Principal ownership from architecture through App Store — pixel-true interfaces, human-centered product sense, and hardware when the software meets the physical world.
About
Principal and founder, Lava Monster
I’ve been writing software professionally since 2000 and building native iOS apps since 2008. At Nike, I owned the Bluetooth connection between iPhone and FuelBand for millions of users, including work on Apple’s campus with Apple engineers to make sure an all-day FuelBand connection didn’t drain batteries on iPhones that hadn’t been released yet. Since then I’ve shipped apps for Deloitte, Choice Hotels, SmartRent, ON Semiconductor, and others.
I care about how an app feels in the hand, and I take releases personally. When you hire Lava Monster, you work with me directly, from the first technical decision to the day it’s live in the App Store.
30 minutes with me, not a sales team. If I’m not the right fit, I’ll tell you and point you somewhere better.
What you can count on in every engagement.
You work with me, not a rotating bench of contractors. The person who designs the architecture also builds the release pipeline, ships the app, and answers when something breaks.
In practice: At Nike, I owned the iPhone-to-FuelBand Bluetooth link, from app code to firmware SDK.
I sweat the details people feel but can’t name: scrolling that never stutters, motion that responds to the hand, layouts that hold up on every screen size. Taste is part of the job, not an extra.
In practice: SmartRent’s app, which I worked on as the company grew from startup to a New York Stock Exchange listing.
Bluetooth, sensors, and companion firmware are where many iOS teams get stuck. I’ve worked that boundary at the scale of millions of users, and I bring that depth only when your product needs it.
In practice: Working with Apple engineers on their campus to keep an all-day FuelBand connection from draining batteries on unreleased iPhones.
I review your codebase, architecture, performance, and release pipeline, then give you a written, prioritized plan. Right for apps that feel slow, fragile, or stuck.
I design and build your iOS app from first commit through App Store approval. Right for new products and full rewrites.
A release is slipping, crashes are climbing, or a Bluetooth connection won’t hold. I find the root cause and get you stable.
Ongoing senior ownership: architecture, code review, release engineering, and mentoring your team.
Not sure which fits? That’s what the discovery call is for.
What clients say
“Feedback from all parties has been extremely positive — You have done a fantastic engagement for OnSemi.”
“Todd was our go-to person for developing components used during our production… [he] always had time to explain and solve issues for other team members. I respect Todd’s abilities above all others I’ve worked with during the same time frame.”
“Todd is great to work with, always has a smile on his face, is ready and willing to take on anything, is committed and can deliver on time.”
If your product has to feel right on iPhone, let’s talk.