Hey Durham — I get it. You've probably clicked on a dozen city pages by now, all promising the moon with 'AI solutions' and 'data transformations.' It's enough to make you wanna just stick with spreadsheets, right? Well, I'm A.I. Consulting LLC, and I'm a solo operator out of Florida, but I work with businesses like yours all over the country, including right here in Durham, North Carolina.
I'm not gonna pretend I have a huge team or a fancy office park. What I do have is a knack for making machine learning and data science actually work for small to mid-sized businesses. I'm talking about real, measurable improvements, not just a flashy demo that never sees the light of day. If you're tired of the AI hype and just want someone to figure out if this stuff can help your bottom line, you're in the right place.
Okay, so this page is for folks in Durham specifically looking for help with their data and maybe seeing if some of this 'AI' stuff can actually make a difference for them. I focus on practical applications. Think less sci-fi, more 'how do I stop losing money on X' or 'how can I predict Y better.'
## What I actually do for Durham clients
When a business in Durham comes to me for machine learning or data science, it's usually because they have a specific problem. Maybe they're sitting on a ton of customer data and don't know how to use it to reduce churn. Or they've got production data and need to predict equipment failures before they happen. I build custom models and data pipelines to address those kinds of issues. I'm not selling a product; I'm building a solution tailored to your data and your unique business challenge.
This could mean setting up a proof-of-concept for a new recommendation engine, developing a predictive model to optimize inventory, or automating a data analysis task that currently eats up someone's entire week. I’ll help you figure out if the data you have is good enough, what kind of results you can actually expect, and then I’ll build the thing. Plain and simple.
## How a Durham engagement usually goes
1. **Initial Chat & Discovery (1-2 weeks):** We start with a 20-minute call to see if I can even help. If it looks like a fit, I'll then spend a week or two digging into your data and your business processes. I'm trying to understand your problem inside and out, and figure out what data you actually have. I’ll ask a lot of questions. This isn't just about technical stuff; it’s about your business and what makes it tick.
2. **Proposal & Plan (1 week):** Based on discovery, I put together a detailed proposal. This outlines the exact problem I'll solve, the approach I'll take, the expected outcomes (and any limitations), and a fixed-fee cost. No surprises. If you're happy with it, we move forward.
3. **The Work (4-12 weeks):** This is where I roll up my sleeves. I'll be developing the models, cleaning the data, building any necessary pipelines, and testing everything rigorously. I'll keep you updated regularly, explaining what I'm doing in plain English. This phase duration really depends on the complexity of the project, but I’ll give you a clear timeline upfront.
4. **Deployment & Handoff (1-2 weeks):** Once the solution is built and tested, I'll help you get it integrated into your existing systems. I also provide documentation and training so you or your team can understand how to use it and maintain it going forward. My goal is to leave you with something useful and understandable, not a black box.
## What it costs, roughly
I prefer fixed-fee projects because it keeps things transparent and predictable for everyone. For a typical machine learning or data science engagement, you're usually looking at a range starting somewhere in the low to mid-five figures. Obviously, this depends entirely on the scope and complexity. A small data analysis automation is a lot different from building a complex predictive model from scratch. We’ll nail down the exact number in the proposal stage, so you'll know what you're paying before I start any serious work.
## Who I'm usually NOT a fit for
I’m not the right choice if you're looking for a massive, multi-year digital transformation initiative. I'm a solo operator, not a huge agency. I also generally don't work with businesses that have absolutely no data at all, or data that's so messy it's unusable – though I can often help assess that upfront. If you're just 'kinda curious' about AI but don't have a specific business problem you're trying to solve, I might not be the best fit. I thrive on tangible problems and clear goals.
## Getting in touch
If you've got a specific data problem or a machine learning idea for your Durham business and you just want an honest assessment without all the usual consulting fluff, I'm here. I’m not gonna try to upsell you on things you don't need. I just want to see if I can help you use your data better. Seriously, just reach out. The easiest way to get started is to book a 20-min call.
FAQs — Durham
How do I know if machine learning is worth it for my Durham business?
The best way to figure that out is to identify a specific business problem that's costing you time or money. If you have data related to that problem, chances are machine learning could offer a solution. We can discuss it during our initial chat.
Do you work with companies outside of Durham, North Carolina?
Yes, absolutely. While I'm highlighting Durham on this page, I work remotely with businesses across the United States. Location isn't an issue for most of my engagements.
What does the first 2 weeks of an engagement usually look like?
The first couple of weeks are all about discovery. I'll be asking questions, reviewing your existing data, and trying to deeply understand the business challenge you're facing. It's a lot of listening and learning on my end.
What if my company's data isn't perfectly clean or organized?
Most data isn't perfectly clean, that's pretty normal. Part of my job is to help assess your data's quality and, if needed, clean and prepare it for use in machine learning models. We'll figure out what's feasible together.
Can you train my existing team on how to use the models you build?
Yes, I provide documentation and basic training as part of the project handoff. My goal is for you and your team to be able to understand and maintain the solution I build, making it a sustainable asset for your business.