--- title: "CTO · Founder · technical director - José DA COSTA" description: "Software publishing company managing 260 multilingual websites across 15 languages and 5 countries. Monetized through SEO and affiliate marketing, generating 500K EUR net profit. Started at age 18." locale: "en" canonical: "https://portfolio.josedacosta.info/en/journey/cto-founder-technical-director-celiane" source: "https://portfolio.josedacosta.info/en/journey/cto-founder-technical-director-celiane.md" html_source: "https://portfolio.josedacosta.info/en/journey/cto-founder-technical-director-celiane" author: "José DA COSTA" type: "journey" slug: "cto-founder-technical-director-celiane" generated_at: "2026-04-23T15:45:29.353Z" --- # CTO · Founder · technical director **Organization:** Celiane **Period:** 1999-01 - 2007-12 **Type:** entrepreneurship **Status:** Entrepreneur **Role:** CTO & Founder ## Company vision Celiane was **my school as an entrepreneur and self-taught technician**. For 9 years, alone at the helm, I learned everything through practice: web development, system administration, SEO, affiliate marketing, project management, offshore collaboration. This is where I built my ability to **absorb a heavy workload** and deliver concrete results without a structured team. Reverse engineering search engine algorithms taught me advanced statistical analysis, test and learn methodology, behavioral analysis of search engines, ranking signal analysis, vulnerability detection, and rigor in experimentation. The adventure ended in 2006-2007 when Google penalized content farms, making the business model obsolete. This experience taught me above all that **technical success without market adaptation is not enough**, and that **the ability to pivot is just as important as the ability to build**. ## Overview Software publishing company managing 260 multilingual websites across 15 languages and 5 countries. Monetized through SEO and affiliate marketing, generating 500K EUR net profit. Started at age 18. - 260 websites, 15 languages, top 5 affiliate by monthly revenue - Built a custom CMS generating millions of web pages - Reverse-engineered search engine ranking algorithms for SEO ## Competencies (20) - **SEO, SEM & SERP Optimization** (confidence 5/5) _(technical)_: SEO, SEM and SERP analysis. France TOP 10 Carpediem affiliates, PageRank 5-6/10, 0.1-1% conversion rate. Organic search strategies across 260 multilingual websites (15 languages, 5 countries). - **Reverse Engineering** (confidence 4/5) _(technical)_: Reverse engineering of Google, MSN and Voila.fr ranking algorithms. Custom algorithms to analyze the weight of each HTML element in SERP ranking. Advanced statistical analysis of ranking signals and algorithmic vulnerability detection. - **Fullstack Development** (confidence 3/5) _(technical)_: Built and maintained 260 websites from scratch in PHP/HTML/CSS/MySQL, including a custom CMS (WSG), scraping algorithms, automated content generation and e-commerce modules (MaxiCoffee). - **System Architecture** (confidence 2/5) _(technical)_: Designed the WSG (Web Site Generator) architecture capable of generating millions of pages, scraping systems, SEO analysis databases and automated submission tools. - **JavaScript Programming** (confidence 2/5) _(technical)_: JavaScript for interactivity across the 260-website network, form validation, DOM manipulation for affiliate modules. - **Algorithms and Complexity** (confidence 4/5) _(technical)_: Scraping algorithms, captcha cracking by pattern recognition and automated content generation (spinning). - **Databases** (confidence 2/5) _(technical)_: MySQL database design, SQL queries, basic administration. - **System Administration** (confidence 1/5) _(technical)_: Web server administration, Apache configuration, hosting management. - **Network Infrastructure Design and Management** (confidence 1/5) _(technical)_: Basic network configuration, domain name and hosting management. - **Scripting and Automation** (confidence 1/5) _(technical)_: First automation scripts, basic crontab usage. - **Network Security** (confidence 1/5) _(technical)_: Network security basics, SSL certificates, basic firewall configuration. - **Leadership and Management** (confidence 2/5) _(soft)_: Managing entrepreneurial activity, coordinating occasional subcontractors. - **Problem Solving** (confidence 2/5) _(soft)_: Self-taught technical problem solving, learning by doing. - **Adaptability and Learning Agility** (confidence 3/5) _(soft)_: Self-taught web development learning, steady progression over 8 years. - **Project Management** (confidence 2/5) _(soft)_: End-to-end client project management, estimation, delivery, and support. - **Stakeholder Management** (confidence 2/5) _(soft)_: Direct client interaction, requirements gathering and expectation management. - **Communication and Collaboration** (confidence 2/5) _(soft)_: Client communication, presenting technical solutions in plain language. - **Business Strategy** (confidence 4/5) _(soft)_: Launching and growing a web services business, commercial positioning. - **Budget and Financial Management** (confidence 2/5) _(soft)_: Company financial management, invoicing and payment tracking. - **Data-Driven Decision Making** (confidence 1/5) _(soft)_: Basic analysis of traffic statistics and commercial results. ## Missions - Design, development and management of a network of 260 multilingual websites (15 languages, 5 countries) - Ultra-advanced SEO strategy: reverse engineering of Google, MSN and Voila.fr algorithms, with custom algorithms to analyze the weight of each HTML element in SERP ranking - Affiliate marketing: France's TOP 10 affiliates (Carpediem and other major networks), top 5 by monthly revenue - Internal tool development: custom CMS (generator of millions of pages), scraping algorithms, automated content generation, sector-specific SEO analysis - Server infrastructure management: Linux/Debian administration, Apache, DNS (BIND), Postfix (SMTP), with advanced proxy distribution and IP rotation techniques - Coordination of offshore resources (India, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania) - Web and SEO agency activity for external clients (Cortix, Systonic, MaxiCoffee.fr and others) - Web development and SEO training for clients and partners ## Agency Clients #### Cortix **Description:** SEO management of a portfolio of nearly 100 websites. Audit, technical optimization and search engine ranking monitoring. **Name:** Cortix #### Maxicoffee **Description:** E-commerce module development for MaxiCoffee.fr (MaxiBay): cross-selling similar products, flash sales, promo packs, tax-free purchases, order processing, Google AdWords campaign analytics, check and bank transfer payment. **Name:** MaxiCoffee.fr (MaxiBay) #### Systonic **Description:** SEO management of multiple websites. SEO strategy, on-page optimization and performance tracking. **Name:** Systonic #### Others **Description:** Multiple clients across various sectors: tourism, e-commerce, services, music. Website design, SEO and digital strategy consulting. **Name:** Other clients **Company Presentation:** Celiane was a company started in 1999 then officially created in 2001 in Merignac (Bordeaux, France), specialized in **software publishing** and website management. The core activity was a network of **260 multilingual websites** (15 languages, 5 countries), **monetized through affiliate marketing and SEO**. The company also developed a Web and SEO agency business for external clients, as well as training services. ## Internal Projects - WSG (Web Site Generator): custom CMS/WYSIWYG co-created with my associate Laurent, enabling the generation and management of millions of web pages - Advanced captcha cracking algorithms using pattern recognition (statistical analysis, without neural networks) - Automated mass SEO submission systems on search engines and directories - Sector-specific SEO analysis databases (precursor equivalent of Semrush/Ahrefs, with algorithm weight criteria analysis) - Large-scale scraping and data collection algorithms - Automated content generation algorithms (rephrasing, synonyms, spinning - precursor to modern NLP) ## Positioning Founder and director of the company, I worked alongside my salaried associate Laurent. I held **all leadership roles**: lead developer, system administrator, SEO specialist, project manager, sales and trainer. **The entire technical and strategic scope rested on my shoulders**: from website and internal tool development to server administration, through SEO strategy and affiliate management. Laurent and I co-built the internal tools, notably the **WSG (Web Site Generator)**. We collaborated with **offshore resources** (India, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania). I considered relocating to India to reduce development costs: several trips were made to New Delhi followed by a full tour of India, but I ultimately chose to stay in France for logistical, cultural and quality of life reasons. In parallel, I developed a Web and SEO agency activity for external clients, and also provided training. ## Sectors - Software publishing - Affiliate & digital marketing - E-commerce - Travel ticketing - Hotel booking - Casino & online gambling - Mobile ringtones - Radio streaming - Tourism - Music - Adult entertainment - Food & beverage (coffee) - Web hosting - Services & consulting - Web & SEO training **Vision:** This entrepreneurial adventure started at age 18 shaped me as a developer, system architect and business leader. Managing 260 websites, dedicated servers and advanced algorithms alone gave me a technical mastery and autonomy that few traditional professional experiences could have provided at that age. Full interactive version with timeline navigation: https://portfolio.josedacosta.info/en/journey/cto-founder-technical-director-celiane