Nicolas Lair-Co-Founder & CTO
Check rate
Experience
Co-Founder & CTO
Wellnest
- Co-founded a B2B SaaS platform to organize workplace wellbeing activities (yoga, meditation, HIIT) and employee-led programs
- Architected the platform and led a small development team through multiple pivots
- Launched MVP in March 2020 with GSK, adjusted strategy during COVID-19 office closures
- Evolved product into marketplace for wellbeing providers, provider SaaS platform, employer audit tools, and Wellbeing Ambassador features
- Enabled B2B2B and B2B2C sales through Decathlon integration
- Took platform offline in January 2025 to simplify and shift to an AI-first relaunch in 2026
Co-Founder & CTO
Above The Clouds
- Co-founded and built a remote-first collective of 50+ senior technologists and product-focused engineers
- Acted as analyst to ensure project estimates tied to clear business goals
- Served as solution architect to establish solid technical foundations
- Created autonomous, outcome-driven teams and applied a lean, pragmatic Agile approach
- Developed internal frameworks and reusable components for faster value delivery
- Provided fractional CTO services for startups and scale-ups, including team building, product scaling, and investment preparation
- Delivered workshops on scaling teams, aligning vision and roadmap, and transitioning from startup to scale-up
Tech Lead / Full-Stack Developer
Microsoft / NineMSN
- Specialized in interactive development, building Flash and HTML5 campaigns for Toyota, Australian Government, Channel 9, The Block, Rimmel, WeightWatchers, Huawei
- Led development of a competition engine framework with customizable Flash and HTML5 sites, reducing launch time from 5 days to 2 days
- Implemented Test-Driven Development using Backbone.js, Require.js, Underscore.js, Node.js, jQuery, and Jasmine with TeamCity continuous integration
- Developed an award-winning interactive video campaign with Facebook API integration and After Effects video mapping
Tech Lead / Senior Flash Developer
Captiv8
- Launched the Digital division of a broadcast and digital media production company
- Created immersive Flash and Flex websites, campaigns, and games using Papervision 3D, SWFAddress, Away 3D, Gaia Framework, and Push Button Engine Framework
- Developed an open-source CMS in Flex 4 with RobotLegs and a reusable AS3 web framework
- Managed multiple creative projects and deepened expertise in full-stack interactive development
Flex Developer / Architect
NMBS
- Served as Adobe Certified Expert, creating Flex and AIR proofs-of-concept
- Provided PureMVC training and best practice sharing as Adobe Instructor
- Worked in a 12-person Scrum team using Cairngorm, PureMVC, Spring ActionScript, Maven, SVN, and Hudson continuous integration
RIA Consultant / Adobe Expert
iDA MediaFoundry
- Specialized in Flex 3 & 4, Flash, Flash Catalyst, and BlazeDS at an Adobe Silver Solution Partner and Authorized Training Centre
- Instructed one-week Flash CS4 & ActionScript 3 courses to students and professionals
- Developed an AIR application for Philips showcased in Singapore with socket-based remote control configuration and custom smiley component
- Co-launched BandGeek, an Adobe AIR case study aggregating band and song info via LastFm, Yahoo Music, YouTube, Flickr, and Google Maps
Flash / Flex Analyst, RIA & Game Developer
Taatu
- Built a Flash-based 3D isometric virtual world with real-time chat, video, music, events, and user-designed spaces
- Developed custom virtual worlds for TF1, Universal, Endemol, and France 3 (Star Academy World 2007 & 2008, Plus Belle La Vie)
- Implemented MVC, Observer, and Iterator patterns with XML, AMFPHP, Flash Communication Server, ActionScript 2 & 3, Flex, and Flash Media Server
- Created reusable frameworks for communication between AS2/AS3/Flex, dynamic world skinning, content delivery personalization, and user/room rights management
Flash Consultant, Web Developer
Freelance
- Developed a multi-language, multi-product e-learning application using ActionScript 2, XML, and AMFPHP for offline and online use
- Applied MVC principles, built movie, test, dictionary, course, search, and print tools with MD5 encryption and local/shared object synchronization
- Created custom Flash components with JSFL
- Developed guidelines, dynamic recursive JavaScript menus, and PHP scripts to generate 1000+ HTML pages nightly for University of Mons-Hainaut
- Built a multimedia promotional application for Native Instruments plugins and a custom CMS using PHP, SQL, and MySQL
Webmaster / Web Designer
Syntech
- Designed and coded multiple websites, handling graphic design, front-end PHP/HTML/CSS, and content management system development
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Information Technology, Healthcare, Media and Entertainment, Advertising, Education, and Transportation.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Information Technology, Product Development, Strategy, Sales, Marketing, and Project Management.
Summary
I’m the co-founder and CTO of Above The Clouds, a remote-first collective of 50+ senior technologists, CTOs, and product-focused engineers. We build high-impact, on-demand teams that take real ownership of delivering and scaling products.
I work closely with VCs and founders worldwide, assessing technology, guiding product strategy, and helping build high-performing teams. My expertise spans SaaS, B2B and multi-sided platforms, Music Tech, and AI-driven systems. Recently, I’ve helped several companies design and deploy tailored AI agents that automate operations, customer support, and internal workflows.
As founders ourselves, we take an outcome-first approach: clear goals, transparent delivery, and strong alignment between business, product, and technology. Products we’ve built or led have reached over a million users, with multiple acquisitions. We’re now expanding into post–due diligence support and wellbeing & coaching services to help teams scale sustainably.
Skills
- Since 2013, We’Ve Run 80+ Tech Due Diligences, Launched 60+ Products, And Supported Two Successful Exits.
- Technical Due Diligence
- Vc & Founder Advisory
- Technical / Product Strategy & Roadmapping
- Architecture & Scalable Systems Design
- Product Leadership & Mvp Definition
- Ai Systems & Workflow
- Engineering Team Leadership & Scaling
- Full-Stack Development
- Startup → Scale-Up Transition Coaching
- Technical Hiring & Team Organisation
Languages
Education
Syntech
Audio Engineering · Brussels, Belgium
University of Mons Hainaut
Master in Computer Sciences · Computer Sciences · Mons, Belgium · Distinction
Syntech
Secondary School Diploma · Math & Sciences · Brussels, Belgium
Certifications & licenses
Adobe Certified Consultant
Captiv8
Adobe Certified Expert
NMBS
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Profile
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Nicolas is based in Lisbon, Belgium and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.
Nicolas speaks the following languages: Dutch (Native), English (Intermediate).
Nicolas has at least 25 years of experience. During this time, Nicolas has worked in at least 8 different roles and for 9 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 9 months. Note that Nicolas may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Nicolas would be well-suited for roles such as: Co-Founder & CTO, Tech Lead / Full-Stack Developer, Tech Lead / Senior Flash Developer.
Nicolas's most recent position is Co-Founder & CTO at Wellnest.
In recent years, Nicolas has worked for Wellnest and Above The Clouds.
Nicolas is most experienced in industries like Information Technology, Healthcare, and Media and Entertainment. Nicolas also has some experience in Advertising, Education, and Transportation.
Nicolas is most experienced in business areas like Information Technology, Product Development, and Strategy. Nicolas also has some experience in Sales, Marketing, and Project Management.
Nicolas has recently worked in industries like Information Technology and Healthcare.
Nicolas has recently worked in business areas like Product Development, Information Technology, and Strategy.
Nicolas holds a Master in Computer Sciences from University of Mons Hainaut and a Bachelor in Audio Engineering from Syntech.
Nicolas has 2 certificates. These include: Adobe Certified Consultant and Adobe Certified Expert.
The availability of Nicolas needs to be confirmed.
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Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 7 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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