Elcano

The voyage for the age of
discovery and intelligence.

CTO as a Service for ambitious founders: strategy, architecture and execution.

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Juan Sebastián Elcano, in a feathered hat, crouches on a stony beach and laughs as a Magellanic penguin tugs at the corner of his burgundy cloak. Behind him sailors stand by a boat on the shore, and carracks lie at anchor in the bay.
Elcano finds his first early adopter. It won’t let go. Oil on canvas, c. 1520

The Voyage

A technical leader who turns ideas into real journeys.

Burak Çalık · Founder of Elcano, Co-founder & CTO of Macellan

Elcano’s voyage began with Magellan’s expedition. Burak’s began at Macellan.

  • One of four co-founders in 2014, and the only technical one
  • Its CTO ever since, leading technology, hiring and mentorship
  • Now bringing that experience to founders, through Elcano

What matters in the age of AI

  • Problem Framing

    The right problem, before any code or prompt.

  • Engineering Judgment

    Knowing which shortcuts will cost you later.

  • Systems Thinking

    Product, people and platform, as one system.

  • Technical Leadership

    Hiring, mentoring and a clear heading.

  • 20+ Years writing software
  • 2014 Co-founded Macellan
  • 100+ People on board at Macellan
  • Still curious

CTO as a Service

From first idea to new horizons.

Practical, founder-friendly CTO support.

  • Elcano, in a feathered hat and burgundy doublet, leans over a parchment chart on deck and points at it, with cliffs and open sea behind him.

    CTO as a Service

    Ongoing CTO support, without a full-time hire.

  • Elcano and a sailor in a linen headscarf study a sea chart on deck while Elcano measures it with brass dividers.

    Tech Strategy

    Clear, executable plans: scope, architecture, roadmap.

  • Elcano, in profile, wears a slim dark visor as he looks out to sea at a fleet of carracks.

    AI Integration

    AI isn’t optional any more. Put it to work.

  • Three sailors, Elcano in the middle, crowd round a laptop on a chart table on deck; one points at the screen.

    Team Building

    Hire, mentor and scale high-performing teams.

Elcano, in a feathered hat and burgundy doublet, plots a course at a chart table beside a small white robot with a black face and round glowing eyes. A scarlet macaw watches from the rail.
A navigator, his AI copilot and a parrot who insists it was his idea. Oil on canvas, c. 1520

Approach

Modern tools. Timeless principles.

Battle-tested engineering plus the latest AI, so we move faster and ship better.

  • Lean & pragmatic
  • AI-native mindset
  • Focus on real impact
  • Clear communication
  • Long-term partnership