I'm James Leonard — I build AI-powered products from first principles, bridging deep technical execution with strategic product thinking.
At a glance
About me
I'm a developer and product leader based between Valencia, Spain and Dublin, Ireland, with a track record across software development, brand management, and operations. I'm most effective at the intersection of technology and strategy — equally comfortable writing code and owning the roadmap that drives it.
My current focus is AI-powered applications — building production-grade pipelines, agent architectures, and consumer products. I care deeply about reliability: minimal hallucination, robust structured outputs, and experiences that don't compromise on quality.
Outside tech, I hold a 5th Degree black belt in Kenpo Karate with 40+ years of training, play competitive football as a goalkeeper, and have a genuine love of travel.
Expertise
Full-stack development with a focus on shipping clean, maintainable products — from architecture to deployment.
Building production-grade AI applications — RAG pipelines, tool-based agents, structured outputs, and hallucination mitigation at scale.
End-to-end product ownership from ideation through launch. Balancing user needs, technical constraints, and business goals.
Crafting brand identities that connect — with experience in zero-budget growth strategies, viral mechanics, and organic community building.
Designing and optimising processes that scale — managing cross-functional teams, vendors, and complex delivery pipelines.
Building platforms that lower the barrier to creation — from no-code app builders to SaaS tools that give non-technical users real product-building power.
Projects
A competitive word game built with a zero-budget launch strategy centred on viral sharing mechanics, organic retention loops, and a distinctive brand identity that drives word-of-mouth growth.
A dedicated training application for Kenpo Karate practitioners — built to support curriculum learning, technique reference, and structured progress tracking. Informed by a partnership with Grandmaster Tatum and 40+ years of personal practice and a 5th Degree black belt perspective.
A no-code app building platform that empowers anyone to design, build, and launch mobile and web applications — without writing a line of code. AppBudo makes app development accessible to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and creators.
Currently building new AI-powered applications. If you're interested in collaborating or want to learn more about what's in the pipeline, get in touch.
Experience
Contact
Whether you're hiring, exploring a collaboration, or want to talk product, AI, or no-code platforms — I'd love to hear from you. Based in Valencia with regular availability in Dublin.