We Don’t Just Advise. We Build.

Starsong Consulting bridges the gap between strategy and execution. Most consultants either think strategically or build technically—we do both. Founded in January 2024 by Teal Bauer, we bring the rare combination of McKinsey strategic thinking with hands-on CTO/CPO experience.

We’ve written the code, architected the systems, led the teams, presented to boards, and navigated regulatory approvals. When we recommend a solution, it’s because we’ve implemented it ourselves. We don’t hand off strategy decks—we build alongside you.

The Story: From McKinsey to Startup CTO to Founder

Teal Bauer founded Starsong Consulting after 20+ years spanning elite consulting to startup technical leadership:

McKinsey & Company (2016-2020) - Experience Design Director and Digital Expert. Built McKinsey’s Product Engineering, Design, and Agile centers of excellence. Learned strategic thinking at the highest level while realizing that strategy without execution capability is just theory.

Startup CTO/CPO Roles (2020-2024) - Multiple interim leadership positions including CTO/CPO for medical device companies. Scaled teams, built products, shipped code, and navigated FDA/EMA compliance. Learned that execution without strategic thinking leads to technical debt and misalignment.

Starsong Consulting (2024-Present) - Bringing both worlds together. Strategy + Design + Engineering, integrated. Because transformation fails when strategy and execution live in different worlds.

What Makes Us Different

• 500%+ performance improvements delivered through hands-on optimization and architecture work
• Former McKinsey Experience Design Director - built centers of excellence, not just consulted
• Multiple CTO/CPO roles - actual C-level experience, not just advisory
• SaMD certification expertise - former interim CTO for medical device companies, FDA/EMA compliance
• Multilingual capabilities - Native English/German plus 5 other languages
• Academic background - Computational Linguistics (Universität des Saarlandes)

Leadership Development & Coaching

Our leadership coaching capability sets us apart. Through our partnership with Lena Reinhard, we address both the technical and human dimensions of digital transformation, helping leaders and teams navigate complex transformations with both strategic clarity and cultural alignment.

Our Philosophy: No Bullshit, Maximum Impact

We believe in:

• Honest assessment - We tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear
• Practical solutions - Every recommendation comes with an implementation path
• Knowledge transfer - We build your capabilities, not dependencies
• Measurable outcomes - Success is defined by business impact, not activity
• Sustainable change - Solutions that survive leadership changes and market shifts

Strategic Partnerships

We collaborate with best-in-class partners to deliver comprehensive solutions:

Philipps & Byrne - For technical due diligence, we partner with Philipps & Byrne, who bring 600+ assessments and €16B+ in funding guided. Their “No Bullshit” approach combined with Starsong Consulting’s strategic depth delivers honest, actionable insights for PE/VC investors.

Lena Reinhard - For organizational transformation and executive coaching, our partnership combines technical leadership expertise with organizational psychology. We address both the technical and human dimensions of change.

Deep Expertise Where It Matters

Healthcare & Digital Health

Former interim CTO/CPO for medical device companies. We navigate FDA/EMA compliance, MDR requirements, and HIPAA regulations while shipping products that work. Filling the gap left by Hanno’s wind-down in 2023 with specialized SaMD and digital therapeutics expertise.

Technical Due Diligence

In collaboration with Philipps & Byrne, we provide investment-grade technical assessments. Our combined approach: P&B’s proven DD methodology + Starsong Consulting’s hands-on CTO experience and McKinsey strategic background.

Fractional CTO Leadership

Part-time technical leadership for growth-stage companies. We’ve been CTOs and CPOs—we know what it takes to scale teams, build architecture, and present to boards. Strategic thinking meets hands-on execution.

Platform Engineering & Scale

We’ve delivered 500%+ performance improvements through architecture work and optimization. From startup MVP to enterprise-grade platforms. Not recommendations—actual working systems that scale.

The Journey Starts Here

Ready to explore how we can empower your digital transformation? Let’s connect.