Here is a link to the script I'm running to have the trailing bots upvote everything I upvote. It is a little complicated if you aren't technical but it sounds like your buddy is in a similar boat as me. My focus was more Network admin stuff so I do some scripting but mainly I'm good at implementing other people's code more than reinventing the wheel.

This script can be challenging to implement and I had a few issues I had to resolve with it but it is working pretty solid right now.

https://steemit.com/radiator/@inertia/drdoogie-rb-vote-trail-bot-update

Again most of what I have set up right now is a little more of a test. The bots that I have trailing me aren't very powerful but eventually I want to supply more power to them and then let that power build up overtime. If they run for years and build curation rewards and also the price spikes I feel they could be worth something. Plus certain words or accounts could become worth money in the future as well. Check your comment and see the upvotes on it.