Roger Obando
Principal
at Self Employed
Roger Obando is a serial entrepreneur and technologist with over 20 years of experience in software development and consulting in both the enterprise and start-up worlds.
His most recent entrepreneurial venture, Baker Technologies, a CRM platform focused on helping companies in the cannabis industry build and retain relationships with their customers, was acquired in 2018, resulting in his successful exit.
Roger has recently returned to his consulting roots and is now serving as a Fractional CTO for several companies building platforms to capitalize on the emerging AI wave.
Earlier in his career, Roger spent nearly a decade working with large interactive agencies and clients like Sony, BMW, JP Morgan, and Disney. He made the decision in early 2012 to leave services and enter the product space, consulting with start-up companies and eventually transitioning to senior technology positions at Mobile Roadie and Kamino Labs.
He has a B.A. in Computer Science and Visual Design from Duke University.
Articles by Roger Obando

How to Build a Customer Support Function for Startups Using AI Tools with Alex Velinov
Delivering high-quality customer support can be one of the most resource-draining parts of a startup. The good news: we’re at a turning point where founders can use AI tools to...

Zero → 100: The Exact Steps We Took to Close Our First 100 Paying Customers
Going from zero customers to 100 in just four months sounds impossible—unless you’re a founder willing to roll up your sleeves and hustle relentlessly. I’m Gaurav Bhattacharya, co-founder of Jeeva.ai,...

Unblocking Startup Growth: Best Practices for Sales Discovery & Qualification with Richard Harris
Startups are in a constant race against time and resources, navigating complex sales environments with lean teams and limited margins for error. In a recent session from the Mucker Growth...

The LinkedIn Playbook: How Startup Founders Can Stand Out & Scale
This LinkedIn Playbook is based on insights from a recent one-time Mucker Growth Session webinar featuring LinkedIn growth experts Alec Paul (Founder of SalesBrand) and Kyle Williams (Founder of Brickstack)....

DeepSeek vs OpenAI: Comparison Breakdown and What It Means For Your Tech Startup With Dan Cleary
In this recent webinar of our Mucker Growth Series, we discussed the evolving AI landscape with Dan Cleary, founder of PromptHub. He provided an in-depth breakdown of DeepSeek vs. OpenAI,...

Building Product Without Knowing Code With Adam New Waterson
In a deep dive into AI-driven product development, Adam New-Waterson, a former CMO turned Chief Product Officer and now solopreneur, shared how non-technical founders can harness the power of AI...