About
Erzo is me, Henry Shepherdson.
A fractional CTO and technical director, systems architect and founder, with a hands-on background across web applications, embedded hardware, IoT systems and AI-assisted development.
[PLACEHOLDER]
Photo of Henry
Working shot, e.g. sketching an architecture on paper.
Sixteen years of real delivery
Since 2010 I’ve delivered production systems for businesses across South Africa and internationally, wherever I’ve been based. These days I’m based between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, working with clients in South Africa and the UK. I work with a small number of clients at a time, so every engagement gets my full attention and technical depth.
Erzo is founder-led. I handle architecture, strategy and primary development. For larger projects I bring in collaborators I trust, always under my direct oversight, so you get senior involvement throughout, not a junior hand-off.
What drives me
Technology should feel like it was built for the business it serves. Generic solutions create generic results. That’s why I prefer ongoing retainers (month to month, no lock-in) to project-to-project work, and why most of my clients have been with me for years.
An honest fit check
I don’t take every project. If you’re looking for the cheapest option or a one-time build, I’m probably not the right fit, and I’ll happily point you to someone who is. If you want someone to understand your business deeply and take technical ownership for years, I’d like to talk.
Find me elsewhere
Technical range
Most studios work in one layer. I work across the stack, from IoT firmware and hardware integration to cloud infrastructure, web applications, AI pipelines and compliance systems.
- Next.js
- React
- Python
- FastAPI
- Node.js
- PostgreSQL
- Supabase
- Railway
- ESP32 / IoT
- LoRa / MQTT
- Claude API
- Agentic workflows
- Sanity CMS
- PayFast
- Stripe
- Cloudflare
- Vercel
Industries I know well
- Food safety & compliance (R638)
- Digital skills education
- PropTech & property management
- African finance & receivables
- International e-commerce
- NGO & development sector
- Healthcare & caregiving
- Agriculture & logistics
- Investigative journalism & publishing
- Founded
- 2010, Johannesburg
- Based
- Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban
- Client systems in production
- 14+
- Clients in
- South Africa, the UK and the US
Want to work together?
Tell me about your business. We’ll have a direct conversation about whether I’m the right fit.
1 hour · R850, or 45 minutes · R550 · remote or in person, same price
or email henry@erzo.co.za
South African time (SAST, UTC+2). I reply to every message myself, within 24 hours.