CTO · AI Architect · Tech Investor · NGO Founder

Alex Bobes

I'm a Chief Technology Officer with 16+ years of experience building AI-powered applications, blockchain platforms, and enterprise-grade software used by hundreds of thousands of people daily. Currently Managing Partner at Extremoo and CTO at CasinoAlpha, I lead engineering teams that turn complex technical challenges into scalable, production-ready solutions. I'm also the founder of Asociatia Taxi Gratis, an NGO providing free medical transportation in Romania since 2013.

Alex Bobes - CTO, AI Architect and Tech Investor based in Bucharest, Romania

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What I Do

Technology is only valuable when it solves genuine problems. Over 16 years, I've worked across artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, technical SEO, and cloud architecture — not as a theorist, but as someone who writes code, leads teams, and ships products. Here's where I focus my expertise today.

AI & Machine Learning

I design and build production AI systems — from retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines processing thousands of daily queries to custom fine-tuned LLMs and autonomous AI agents. My approach is pragmatic: I focus on architecture decisions that reduce API costs, minimize hallucination rates, and deliver measurable business value.

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Blockchain & Web3 Architecture

From smart contracts and provably fair gaming systems to DeFi platforms and cryptocurrency integrations, I've designed blockchain solutions that process millions in transactions with enterprise-grade security. I build on Ethereum, Solidity, and Web3 infrastructure — but I'll be the first to tell you when blockchain isn't the right answer.

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CTO Advisory

I've built and led engineering teams at 8 companies — from writing the first line of code to scaling architecture for millions of users. As a fractional CTO or strategic advisor, I help startups and growth-stage companies make the technology decisions that define their trajectory. Certified in PRINCE2, PMP, and Agile.

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Impact by the Numbers

16+
Years in Tech Leadership
8
Companies Led as CTO
65+
Published Articles
12+
Years Running Taxi Gratis NGO
400+
People Helped Annually via NGO

I've led engineering teams at Extremoo, CasinoAlpha, Key Way Group, ConsultaClick Romania, Mandarine International, Pathwwway, EASTAUCTIONS, and Medi-Cab. From network administration to C-suite technology leadership, I've experienced every stage of the software development lifecycle.

Real Results From Real Projects

Reducing RAG System Costs by 70%

A production RAG system was burning $50,000/month in API costs with a 15% hallucination rate. I redesigned the retrieval architecture, implemented intelligent caching, and introduced a hybrid search strategy. Result: API costs dropped to $15,000/month and hallucination rate fell below 3%.

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Scaling an iGaming Platform to Millions

CasinoAlpha needed to evolve from a regional review platform to a global, multi-language operation serving millions of monthly visitors. I led the technical architecture redesign — implementing international SEO with hreflang, automated data validation, and enterprise-grade security. The platform now operates across multiple jurisdictions with 99.9% uptime.

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Building Provably Fair Gaming on Blockchain

I architected a blockchain-based provably fair system that allows players to independently verify the fairness of every game outcome. Using smart contracts on Ethereum, the system generates verifiable random numbers that neither the operator nor the player can manipulate — eliminating the trust problem in online gaming.

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Latest From the Blog

Practical insights on AI implementation, blockchain architecture, cybersecurity, and technical leadership — written from 16+ years of hands-on CTO experience. No theory from textbooks. Real solutions from real projects.

Figma MCP: The CTO's Guide to Design-to-Code in 2026

The design-to-code handoff has been the most expensive bottleneck in software development for as long as I can remember. Not because it's technically hard - because it's a translation problem. A designer creates a pixel-perfect mockup in Figma. A developer interprets it. They go back and forth for weeks. Spacing is off by 4px. The wrong shade of blue made it into production. The button has 12px padding instead of 16px. Nobody's happy.

Alex Bobes

International SEO: Mastering Hreflang Implementation

After spending years implementing international platforms across multiple regions, I can tell you the problem with hreflang isn't the syntax; it's the decision-making, maintenance, and understanding when you actually need it.

Alex Bobes

GoAccess SEO Log Analysis: Track Googlebot & Crawl Budget

The numbers don't lie. Your server logs contain the truth about how search engines actually interact with your site - not what you hope is happening, but what's really going on. While Google Search Console shows you a sanitized view of crawl activity, your raw server logs reveal the full story: every bot visit, every 404 error, every redirect chain, and every wasted crawl budget opportunity.

Alex Bobes

How to Build Production-Ready RAG Systems

Three months into production, a RAG system was hemorrhaging money. $50,000 in monthly API costs, hallucination rates hovering at 15%, and user complaints flooding support channels. The prototype had worked beautifully in testing. In production? Complete disaster.

Alex Bobes

How to Harden Nginx & Apache Servers: Security Guide

Modern attacks don't just target application vulnerabilities, they exploit server misconfigurations, weak SSL/TLS implementations, missing security headers, and inadequate access controls. Whether you're running Nginx's event-driven architecture or Apache's battle-tested process model, proper hardening is non-negotiable. The good news? Most critical vulnerabilities can be eliminated with systematic configuration changes that don't require expensive tools or specialized expertise.

Alex Bobes

The Complete Guide to iGaming Affiliate Program Optimization

The iGaming affiliate marketing space has never been more competitive. With the global market projected to hit $127 billion by 2027 and affiliate marketing driving 30-40% of new customer acquisitions, the stakes are higher than ever. But here's the thing: most affiliate programs are leaving serious money on the table.

Alex Bobes

Modern Hybrid Warfare: Lessons from Romania's 2024 Election Interference Crisis

The digital battlefield has evolved far beyond traditional cybersecurity concerns. In 2024, Romania experienced one of the most sophisticated hybrid warfare campaigns in modern European history, revealing how nation-state actors now weaponize everything from social media algorithms to mercenary networks to destabilize democratic processes. As technology leaders and cybersecurity professionals, understanding these evolving threats isn't just academic, it's essential for protecting our organizations and democratic institutions.

Alex Bobes

What I Can Help You With

From AI implementation to technical leadership, I bring real-world experience solving complex problems.

AI Implementations and RAG Systems

I build AI applications that handle production-level traffic — not demos, not proofs of concept. My RAG systems process thousands of queries daily with proven reliability. When AI needs to work at scale, that's where I come in.

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Solutions

From smart contracts to full production platforms. I've designed and built systems that process millions in transactions with enterprise-grade security. Not every problem needs blockchain — but when it does, the architecture has to be bulletproof.

Technical Leadership and Team Development

I've built engineering teams from scratch and led them through the full lifecycle — from a scrappy MVP to enterprise-scale products. I know what it takes because I've done every role along the way.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure

I've hardened infrastructure against real-world cyber threats and built platforms that protect sensitive data for thousands of users. Security isn't a feature you bolt on later — it's the foundation.

Start-up Advisory and Investment

I do technical due diligence and strategic advising for startups. I'm also actively investing in AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity companies. If you're building something in these spaces, let's talk.

Scaling Platforms and Architectures

I've architected platforms serving millions of users and processing billions of transactions annually. When your system needs to go from thousands to millions, the architecture decisions you make early are everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a fractional CTO do?

A fractional CTO provides part-time, senior-level technology leadership to companies that need strategic guidance but aren't ready for a full-time CTO hire. I help with technology roadmap planning, architecture decisions, team building, vendor evaluation, and technical due diligence. It's the same expertise a full-time CTO brings, structured around your specific needs and budget.

What industries do you work with?

My primary experience spans iGaming, fintech, healthcare technology, e-commerce, and SaaS platforms. However, the principles of scalable architecture, AI implementation, and cybersecurity apply across industries. I've worked with companies ranging from early-stage startups to enterprises with millions of users.

How much does AI consulting cost?

Every engagement is different. I offer a free initial consultation to understand your needs and provide a realistic scope. Typical engagements range from one-time architecture reviews to ongoing advisory retainers. I'm transparent about costs from day one — no hidden fees, no scope creep.

Do you invest in startups?

Yes. I'm an active tech investor focused on AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity companies. If you're building in these spaces, I'd love to hear your pitch. I provide both capital and hands-on technical guidance to portfolio companies.

What's your approach to cybersecurity?

Security isn't a feature you bolt on after launch — it's a foundation you build from day one. My approach covers server hardening (Nginx, Apache), infrastructure as code security (Terraform, Azure), SSL/TLS implementation, security headers, access controls, and compliance frameworks. I've hardened platforms that protect sensitive data for thousands of users.

Can you help with technical SEO?

Absolutely. As a CTO who has scaled international platforms, I bring an engineering perspective to SEO that goes beyond marketing. I work on crawl budget optimization, Core Web Vitals, hreflang implementation, server log analysis, and technical architecture decisions that directly impact search visibility. I've built tools like the Semantic HTML5 Inspector and Hreflang Validator specifically for this purpose.

What People Say

"Alex is an amazing CTO, from caring on a personal level on all team members to diving directly into technical issues and providing his consultancy and deep knowledge whenever needed. It would be an honor to work with Alex again any time."

Savvas Georgiou

"Alex explained the inner workings of the technology perfectly and was instrumental in helping me find my feet in the Crypto vertical sector. I highly recommend Alex!"

Raul Savu

"Working with Alex has been a very pleasant experience. He has a great diversity of skills that made our projects go smooth and eased the communication between our departments. He is a very dedicated professional, a serious CTO and a strong leader to his teams."

Alina Bota

Ready to Build Something That Matters?

Whether you need a fractional CTO, want to implement AI at scale, need a cybersecurity audit, or want to pitch your startup for investment — let's talk. The first consultation is always free.