Business problems first. Technology second.

A Note From Stephen.

I started my first technology company when I was sixteen. I've been doing some version of the same work ever since: sitting with people who run a business, figuring out what's actually slowing them down, and fixing it with the least technology that will do the job.

I founded True Cedar in 2011. Today it's based in Austin, Texas, and we work with businesses all over the United States, remotely, and in person around Austin when it helps.

Before going full time on True Cedar, I spent five years as Director of Innovation & Technology for the Washington State Investment Board. That job covered AI and data strategy, cybersecurity and a move to the cloud, all for an organization where mistakes are expensive and public. It taught me two things I still work by. Every technology decision is a business decision first. And the boring parts (security, permissions, audit trails, who's allowed to change what) are what separate software you can trust from a demo.

Here's what's different now. For most of my career, custom software was something only big companies could justify. A good idea could easily come back with a six-figure quote and a six-month timeline, so most businesses made do with spreadsheets, workarounds and SaaS tools that were almost right.

AI changed that math. It doesn't replace engineering judgment. Someone still has to design the system, review the code, test it and secure it. But it compresses the repetitive work enormously. A small, experienced team can now build in days what used to take months. That opens custom software, and real AI agents, to companies that were priced out before.

So that's what True Cedar does. We build custom web apps, client portals, internal tools and AI agents, and we replace legacy applications that are holding businesses back. We also help leadership teams figure out where AI is worth the investment and where it isn't, including as a fractional Chief AI Officer when a company needs someone accountable for it.

A few things you can count on if we work together:

• You talk to me. True Cedar is founder-led. I'm involved in every engagement, from the first conversation to delivery.
• We start small. We find the smallest version that solves the important problem, build it fast and put it in front of real users. Then we invest where the evidence says to.
• You know the price up front. Work is fixed price under a written statement of work, with a committed delivery date.
• You own it. The source code, the data and the infrastructure accounts are yours.
• I'll tell you when not to build. Sometimes the right answer is an off-the-shelf tool, a process fix, or nothing at all. I'd rather say that on the first call than sell you something you don't need.

I don't do hype. I've seen too many technology projects fail because someone bought the pitch instead of solving the problem. If you have an old app, a painful manual process, an expensive SaaS bill or an idea you've been putting off because the last quote was too high, tell me about it. I'll give you a straight answer about whether it's worth building.

— Stephen Backholm, Founder, True Cedar LLC

Experience Behind the Work.

Stephen has more than 20 years in technology and started his first technology company at sixteen. He spent five years as Director of Innovation & Technology at the Washington State Investment Board, where his responsibilities included AI and data strategy, cybersecurity and cloud transition. He is also a keynote speaker; see keynote speaking and presentations.

Recent Work.

See how we've applied this approach: an AI bidding agent inside Zoho, a client portal for a financial services firm, and a controlled AI portal for education. Client names are withheld.