Michael
Flanigan
I find the markets big companies skip and build the AI-powered software they've been waiting for.
- KerfOS Cabinet design SaaS for woodworkers Building
- Gaphunter Gap analysis tooling for consultants Building
- ClawCost Claude API cost tracker Live
Michael
Flanigan
Chemical Engineer by training. Georgia Tech, 2010. I spent years learning how to think in systems, constraints, and tradeoffs — then applied the same rigor to building software. Day job is Director of Product and Technology Services at FIS. Nights and weekends are Modology Studios.
I'm the founder of Modology Studios, where I build AI-powered SaaS products for underserved niche markets — the kind where incumbents are bloated, prices are absurd, and users are desperate for something better.
When I'm not shipping products, I'm writing open-source tools for the home automation community — or out in the workshop building furniture with my hands.
Three things,
done well.
I work with early-stage founders, small teams, and companies that need to move fast without burning budget on the wrong things.
AI Product Development
From idea to shipped product. I design and build AI-powered SaaS tools — prompt architecture, model integration, and the full product experience around them. I specialize in niche B2B markets where the right solution matters more than the biggest budget.
Technical Consulting
Hands-on engineering and strategy for startups and small teams. API design, automation systems, LLM tooling, and architecture decisions you'll be glad you got right early. I work like a senior engineer, not a vendor.
Partnerships & Events
Strategic partnerships that actually move the needle — not just introductions, but structured deals. I also handle event logistics end-to-end: concept, vendor management, and day-of operations. Background in large-scale event coordination.
Selected Projects
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KerfOS
Cabinet design SaaS for professional woodworkers. Generates cut lists, optimizes sheet usage, and exports shop-ready drawings. Built for the cabinet shop workflow.
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B2B AI agent control plane for teams. Manage prompts, tools, and agent workflows from a single dashboard — with audit logs, cost controls, and MCP server support.
View project → -
Real-time cost tracking for the Claude API. Monitors spend per model, session, and project — open source, self-hosted, and available as a Pro tier for teams.
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Browser-based sheet goods optimizer. Arrange cuts across plywood sheets to minimize waste, then export a cut list or print a shop diagram. Free, no account required.
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CLI tool that connects to your Homey Pro over the local network and audits memory usage, app count, device health, and flow volume — with actionable recommendations.
View project → -
Browser-based diagnostic dashboard for Zigbee2MQTT. Shows LQI signal bars, offline devices, coordinator health, live log stream, and CSV export. No install needed.
View project → -
Flash ESP32 firmware from your browser. No Python, no drivers, no command line. Powered by the WebSerial API. Supports ESPHome, Tasmota, WLED, MicroPython, and more.
View project →
Things I believe
about building.
Serve the niches.
The most loyal customers are in the markets big companies think are too small to bother with. I find those markets first.
Ship real things.
The feedback loop between idea and working product is the only education that counts. A rough v1 live beats a perfect v2 on a roadmap every time.
Constraints are the spec.
Chemical engineering taught me that tight constraints produce cleaner solutions. Budget limits, niche market size, timeline pressure — these aren't obstacles. They're the brief.
Things I think about building.
Open Source Is the Best Portfolio You Can Build
I've built three open source tools for the home automation community. They're not famous. They work. And they've taught me more about building for real users than anything else I've done.
How I Built ClawCost in a Week (And Why the API Bill Scared Me Into It)
I was burning through Claude API tokens faster than I expected, with no good way to see it coming. So I built ClawCost — a real-time cost tracker for the Claude API — in about a week.
Why I Build Software for Markets Nobody Bothers With
Big companies use price as a moat. The software designed for professional shops costs thousands. I wanted to build something anyone could pick up on day one — and KerfOS is how I'm doing it.
Let's build
something.
Have a niche market that needs better software? Want to talk product, strategy, or open source? I'm usually reachable within a day.