Your AI-Powered Tech Team.
One Predictable Monthly Fee.
No CTO? No dev team? Burned by a previous agency? We step in as your full technical partner — from strategy and architecture to code and deployment. AI-native engineering, Hong Kong based, 70% cheaper than building in-house.
Trusted by 100+ startups, F&B chains, logistics companies, and enterprises across Hong Kong
AI-First Engineering
Every solution we build has AI at its core — from intelligent automation to production-grade LLM integrations.
We use AI in our own dev workflow (Cursor, Copilot, Claude) AND build AI products for clients — chatbots, RAG systems, computer vision apps. Both sides of the equation.
Hong Kong Native
Local team, local understanding. We speak your language and your business culture — with global delivery capability.
PDPO-compliant data handling. Octopus, FPS & PayMe integrations. Proper Traditional Chinese UI/UX — not Google Translate. Same-timezone meetings, no overnight delays.
Full Transparency
Fixed monthly pricing, 100% code ownership, zero vendor lock-in. No hidden fees, no surprises.
Weekly demo calls. Daily Slack updates. You see every line of code, every decision, every milestone — in real time.
Rapid Delivery
Full MVPs in 3-4 weeks. We move fast because we've built reusable modules, proven architectures, and AI-accelerated workflows.
Our fastest project went from concept to production in under 4 weeks — fully functional, deployed, and generating revenue.
Whether you're a startup building your first MVP or an enterprise modernizing legacy systems — we have the technology solution.
Why Astera vs. The Alternatives
| Astera | In-House Team | Offshore Agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | ~HK$62,000 (USD $7,950) |
HK$220,000+ (CTO + 2 devs + designer) |
HK$80,000–150,000 (variable quality) |
| Timezone | Same timezone (HKT) | 8-12 hour gap | |
| Local Knowledge | PDPO, Octopus, FPS | ||
| Bilingual UX | Native Traditional Chinese | Machine-translated | |
| Scale Flexibility | Scale up/down instantly | Months to hire/fire | |
| Code Ownership | 100% yours from Day 1 | Varies by contract |
TECHNOLOGIES WE BUILD WITH
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Discovery & Audit
We start with a kickoff call to understand your business, goals, and technical landscape. Then we conduct a thorough audit of your existing systems (or validate your idea if starting from scratch).
- Technical audit report with recommendations
- Architecture proposal & technology selection
- Project timeline & budget estimate
Architecture & Design
We design scalable system architecture, create UX/UI wireframes, and plan AI integrations. You review and approve before a single line of code is written.
- System architecture diagrams
- UX/UI wireframes & interactive prototypes
- AI integration blueprint (if applicable)
Build & Iterate
Rapid development using our proven modules and AI-accelerated workflows. You see progress every week through live demos and Slack updates — no surprises at the end.
- Weekly demo calls with working software
- Continuous deployment to staging environment
- Real-time Slack channel for questions & feedback
Launch & Support
We deploy to production, hand over all source code and documentation, and provide ongoing maintenance. You own 100% of the code. Zero lock-in — leave anytime, take everything.
- Production deployment & monitoring setup
- Complete source code & documentation handover
- Ongoing maintenance & priority support
THE ASTERA ADVANTAGE
Zero Vendor Lock-In
You own 100% of the IP, source code, and infrastructure from Day 1. Leave anytime, take everything with you — the code is yours, always.
70% Cheaper Than In-House
A full in-house team in HK costs HK$220,000+/month. You get CTO-level leadership, development, design, and DevOps — all in one predictable monthly fee.
AI-Powered Engineering
We use AI in our own dev workflow AND build AI products for clients. Automated testing, AI code reviews, intelligent QA — delivering quality that manual processes can't match.
Direct Founder Access
No account managers, no middle-men. Work directly with our founder and senior engineers via Slack and weekly calls. Fast decisions, clear communication.
What Our Clients Say
Any Technology Challenge. Solved.
200+ projects delivered across every industry. From AI-powered startups to enterprise modernization — we handle it all.
Custom Software Development
We architect, design, and build your entire software product — from database to frontend to deployment. Full-stack engineering with production-ready code you own from Day 1.
One client went from business idea to $240K MRR with a platform we built from scratch in under 3 months.
Typical timeline: 4–12 weeks
AI Agents & LLM Integration
Custom AI workflows, RAG systems, intelligent chatbots, computer vision, and production-grade LLM integration. We don't just demo AI — we ship it to production and make it reliable.
An AI-powered product we built cut our client's operational costs by 70%, replacing manual processes with intelligent automation.
Typical timeline: 3–8 weeks
Mobile App Development
Cross-platform and native mobile apps for iOS and Android. From concept and UX design to App Store deployment and ongoing updates. We've launched apps with 1,000+ users.
UX/UI Design
User research, wireframes, high-fidelity prototypes, and design systems. Bilingual (EN/繁中) interfaces that feel native — not translated. Designed in Figma, built for conversion.
AI Automation & RPA
WhatsApp chatbots, workflow automation, data pipelines, and intelligent process optimization. One client saved 200+ hours/month by automating their customer communication.
System Integration & ERP
Connect your CRM, ERP, eCommerce, and internal tools through custom APIs and data pipelines. We integrate SAP, Odoo, Shopify, and bespoke systems into one unified workflow.
Cloud & DevOps
Cloud migration, infrastructure setup, CI/CD pipelines, and code rescue for failed projects. If another agency left you with broken code, we stabilize, fix, and scale it.
Membership & Booking Systems
Member management, online booking, payment processing, and loyalty programs. Custom-built for your workflow — not a generic SaaS template you'll outgrow.
Where Ideas Get Built
In-depth case studies from the founder's engineering career, plus a live gallery of recent client launches. Click any card to visit the live product.
HK TutorLink
HK TutorLink is a tutoring matching platform where students can find verified tutors, book sessions, and manage their learning progress online.
- Manual tutor matching
- No online booking
- No revenue
- AI-powered tutor matching
- 500+ active users
- 100% project ready
BiteBody
BiteBody is an AI-powered mobile nutrition app that scans food, tracks calories, and provides personalized dietary recommendations using computer vision.
- No product built
- Manual food logging
- No users
- AI food recognition 95% accuracy
- 1,000+ beta users
- iOS & Android ready
eCommerce Platform
A full-featured online store platform for the Hong Kong market with inventory management, payment integration, and automated order fulfillment.
- No online presence
- Manual inventory
- No online revenue
- Auto inventory sync
- $240,000 MRR
- 10,000+ active users
More Client Launches
A growing gallery of sites and products we've shipped. Hover any card for tech stack and live link.
HK TutorLink
Web · EducationAI-powered tutor matching platform with verified profiles and online booking.
Coming Soon
BiteBody
Mobile · AIComputer-vision nutrition tracking app scanning food and counting calories.
Coming Soon
eCommerce Platform
Web · RetailFull-stack online store with inventory sync, payments and order fulfilment.
WhatsApp Flow Automation
Automation · RPAMulti-agent WhatsApp workflow automating customer intake for an education group.
RAG Knowledge Assistant
AI · LLMRetrieval-augmented knowledge base for an HK financial firm's internal ops.
Odoo × Shopify Bridge
Web · IntegrationTwo-way inventory and order sync between Odoo ERP and a Shopify storefront.
Astera-native launches go live throughout 2026 — this gallery updates monthly.
A Senior Tech Team That Thinks Like Founders
Isaac Ho — Founder & CTO
Full-stack engineer and AI practitioner with over a decade of experience building production software. Founded Astera Technology Limited (星澤科技有限公司) in 2026 to give Hong Kong businesses access to senior-level technical leadership without the overhead of building an in-house team. Personally involved in every engagement.
Core team + trusted specialist network — we scale the right expertise to your project, without the overhead of a large agency.
Project Manager
Delivery & Coordination
Lead Engineer
Full-Stack Architecture
Frontend Engineers
React, Next.js, Vue.js
Backend Engineers
Node.js, Python, Go
Mobile Developers
React Native, Flutter, Native
AI Engineers
LLM, RAG, Computer Vision
UX/UI Designers
Figma, Design Systems
DevOps & QA
AWS, Docker, Testing
Flexible Plans for Every Stage.
Whether you need a one-time build, an ongoing tech partner, or a co-founder-level commitment — we have a model that fits.
Standard Engagements
Discovery Sprint
A low-commit way to experience how we work. One week of senior-led audit, architecture, and a concrete action plan.
- Full technical audit & risk review
- Architecture & tech-stack proposal
- Prioritised roadmap & estimate
- 60-minute walkthrough of findings
- Credit 100% toward any follow-up engagement
One-Time Project
Fixed scope, fixed price, milestone payments. Perfect for a defined MVP, website redesign, or system integration.
- Fixed scope & timeline
- Full UX/UI design included
- Development, testing & deployment
- 30 / 40 / 30 payment schedule
- 100% code ownership + 30-day support
Monthly Retainer
Your full technical team on tap — CTO-level strategy, full-stack engineering, design, and DevOps in one package. Pause or cancel any month.
- CTO & tech strategy leadership
- Full-stack software development
- UX/UI design & prototyping
- DevOps & cloud infrastructure
- Weekly demos & Slack channel
- Pause or cancel any month
- 100% code ownership from Day 1
Strategic Partnerships — by invitation only
Revenue / Profit Share
A reduced monthly retainer paired with a percentage of generated revenue or profit. We share the upside — and the accountability.
- Lower monthly cash outlay than retainer
- % of revenue or profit (agreed in contract)
- Full Astera delivery team at the table
- Quarterly business reviews baked in
Equity Partnership
Minimal cash fee in exchange for an equity stake. We become your technical co-founder — long-term, committed, skin-in-the-game.
- Significantly reduced cash fees
- Technical co-founder level involvement
- Long-term product & architecture ownership
- Vesting & exit terms defined upfront
Transparent about what's not included:
Third-party service costs (hosting, AWS, API fees like OpenAI/Stripe, domain registration) are paid directly by you — so you always own your accounts and data. No markup, no middleman.
READ THE FAQs
A full-time CTO costs HK$600,000+ per year in salary alone, plus equity, benefits, and management overhead. We provide CTO-level strategy and execution at a fraction of the cost — and you can scale up or down as needs change.
Web app MVPs typically take 3-6 weeks. Mobile apps take 6-10 weeks. Enterprise systems vary from 3-6 months. We provide a precise timeline after reviewing your requirements.
100%. All source code, designs, documentation, and IP we create belong entirely to you from Day 1. No lock-in, no vendor dependency, no strings attached.
Absolutely. We can bring in additional developers, QA engineers, or designers as your project scope expands. A new developer can typically join your engagement within 3 business days of the request.
If we have capacity, we can kick off within the week. Otherwise, expect a 2-3 week lead time. Book a free consultation to check availability.
Yes. We don't build and disappear. Ongoing maintenance, monitoring, bug fixes, and feature upgrades are all part of how we work.
Astera is based in Hong Kong — same timezone, same business culture, same language. We understand local compliance (PDPO), integrate with local payment systems (Octopus, FPS, PayMe), and deliver native Traditional Chinese UX — not machine-translated interfaces. Offshore teams are cheaper on paper, but the timezone gaps, communication overhead, and rework often cost more in the end.
Absolutely. Many of our clients are non-technical founders and business owners. That's exactly what our CTO-as-a-Service is for — we translate your business vision into technical strategy and handle all the engineering decisions. You focus on your business, we handle the tech.
We run weekly demo calls so you see progress every single week — there are no surprises at the end. If something isn't right, we iterate immediately. And since there are no long-term contracts, you can stop the engagement at any time. You always keep the code.
Yes, we sign NDAs before any project begins. We follow PDPO (Hong Kong's Personal Data Privacy Ordinance) guidelines and implement industry-standard security practices. Your data and intellectual property are treated with the highest confidentiality.
Yes — this is actually one of our most common engagements. We audit the existing codebase, identify what's salvageable, and create a clear plan to stabilize and complete the project. Several of our best client relationships started as rescue missions from failed agencies.
If you have a promising startup idea but limited budget, we may invest our development time in exchange for equity. We review each opportunity based on market potential, founder commitment, and product-market fit. You pay a minimal development fee, and we become your long-term technical partner. Not every project qualifies — pitch us your idea and we'll let you know.
Ready to Build Something Great?
Book a free consultation. No commitment, no pressure — just a genuine conversation about your business needs and how we can help.
