and find legal aid, housing assistance, and rental relief programs in plain language. Available in English and Spanish.
Built on Astro and deployed to Cloudflare. Fast, accessible, mobile-first. No login required, no data collected.
What was delivered
- Plain-language rights navigator
- Resource directory with live search
- Spanish-language version
- Mobile-first, accessible design
- Zero-cost hosting on Cloudflare
- Documentation and handoff materials
Prior sector experience
BuildAbility (formerly Build Rehabilitation Industries)
Disability-focused nonprofit based in Sylmar, CA. Director of Specialty Products, 2011–2013. Built their web presence from scratch, launched their first e-commerce capability, and moved the organization into digital marketing. First direct experience with what it actually takes to modernize technology inside a constrained-budget nonprofit.
This is context, not a portfolio item — it's background for why ShipyardLA exists and who I understand.
Built by someone who's been the client.
Before engineering full-time, I spent nearly three years as Director of Specialty Products at BuildAbility — a disability-focused nonprofit in Sylmar, CA. I know what it takes to modernize technology inside a constrained-budget organization with limited staff.
Then 13 years as a production Rails and Elixir engineer at CapLinked and ProspectWise. I started in QA — that matters: I build reliability in from the start, not bolted on after things break. Based out of the San Fernando Valley.
How engagements work
Clear scope, clear price, clear ship date.
- 01Discovery call30 min · free
- 02Scoping session60–90 min · free
- 03Written proposalFixed scope, fixed price
- 04Build sprint4–12 weeks
- 05Ship + handoffDocs, video, training call
Frequently asked questions
Anything else? Email jaspreet@garcha.com.
What types of projects does ShipyardLA build?
Custom web tools, operational dashboards, reporting systems, customer and supplier portals, system integrations, and AI-assisted workflows. Projects are designed around your organization's existing operations rather than forcing your team into a generic software product.
How long does a typical project take?
Most defined custom software projects take approximately 4–12 weeks. Technical audits generally take 2–3 weeks. The timeline is established during the scoping process and included in the written proposal before work begins.
How does ShipyardLA use artificial intelligence?
AI is added only where it supports a clearly defined workflow, such as drafting reports, extracting information from documents, translating data, generating content, or assisting staff with repetitive tasks. ShipyardLA typically starts with one practical, testable use case before recommending a broader AI implementation.
How do I know whether I need custom software?
Custom software may be appropriate when your team relies on spreadsheets, shared inboxes, duplicate data entry, manual reporting, or disconnected systems. The discovery process helps determine whether you need custom software, an integration, improvements to an existing system, or a simpler off-the-shelf solution.
Who owns the software and source code?
You do. After the project is completed and the final payment is made, your organization receives the source code, documentation, and the materials needed to operate the software. You are not locked into using ShipyardLA for ongoing development.
What happens after the software is launched?
Every completed project includes a handoff process with documentation, a recorded walkthrough or training materials, and a training call. Ongoing engineering support can also be arranged when your organization needs continued development, maintenance, or improvements.
How much does a project cost?
Pricing depends on the project's requirements and complexity. Before development begins, ShipyardLA defines the scope, deliverables, price, and expected completion date in a written proposal. You will know the full project cost before committing to the build.
Can you improve or integrate with our existing systems?
Yes. ShipyardLA can work with existing CRMs, databases, reporting platforms, APIs, spreadsheets, and internal applications. The goal may be to connect your current systems, automate work between them, replace a specific manual process, or improve an existing application.
What happens during the initial discovery call?
The first call is a free 30-minute conversation about your current process, the problem you are trying to solve, and the systems your organization already uses. There is no obligation to proceed. When the project appears to be a good fit, the next step is a more detailed scoping session followed by a written proposal.
Let's figure out if we're a fit.
30-minute call. No pitch. Just an honest conversation about what you're dealing with and whether we can help.