Here's the thing about working at a tech company building cutting-edge AI video generation platforms: you learn really fast what separates good ideas from actually useful software. And the gap between those two is massive.
I'm Jared Mortenson, and I spend my days as a UI/UX Engineer at MNTN building QuickFrame AI, a platform that orchestrates multiple AI systems to generate professional video ads. But what really drives me is helping small businesses use that same level of technology to solve their everyday problems.
Want to see the enterprise work? Check out my article about building QuickFrame AI, where I break down what it takes to integrate multiple AI systems into a production application.
The Unfair Advantage: Teaching + Tech
Most developers just write code. I have a Master's degree in Educational Technology and Instructional Design. That means when I build you something, it's not just functional. It's intuitive. People actually understand how to use it without calling you every five minutes.
This background shapes everything I do: clear documentation, interfaces that make sense, solutions that your team can actually adopt. Because what's the point of automating your workflow if nobody knows how to use the automation?
From Football Apps to Enterprise AI
I've built tools across the entire spectrum, from a score tracking app for my son's 7-on-7 football team to AI-powered video generation platforms serving Fortune 500 companies. Here's why that range matters for you:
- I know how to start small. Not every problem needs a $50k enterprise solution. Sometimes a clever Google Sheets script saves you 10 hours a week.
- I know how to scale. When that spreadsheet becomes a pain point, I know how to turn it into a real application without rebuilding from scratch.
- I know what's actually possible. Working with cutting-edge AI every day means I can tell you what's realistic vs. what's hype.
Real Problems I've Solved
Let me give you some concrete examples, because "AI and automation" is meaningless without context:
The Massage Therapist Website Rescue
A local business owner lost access to her website when an employee left. No passwords, no control panel, clients calling wondering if she's still in business. I recovered everything, migrated to a new platform with proper access controls, and got her back online. Sometimes the best tech solution is just knowing who to call and how systems actually work.
The Time Card System That Won't Die
A construction company was drowning in paper timesheets. I built them a system using Google Forms and Apps Script. No monthly fees, no server costs, just automatic time tracking with SMS reminders and payroll calculations. That was 7+ years ago. They're still using it today.
The Web Scraper That Saved 40 Hours
Friend got hired to manually collect data from Google Maps. Thousands of entries. Hours of copy-paste. I wrote him a script that did the entire job in minutes. See the technical breakdown of how it works and why automation beats manual labor every time.
The AI Coloring Book Business
Built for my daughter Remi, Color With Remi uses AI to turn photos into custom coloring pages. The entire business runs on free hosting. The only costs are AI generation and payment processing. It's a working example of how to integrate AI into a lean business model that's profitable from day one.
What Makes Me Different
1. I Build For Humans
At MNTN, I own the user experience for a video editor that marketers use to generate and edit AI-powered ads. These aren't technical users. They're creative professionals who need complex tools to feel simple. That's the same approach I bring to small business projects: power without complexity.
2. I Care About Accessibility
At Tyler Technologies, I led accessibility remediation for government applications, raising scores into the 90s to meet federal standards. At Inetz Media, I fixed accessibility issues across e-commerce sites to meet compliance requirements. This isn't just checkboxes. It's about making sure your tools work for everyone.
3. I Know What's Worth Building
I've worked with government agencies, e-commerce platforms, and Fortune 500 companies. I've also rescued websites, automated spreadsheets, and built tools for local contractors. That range gives me perspective on what's worth investing in and what's overkill.
4. I Actually Explain Things
Master's degree in Instructional Design, remember? I don't just hand you a solution and walk away. I make sure you understand it, document it, and can maintain it. Or I build it so you don't have to maintain it. Both approaches have their place.
My Track Record
Here's the professional journey that got me here:
- MNTN (2022 - Present)
UI/UX Engineer building QuickFrame AI. Led front-end architecture for browser-based video editing, integrated multiple AI providers, designed workflows for auto-ingesting brand profiles, and shipped features that generate studio-quality video ads for MNTN, Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Google Ads. Read the full story →
- Tyler Technologies (2020 - 2022)
Frontend Developer maintaining government licensing platforms. Led accessibility remediation to meet federal standards, shipped key features (session timeout, conditional forms, file uploads), and established team standards for modern React patterns and testing.
- Inetz Media Group (2020)
Frontend Developer fixing accessibility issues for e-commerce sites, building custom WordPress themes, and standardizing codebases across multiple clients.
- PracticeGenius (2017 - 2020)
Front End Developer shipping React and React Native features, translating UX designs into components, and leading peer reviews.
- Small Business Consulting (Ongoing)
Built custom solutions for construction companies, massage therapists, manufacturing businesses, fashion retailers, and various small businesses tackling everything from time tracking to POS systems to web scrapers to emergency site recovery.
The Technology Stack
I work across the modern JavaScript ecosystem: React, Next.js, TypeScript, Node.js, Tailwind CSS. I integrate AI systems, build REST and GraphQL APIs, deploy to AWS and Heroku, and know when to just use a Google Sheet because it's the right tool for the job.
But more importantly: I know which tool solves which problem. That's the real skill.
Why Small Businesses Succeed With Me
- I speak your language. Not just tech jargon. Actual business outcomes. "This saves you 10 hours a week" beats "This implements a RESTful API" every time.
- I start where you are. Got a messy spreadsheet? Great. That's the starting point, not a problem. We'll make it work better, then decide if you need something bigger.
- I build for your budget. Not every solution needs custom software. Sometimes it's a clever integration, a better workflow, or just knowing the right tool that already exists.
- I stick around. You're not just getting code. You're getting documentation, training, and someone who actually answers when you have questions.
Let's Talk About Your Actual Problems
Forget the buzzwords for a second. What's the thing in your business that makes you think "there has to be a better way to do this"?
- Data entry that takes hours every week?
- Manual processes that someone always forgets?
- Reports you build by hand when the data already exists somewhere?
- Customer service questions you answer 50 times a day?
- A website or tool that used to work but now you're locked out?
Those are the problems I solve. Not with flashy AI demos that don't actually work, but with practical automation that saves you time, reduces errors, and lets you focus on actually running your business.
I bring enterprise-level expertise to small business problems, and I know how to scale the solution to match your needs, not my ego.
No sales pitch. Just a conversation about your actual problems and whether I'm the right person to help solve them.