I’m Zak DeBrine, a software engineer and founder who builds products where technology meets real-world behavior. I’ve spent the last decade shipping across consumer, e-commerce, and SaaS, blending strong front-end craft with full-stack execution to turn ideas into products people actually use.
Today I’m building and documenting in public. I run Mernin’ Coffee, a playful challenger brand on a mission to turn passive coffee drinkers into curious explorers, and I build the systems behind it - from conversion-focused Shopify experiences to the operational tooling that makes a modern DTC business run. In parallel, I’m exploring what AI unlocks for small teams: faster iteration loops, clearer decision-making, and better product experiences when you treat software as a collaborator, not just a tool.
My approach is simple: talk to users early, ship the smallest version that teaches you something, measure what matters, and iterate relentlessly. I’m valuable because I’m not just technical or just strategic - I’m the rare combo that can design the plan, build the product, and tell the story in a way that attracts customers, collaborators, and momentum.
Expertise
Frontend + UI engineeringFull-stackShopifyWordpressTracking + technical marketing implementationProduct strategy + executionUser empathy + positioningIdeationEntrepreneurship + company buildingDTC e-commerceAudience building + content-led growthContent creation and storytellingCOGS modeling + unit economicsCPGPartnerships and community buildingHigh autonomy, strong follow-through
