I build software, companies,
and open source research
from Austria.

I'm Raphael — a software developer and entrepreneur from Upper Austria. I started coding when I was 13, mostly because I wanted to build things I couldn't find anywhere else. That instinct hasn't changed much. I still spend most of my time writing software, thinking about systems, and trying to figure out how technology can actually serve people well.

Together with my co-founder Sebastian Kern, I run Stoicera Software Group— our main company. We build state-of-the-art software at fair prices. Not cheap, not overpriced — just honest. We work with businesses that value quality and long-term thinking over shortcuts. If you're looking for a technology partner who takes your project as seriously as their own, that's what we do.

One thing I'm particularly proud of: we offer our full services completely free for churches and Christian organizations. Websites, automation, branding, digital strategy — all of it, no hidden costs. This isn't a marketing play. It's something I believe in deeply. If your community serves others, the least I can do is serve you.

Outside of Stoicera, I spend a lot of my time on research — and I mean real research, not just reading papers. I maintain a portfolio of open source projects that I genuinely care about. Things like nerve (an AI coding assistant written from scratch in Rust, 28,000 lines), NOUS (a fully local cognitive coding agent in Go — no cloud, no API keys, runs on a Raspberry Pi), and granit (a knowledge management system with 166,000 lines of Go and nearly 2,000 tests). These aren't weekend toys — they're serious systems built to a standard I'd put my name behind.

Research is how I push everything forward. When I build something for Stoicera's clients, it's informed by the cryptographic identity frameworks, cognitive reasoning architectures, and network protocols I work on in my own time. I don't think you can build great products without understanding the fundamentals deeply. So I invest in that understanding — not because someone assigns it, but because I genuinely find it fascinating.

I also publish the Austrian Business Magazine, a digital-first publication covering innovation and capital markets in the DACH region. Through ABM, we run ABM for ALL— free tools and workshops for new founders in Austria. SVS calculator, company management tools, everything you need to get started — maintained by the community and funded to stay free forever. If you need help, reach out. We don't sell services through this — we genuinely just help.

Currently, I'm scaling Schulmittag— a software platform for school meal management that's growing across Austria. And I run several other ventures — from AI platforms to B2B intelligence to travel technology — all under the same principle: build something real, price it fairly, and make sure it actually works.

My faith in Christ is the foundation of everything I do. Not as a label or a branding exercise, but as the actual reason I care about honesty, fair pricing, and treating people well. I believe excellence is a form of worship. I believe every line of code carries responsibility. And I believe that if your work doesn't serve others, it doesn't matter how technically impressive it is.

Beyond the screen, I run distance — 10+ km through Austrian winters, sometimes at −10°C. I study theology and philosophy in my own time. I train Krav Maga. I try to live with the same discipline I bring to code: show up every day, do the work, and let the results speak for themselves.

If you're looking for someone to build with — whether it's a technology partnership, a product, or just a conversation about what's possible — I'd love to hear from you.