I’m Franz, a Fractional CPO and AI Lead based in Berlin. I take responsibility for product strategy and priorities, lead teams and support delivery with AI, from discovery through launch.
A full roadmap doesn’t set a direction. I help founders and teams decide what to build, why it matters and how to get it into people’s hands.
For founders and teams missing experienced product leadership. I own strategy and prioritisation, clarify responsibilities and work with the team on discovery and delivery.
For teams bringing AI into a product. I connect use-case selection with prototyping, evaluation and implementation, drawing on delivered GenAI features and my own AI platform.
For products that need business and engineering to work closely together. I turn user problems into decisions the team can implement and stay involved from discovery through release.
For Tagesspiegel Background, I used AI to support product discovery, analysis and business-case simulations. Together with the internal Tech Lead, I implemented and launched the AI Audio Briefing in two weeks.
Three GenAI features for a US healthcare application through Nexamind, using AWS Bedrock and Claude. And Jobs mit Impact: my own platform with AI extraction from over 100 sources and an MCP server.
I lead product and AI work from business case to launch.
Set the direction.
From a user problem to clear priorities and a team that delivers them.
Give AI a clear purpose.
Identify useful AI applications, test business cases through analysis and simulations, and make technical decisions with the team.
From prototype to launch.
Build hands-on, integrate AI into existing products and launch with engineering. Take responsibility through delivery.
macOS menu bar app and CLI for Codex and Claude Code: track usage, switch accounts within the same tool and resume sessions.
Python · macOS · CLIShared PostgreSQL access for AI agents through an HTTPS gateway with API keys and workspace permissions.
Go · Python · PostgreSQL · pgvectorA useful product beats an endless demo.
Download MarkdownExplore needs, test assumptions and decide which problem is worth solving.
Test ideas with users and work with the tech team to bring them into real use.
Measure impact and turn what we learn into better products, processes and decisions.
Input A business challenge
Outcome Product or process
AI-assisted product discovery, analysis and simulations for business cases.
AI Audio Briefing implemented and launched together with the internal Tech Lead.
Delivered three GenAI features for a HIPAA-compliant B2B app.
AWS Bedrock · Claude
Cross-platform companion app for 15 European markets.
Other clientsHandelsblatt / WirtschaftsWoche · Apothera · BCG Digital Ventures
Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) Scrum.org
Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) Scrum.org
Google Project Management Certificate Google / Coursera
OKR Certification Measure What Matters
I remain your point of contact for product and delivery. When additional roles are needed, I help find suitable freelancers from my network.
We identify the skills the project needs, such as AI engineering, data science or product ownership. I help with selection and agree how the freelancers will work with your existing team.
My job board for the nonprofit sector: AI-assisted extraction from over 100 sources and an MCP server for job search.
View project
Digital solutions for NGOs. Scalable software and AI strategies for social impact.
View project
Coding agents. Keep the flow.
A macOS menu bar app and CLI for Codex and Claude Code. Tracks usage, switches to the next account within the same tool when a limit is reached, and resumes the session.
macOS · Python · CLI AI Guest List on GitHubAlso built Agentic-Coop-DB - an open-source gateway for AI agents to access shared PostgreSQL data through API keys and HTTPS.
"Franz ranks among the best product owners I've collaborated with. His expertise was pivotal in maintaining and developing our companion app. He has a comprehensive understanding of the necessary technologies, tools, and processes..."
"Franz is one of the best PMs I have worked with. His product management skills were critical to creating our health app from scratch and launching within a tight deadline..."
"In a nutshell, Franz is the 'unfair advantage' that every team involved in the digital space is striving for. He sets an example of core competencies like e.g. broad technical know-how..."
Tell me about the product and the decision you need help with. On the call, we can discuss whether and how working together makes sense.
When product decisions get stuck with the founders, priorities keep changing, or discovery and engineering drift apart. As a Fractional CPO, I take responsibility for strategy, prioritisation, teamwork and delivery within an agreed scope. The engagement can be part-time or interim; we define ownership and decision-making at the start.
As Product Manager, I led MYA from the first concept to its iOS and Android launch in September 2022, including user research, stakeholder alignment and leading the nearshore team. At Smartsaver, I combined product ownership and software engineering through the August 2021 iOS release. I built Jobs mit Impact as founder and lead developer.
MYA: responsibility, product and launch ↗Through Nexamind, I delivered three GenAI features for a US healthcare application using AWS Bedrock and Claude. My own platform, Jobs mit Impact, aggregates jobs from over 100 sources with AI-assisted extraction. Its MCP server gives AI assistants access to the job data through eight read-only tools. These are concrete examples of AI delivery from my work.
Jobs mit Impact: architecture and implementation ↗Both, with clearly agreed responsibilities. My software engineering background lets me work with engineering on implementation and technical trade-offs. At Smartsaver, I was Product Owner and Software Engineer; at Jobs mit Impact, founder and lead developer. We set the balance of leadership and hands-on work around what the team needs.
Smartsaver: product ownership and engineering ↗I’m based in Berlin and work with international teams. Engagements can cover fractional or interim product leadership, AI leadership and delivery, or technical product ownership. We agree responsibilities, how I work with the existing team and a first milestone we can assess. Availability, remote and on-site arrangements, and fees are discussed directly.
The product, the current challenge and the decision you need help with. For AI projects, a concrete user problem, the state of your data and what you have tried so far are useful too. We discuss where leadership or implementation is missing and what a sensible first step looks like. You don’t need a finished brief.