Robert Kaltenbach · Full-stack engineer · Chicago
Redesigning how work gets done using AI
From internal tools to customer-facing systems, the focus is AI-first solutions that reduce manual work and improve consistency.
Available for freelance and open to work
Creator
Satisfaction
Years Experience
AnythingExpert
Goals, constraints, and what “done” looks like — for users and for the business — get clear first.
Flows and visuals are shaped to be straightforward to build and solid to use in the real world.
Launch includes testing and handoff you can rely on, with support available for what comes next.
Capabilities
Web, mobile, AI-assisted product work, and rescue missions — freelance when the fit is right. The same track record applies whether you're hiring for a project or a full-time or contract role.
Web Development
Fast, maintainable web apps with React and modern stacks — performance and clarity baked in.
Mobile Apps
Cross-platform, native-feeling mobile delivery with Expo and a stack matched to the timeline.
UI / UX Design
Interfaces built around real users — simple flows, strong defaults, and design ready to ship.
App Repair
Stalled builds, production fires, and tangled legacy code — untangled so the product can move again.
Maintenance
Ongoing support: releases, security, performance — whatever keeps what shipped healthy.
AI Consulting
Practical AI strategy for teams: where automation fits, what to ship first, and how to roll it out safely.
About
Work by Robert Kaltenbach under Two Tree Creative — shipped projects, how problems get framed, and what collaboration looks like on real builds. Open to freelance, full-time, and contract conversations when the fit is right; client engagements run through Two Tree.
Robert is a developer, designer, and operator with 10+ years building software and running businesses. He owned multi-location companies and built the systems behind them — POS, loyalty, internal tools, and customer-facing apps. That background shows up as an insistence that software survive contact with reality, not just demo well.
Engagements focus on AI-first products, web and mobile apps, and rescue work on codebases that need a steady hand. The practice stays small and senior-led — no junior bench, no theater. Freelance availability opens when there's a clear problem and room to execute; employer and recruiter outreach is welcome for the right role. Use the contact form below either way.
Selected work
Representative shipped work across products and platforms — each card links to a full case study on Contra.
Questions
The short answers to what people usually ask first.
What kind of work does Robert Kaltenbach take on?
AI-first products and internal tools that cut manual work, web apps built with React, cross-platform mobile apps built with Expo, UI/UX design, ongoing maintenance, and practical AI consulting for teams deciding where automation fits.
Can you take over an app someone else built, including one made with AI tools like Anything or Cursor?
Yes. Rescue work is a core part of the practice: stalled builds, production fires, and tangled or AI-generated codebases. The first step is getting the app running and finding where it breaks, then deciding what to fix, what to rebuild, and what to remove.
What makes this different from hiring an agency?
You work directly with a senior developer, not a junior bench behind an account manager. Robert has also owned and run multi-location businesses and built the systems behind them — point-of-sale, loyalty, and internal tools — so the work is judged by whether it holds up in real operations, not just in a demo.
What is your tech stack?
React, React Native and Expo, Node.js, Supabase and PostgreSQL, and the OpenAI API, with AI-assisted development in Claude Code and Cursor. The stack is matched to the project and timeline rather than the other way around.
Are you available for full-time or contract roles?
Yes. Freelance projects run through Two Tree Creative, and Robert is also open to full-time and contract roles. Use the contact form below for either.
Where are you based?
Chicago, Illinois, working with clients and teams remotely.