John Helyar, founder of Launchset

I'm John Helyar, the founder of Launchset and a self-taught software developer and systems architect. I enjoy difficult problems where software, operations, money and people overlap.

That interest has led my current work towards complex ERP architecture and exploring new ways accounting can work with software and AI. Before moving in this direction, I built experience across web development, e-commerce, automation, data processing, cloud infrastructure and wider systems architecture. I enjoy understanding how information moves through a business and designing systems that make operations more efficient, reliable and controlled.

I'm an Accounting and Finance graduate and highly financially literate. My degree improved how I think about costs, risks, controls and auditability in both software and business operations. It helps me approach software as a critical part of the wider business rather than an isolated product.

Connecting with people and businesses in person is an important part of how I like to work. I believe it builds trust, demonstrates responsibility for the work I produce and creates closer business relationships. That direct communication can move projects forward faster and help ensure the work is seen through to the end.

Dyslexia has also influenced how I approach my work. It taught me to break complicated problems into understandable parts, examine them from angles others might miss and place a strong focus on optimisation and efficiency.