The People Behind Forge Lab

A team of founders, engineers, designers, and strategists who've built and scaled companies from the ground up.

Erik Bogaard

Founder & CEO

MIT Sloan Fellow '27 5x Founder 6 US Patents $150M+ Generated

Sole inventor on 6 issued US patents for advancements in mobile and internet payments technology—including PIN-based, password-free online checkout now used by two ~$100B companies.

15+ years experience founding companies, developing custom software, building teams, and overseeing business operations. Erik has led product and technology development for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 10 leaders, helping executives and engineering teams build highly complex platforms from scratch with shoestring budgets.

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Patent Holder

Invented hands-free in-store checkout and password-free online payments in 2011

MIT Sloan Fellow

Accepted into prestigious Sloan Fellows program at one of the world's top business schools

Proven Track Record

Generated over $150M+ for clients across fintech, education, healthcare, and retail

Meet the Team

Experts across engineering, design, and strategy working together to deliver exceptional results

Solutions Architect

Andrew Bogaard

Head of Engineering

MD/PhD from University of Washington with postdoctoral research in neuroprosthetics at EPFL and Wyss Center. A rare scientist-turned-engineer who brings rigorous analytical thinking to complex software challenges.

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Business Development

Robbie Thomson

Projects, Products, Partnerships

Entertainment industry veteran who produced for Netflix, HBO Max, and National Geographic. Expert at managing cross-functional teams and creating partnerships that move all parties forward.

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eCommerce & Integrations

Steve Bien-Aime

Senior Software Consultant & Lead Engineer

E-commerce specialist and founder of People Like Software. Expert in Magento, NetSuite, HubSpot, and Stripe integrations with a passion for helping businesses scale their online operations.

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React & AI Development

Herman Bakanin

Full Stack Developer

Full-stack developer specializing in React, FlutterFlow, Xano, and AI/vector technologies. International experience spanning Ukraine, Canada, and Spain with expertise in e-commerce optimization.

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User & Interface Design

Yevhenii Kuzmin

Lead UX/UI Designer

4+ years crafting intuitive interfaces at Forge Lab. Expert in Figma and After Effects with a portfolio spanning mobile, tablet, and desktop experiences. Meticulous attention to detail and user-centered approach.

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Full-Stack Development

Jean-Philippe Trinh

Low-Code Expert & Web Designer

WeWeb specialist with 5+ years of experience building custom web applications without traditional code. Expert in Figma, UX/UI design, and creating intuitive user experiences from concept to launch.

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Automation & Implementation

Róbert Hošták

Full Stack Developer

Finance and automation professional with expertise in SQL, Python, and JavaScript. Passionate about solving problems and making ideas happen. Experience consulting startups and building scalable solutions around the world.

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