I’m Magnus, a technical founder, builder, and consultant helping startups ship solid software, fast. I’m currently CTO and co-founder of Midstay, and I also take on selected client projects where I can add real value.
I specialize in building clean, scalable Rails applications, from API backends to full-stack tools with Hotwire. I work best with small teams and founders who value quality, structure, and getting things done without dragging it out.
Originally from Norway, I now live in Lombok, Indonesia. I moved here in 2017 to reshape how I live and work, combining deep, focused software work with a more intentional lifestyle. Outside of tech, I’m into meditation, philosophy, surf, running, and systems thinking, anything that helps me live and build with more clarity.
I write occasionally about these topics here: everything from building Rails tools to bootstrapping a business, to designing a life that works on your own terms.
My Background
I started out as a researcher. After an MSc in Materials Science and Engineering at NTNU, I continued into a PhD program focused on aluminum alloys, publishing three papers along the way. One of them has since been cited over 100 times by other researchers, which still feels strange to think about.
But somewhere in the middle of that, I realized I was more interested in building things than studying them. Academia felt too slow, too insular, and too disconnected from the kind of impact I wanted to have. So I left.
In 2017 I moved to Indonesia, trained as a developer through a Rails-focused bootcamp, and went all in on software. It was a complete pivot, and one of the better decisions I’ve made.
I moved quickly into freelance work, then spent a few years building production systems as a backend engineer at a Norwegian scale-up, before co-founding Midstay, where I’ve led product and engineering ever since.
The research background shapes how I think more than people might expect. Designing systems, reasoning under uncertainty, knowing when a model is good enough vs. when it breaks, those habits came from the lab, not the bootcamp.
What I’m Focused On
I currently split my time between Midstay and working with a few clients each quarter. My focus is on small, clearly scoped projects where I can deliver real impact:
- MVPs or internal tools with business logic and admin flows
- API microservices for automation, pricing, or integrations
- Operations-focused tools for streamlining workflows
All projects come with a clear scope, async comms, and production-ready handoff.
How I Work
I keep things lightweight and transparent:
- Notion Project Hub – For async updates and progress tracking
- Staging App (optional) – For validation and internal testing
- Clean Handoff – Code delivered in GitHub, with docs or Postman collections if relevant
- Optional onboarding – I can walk your team through it if needed
My goal is to help you ship something solid, without unnecessary overhead.
Why I Work Like This
I live in Lombok, Indonesia, a place that gives me the space to focus, stay active, and work deeply. I care about solving the right problems, building things that hold up, and collaborating with people who appreciate clarity and quality.
If that resonates, we’ll probably work well together.
Let’s Talk
If you have a project in mind, or just want to connect, feel free to reach out at
mremoe@gmail.com.