One Founder. One AI. A Platform for Millions.
Nauset AI builds Hermes — the SMS-first AI assistant for contractors. We believe the 3.7 million small contractors in America deserve tools as powerful as what the big companies use, delivered in a way that fits how they actually work: text messages.
The Founder
Rob Lepard is an MIT-trained engineer (EECS) with 20+ years building enterprise systems — ERP integrations, cloud migrations, AI automation. Before Nauset, he led software engineering teams at defense and manufacturing companies, shipping systems that ran factories and supply chains.
He built Hermes because he watched contractors — friends, family, neighbors — lose money every week to slow estimates, missed follow-ups, and admin chaos. They don't need another app. They need an AI that works the way they do.
🎓 MIT EECS
M.Eng. + B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science. 20+ years shipping enterprise software.
🏗️ 20+ Years Enterprise Systems
ERP integrations, cloud migrations, AI automation. Led engineering teams shipping systems that ran factories and supply chains.
🚀 Solo Technical Founder
One founder + AI shipping at the pace of a 10-person team. Hermes platform, website, and go-to-market — all built in months.
This Entire Company Was Built with AI
The Hermes platform, this website, our marketing materials, competitive research, and business strategy — all built using AI tools. One founder working with AI, shipping at a pace that would normally require a team of 10.
This isn't a demo. It's proof that a single technical founder with the right AI tools can build enterprise-grade software and bring it to market at a fraction of the traditional cost and timeline. That's the same leverage we bring to contractors.
🏗️ Hermes Platform
SMS pipeline, AI estimating engine, job management, persistent memory, and nightly self-improvement loop — all AI-assisted development.
🌐 This Website
Design, copy, mockups, animations, video assets, and multilingual translations — built and deployed by AI in hours, not weeks.
📊 Market Intelligence
Competitive analysis, fintech research, supplier strategy, and investor pitch preparation — AI-powered research at depth.
The Opportunity
Small contractors in the US
Have fewer than 10 employees
US construction industry
SMS-native AI tools for contractors
Built for contractors. By a builder.
If you're a contractor tired of losing money to slow estimates, or an investor looking at the $1.8T construction market — let's talk.