Jacobs & Xu (pronounced “Jacobs and Shoe”) is a specialist consultancy created by a group of senior technology professionals who kept hearing the same frustration from professionals across the built environment. Too often, this industry is expected to adapt to systems, software and processes that weren’t designed around how it actually works. We do it differently by building practical solutions around the way property professionals already deliver projects, manage assets and serve clients, so technology reduces frustration instead of adding to it.
All of our consultants have worked in, with or alongside property professionals and have collectively spent decades building and delivering digital tools, data systems and automation solutions across industries where efficiency, accuracy and scalability matter.
We review your workflows, systems and information flows to identify where inefficiencies, delays and bottlenecks are having the greatest operational impact.
We define the most appropriate tools, changes or solutions for your needs, and come to agreement with you if they align with your current ways of working and wider business priorities.
We implement improvements in a way that supports early adoption, low disruption and clear operational benefits, so value is visible from the outset and benefits are realised quickly.
If you believe you’re “time-poor” and our mission successfully addresses the challenges you manage, we’d be glad to talk. We can learn more about what you need and find ways to help you save time, reduce costs and focus on outcomes, not admin.
Elliotte Jacobs is a senior consultant with over 25 years of experience in technically advanced sectors, including digital content localisation, machine learning and AI. He has built his career around helping organisations identify, shape and deliver complex, connected digital solutions that create long-term value through stronger operational performance, better decision-making and measurable commercial gains.
With deep expertise in process improvement, solutions architecture and organisational design, Elliotte has built and led global teams delivering eight-figure turnover and managed multi-year seven- and eight-figure technology and services engagements for organisations ranging from start-ups to some of the world’s largest companies. His work has focused on turning complex business needs into practical, commercially effective solutions that improve how teams operate, grow and scale.
He holds a BA in Communications from Loyola University and is currently completing an MBA at UCL School of Management.
Dan Parker is a technical founder and software architect with more than 20 years’ experience building reliable, scalable software for complex, real-world industries. He specialises in designing cloud-native platforms that streamline operational workflows, integrate with third-party systems and scale safely from concept to production.
With deep experience delivering regulated, data-driven systems, Dan brings a pragmatic, outcomes-focused approach to helping organisations modernise software, reduce operational friction and build platforms that improve performance at scale.
He holds a BSc (Hons) in Computing from Bournemouth University.
Kyr is an XR and AI early adopter and innovator with a decade of experience helping organisations deliver immersive products. His work focuses on the point where growth starts to put pressure on execution, from missed deadlines and unclear scope to delivery risk and client trust. Rather than sitting solely in engineering, Kyr works across functions to make execution more predictable and keep complex XR and AI projects moving.
He has been involved in more than 500 XR projects, including work for Mercedes-Benz, IBM, Netflix, Disney, Audi, Philip Morris and Mondelez, as well as other global brands. Kyr is also co-founder of LikeXR, host of the LikeXR.tech podcast, a frequent conference speaker and author. He typically works with founders and teams as a long-term partner, helping them reduce delivery risk, strengthen execution and build the operational confidence needed to scale complex digital products successfully.
He is a graduate of Munich Business School.
Takunda is a company founder, software engineer and qualified actuary with a strong track record of turning complex financial and operational logic into practical digital solutions. He combines deep technical capability with specialist actuarial expertise, which makes him particularly effective at solving problems that sit between finance, data and software.
He works across a range of programming languages and specialises in turning complex calculation workflows, fragmented processes and messy spreadsheets into intuitive tools that simplify work, improve accuracy and give teams greater confidence in the information they rely on. His focus is on building solutions that are not only technically robust, but also clear, usable and suited to real-world decision-making.
He holds an MSc in Computing Science and a BSc in Actuarial Sciences from the University of East Anglia.
Romano is a data and AI leader with nearly 20 years of legal sector experience, combining strategic thinking with deep expertise in data systems, stakeholder alignment and information security. He is highly experienced in working with senior stakeholders and building profitable collaborations that connect business goals with better, data-enabled decision-making.
His work focuses on helping organisations create a more integrated view of their systems and information, so leaders can make clearer decisions, manage complexity more effectively and deliver strategic change with confidence. A company founder with deep expertise in stakeholder management, Romano has led and delivered a wide range of data systems initiatives, bringing together technical capability and commercial understanding to support long-term business goals.
He has worked at a number of Magic Circle law firms and holds a range of technical qualifications, including in big data modelling, management and processing, as well as leadership in information security and design.
Derrick is a company founder, software engineer and product engineer who helps organisations build and scale data-driven products. He specialises in turning complex business and user requirements into well-designed systems that solve real problems and create lasting value.
His work focuses on aligning technology with product and business goals across the full product journey, from early discovery and system design through to build, iteration and scale. With experience in backend systems, APIs and data models, Derrick helps organisations streamline operations, improve efficiency and build technology that is reliable, secure and ready to evolve as needs change.
He works closely with product managers, designers and stakeholders to bring clarity to complexity, with a strong focus on clean architecture, long-term maintainability and practical delivery. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics from Swansea University and is a Member of the British Computer Society (MBCS).