JS

Jaco Stander

CTO at PropInvest | Driving Innovation Through Advanced Systems & AI Integration

📍 City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

About Me

I bring a blend of deep technical expertise and strategic vision to drive innovation across property investment operations. My foundation in engineering, coupled with years of experience solving complex challenges, equips me to deliver impactful solutions that align with organisational goals.

                    🚀 Current Focus: Integrating the latest technologies—including automation, AI, and advanced application development—to streamline workflows, enhance operational efficiency, and create scalable systems for PropInvest.
                

My work reflects a commitment to leveraging technology to build solutions that are not only robust but also user-friendly, ensuring seamless adoption and measurable outcomes. With over 15 years in the field, I specialize in fostering collaboration across teams to ensure systems and strategies align with business objectives, combining my engineering background with a forward-thinking approach to design and implement systems that enhance user experiences while meeting strategic goals.

At PropInvest, I aim not just to keep up with change but to actively drive it, ensuring the organisation remains a leader in innovation and operational excellence within the property investment industry.

Professional Experience

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

PropInvest | Residential Property Investments Company

January 2025 - Present · Full-time · Hybrid

Leading a dynamic team dedicated to leveraging the latest technologies to optimize operations and drive innovation. Specializing in building advanced workflows, automations, AI-powered solutions, and custom applications tailored to enhance business efficiency and scalability. Collaborating across departments to ensure systems align with the company's strategic goals, delivering impactful solutions that streamline processes and create value. Focused on staying at the forefront of technological advancements, bridging the gap between innovation and practicality, empowering PropInvest to thrive in a competitive landscape.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

GAS Marketing Automation

January 2020 - December 2024 · 5 years · Remote

Spearheaded technology strategy, focusing on advancing digital marketing through innovative solutions. Merged technical expertise with marketing goals, ensuring initiatives were both creative and data-driven. Key achievements include:

• Workflow & Automation Development: Advanced lead management automation to improve efficiency and engagement, streamlining data capture and processing for more effective lead handling and communication strategies
• AI Assistant Development: Led development of AI assistant systems utilizing specific datasets to answer queries and collect user information, seamlessly integrated with advanced automation processes
• Technical Oversight: Managed domain & hosting infrastructure, enhanced web analytics framework for better data accuracy, and explored new technologies to maintain competitive advantage
• Technology Stack Management: Optimized application stack performance and advised on technology solutions to meet evolving business needs

Technical Lead

PropInvest | Residential Property Investments Company

January 2020 - April 2024 · 4 years 4 months · Contract · Remote

Steered all technical aspects critical to operations and digital presence in property investment sales. Key responsibilities included:

• Technology Strategy & Implementation: Developed and executed technology strategy supporting PropInvest's goals, optimizing digital footprint through website and hosting solutions
• Automation & Efficiency: Enhanced operational efficiency through automation of key processes including lead management and customer interactions
• Software Project Management: Led bespoke software development addressing business needs, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery
• WhatsApp Bot Development: Introduced WhatsApp Bot for instant client communication, streamlining property inquiries and viewings

Entrepreneur & Founder

Pure Web Solutions

October 2009 - December 2024 · 15 years · Self-employed (Closing Down)

Founded and operated successful web solutions company delivering dynamic, scalable web solutions, VPS hosting provision, and advanced AI integration for over 15 years. Led initiatives integrating sophisticated AI technologies like OpenAI Assistant API into practical, innovative solutions. Delivered strategic digital marketing leveraging data-driven insights to optimize online presence and engagement. Currently closing operations to focus full-time on CTO role at PropInvest.

Director / Online Marketing Specialist

Global Property Investments

December 2015 - September 2016 · 10 months

Led online marketing initiatives and strategic direction for property investment portfolio at Tyger Waterfront, Cape Town.

Core Expertise

🤖 AI Integration & Development

Expert in integrating AI technologies including OpenAI Assistant API and Claude AI into business operations. Building AI-powered solutions that enhance automation, improve decision-making, and drive operational efficiency across property investment operations.

⚡ Workflow Automation

Designing and implementing advanced workflows and automation systems that streamline operations. Specialized in lead management automation, data processing, and customer interaction automation to maximize efficiency and engagement.

📱 Mobile App Development

Building sophisticated mobile applications for iOS and Android platforms. Focus on user-centric design, seamless experiences, and integration with backend systems for property investment solutions.

🏢 Enterprise Architecture

15+ years designing and implementing scalable enterprise software solutions. Expert in system integration, database architecture, cloud infrastructure, and creating robust hosting solutions including VPS hosting provision.

💻 Full-Stack Development

Comprehensive expertise across frontend and backend technologies. Building complete solutions from concept to deployment, including dynamic scalable web solutions and custom application development.

📊 Strategic Digital Marketing

Leveraging data-driven insights to optimize online presence and engagement. Experience in web analytics, marketing automation, and technology solutions that drive growth and customer acquisition.

Technical Stack & Skills

AI Integration Workflow Automation OpenAI API Claude AI Mobile Development Full-Stack Development WhatsApp Bot Development Lead Management Systems Marketing Automation Web Analytics Cloud Architecture VPS Hosting Domain Management Database Design API Development System Integration Software Project Management Creative Problem Solving

Hobbies & Interests

🎮 Gaming & Retro Gaming

Passionate collector of gaming memorabilia and retro gaming systems. Active in gaming communities and collectibles markets.

☀️ Solar Power Enthusiast

Operating a substantial solar power system (5.5kW inverter, 10kWh battery, 5.4kW panels) on my Cape Town small holding. Passionate about sustainable energy solutions.

🎬 Media Automation

Built comprehensive automated media server using Raspberry Pi with the full *arr stack (Jellyfin, Sonarr, Radarr). Optimizing for 25 Mbps connectivity.

💰 Cryptocurrency Mining

Active DigiByte solo mining operation with Avalon Nano 3S miners. Built custom mining pool dashboards and node infrastructure.

📚 Technical Writing

Co-authored "Fake It Till You Make It: The Vibe Coder's Playbook" - an ebook about AI-assisted software development, sharing my transformation story.

🔧 System Administration

Enjoy optimizing and maintaining various technical systems, from Raspberry Pi clusters to development environments across multiple platforms.

Notable Projects & Achievements

                    🤖 AI Assistant Systems at GAS Marketing Automation

                    Developed sophisticated AI assistant systems utilizing specific datasets to answer queries and collect user information. Seamlessly integrated with advanced automation processes, significantly boosting product capabilities and customer engagement across digital marketing operations.

                    💬 WhatsApp Bot for Property Investment

                    Introduced innovative WhatsApp Bot for instant client communication at PropInvest, streamlining property inquiries and viewings. Enhanced customer service and engagement, providing real-time responses to potential investors.

                    ⚡ Advanced Workflow & Automation Systems

                    Pioneered lead management automation processes to improve efficiency and engagement. Streamlined data capture and processing systems, enabling more effective lead handling and communication strategies across multiple business units.

                    🏢 PropInvest Technology Infrastructure

                    Led comprehensive technology strategy implementation, optimizing digital footprint through advanced website and hosting solutions. Developed bespoke software addressing specific business needs while maintaining robust, scalable infrastructure.

                    🌐 Pure Web Solutions - 15 Years of Innovation

                    Founded and successfully operated web solutions company delivering dynamic, scalable solutions and VPS hosting provision. Pioneered OpenAI Assistant API integration into practical business applications. Now transitioning to close operations and focus full-time on CTO role at PropInvest.