How We Work Together

Whether it's a defined project, an ongoing technology partnership, or strategic advisory — here's what working with us actually looks like.

Choose Your Engagement

Different problems need different relationships. The right model depends on your stage, your team, and what you're trying to accomplish.

Project-Based

Defined scope, timeline, and deliverables. Best for building something specific — an app, an integration, an automation.

Best for

Custom applications, system integrations, one-time automations

Process

Follows the full Discovery → Launch lifecycle above

Fractional CTO / Retainer

Ongoing technology partnership. We embed in your operations as your technical leader — available for strategy, implementation, and the decisions that can't wait until next sprint.

Best for

Growing companies who need senior technical leadership without a full-time executive hire

Process

Starts with Discovery, then shifts to continuous embedded engagement

Advisory

Lightweight, strategic check-ins. Architecture reviews, vendor evaluations, and a sounding board for technical decisions when you need an experienced perspective.

Best for

Teams with technical talent who need occasional senior guidance

Process

Scoped engagements with clear deliverables, typically 1-4 weeks

Project Lifecycle

For project-based and advisory engagements, here's how we move from idea to launch. Retainer partnerships follow a similar discovery phase, then shift to continuous collaboration.

01

Discovery

1-2 weeks

We start by understanding your problem, not just the feature request. Through conversations and research, we uncover the real needs — often different from the initial ask.

Stakeholder interviewsTechnical feasibility assessmentScope definitionInitial architecture thinking
02

Proposal & Agreement

3-5 days

Clear scope, timeline, and pricing. No surprises, no hidden fees. We define what success looks like and how we'll measure it together.

Detailed project proposalFixed-price or hourly estimateTimeline with milestonesClear scope boundaries
03

Design & Architecture

1-3 weeks

Planning before building. We design the system architecture, user flows, and technical approach. You'll see wireframes and prototypes before we write production code.

System architecture diagramWireframes & user flowsTechnical specificationDatabase & API design
04

Build & Iterate

Varies by project

Working software, regular check-ins. We build in focused sprints, sharing progress frequently. You see real functionality early and often — no big reveal at the end.

Working software incrementsWeekly progress demosContinuous deploymentIterative refinement
05

Launch & Handoff

1-2 weeks

Deployment, documentation, training. We don't just hand over code — we ensure you can run, maintain, and understand what we've built.

Production deploymentTechnical documentationUser trainingAdmin handoff
06

Evolve & Support

Ongoing

Software needs care. Whether it's a support retainer, continued development, or transitioning into a technology partnership — the relationship doesn't end at launch.

Bug fixes & maintenancePerformance monitoringFeature enhancementsPriority support access

What Working With Us Feels Like

We're async-first, honest-always, and built for founders and teams who are too busy for unnecessary process.

Clear, Proactive Communication

You get regular updates, walkthroughs, and answers before you have to ask. We keep you in the loop, adapt to your style, and make sure you always know where things stand — without endless meetings.

Weekly Progress Demos

Real working software, shown to you regularly. No disappearing for weeks — you see what's being built as it evolves.

Direct Access

Slack, email, or whatever you already use. You talk to the person doing the work, not an account manager.

Honest About Tradeoffs

We'll tell you when something isn't worth building, when a simpler solution exists, or when scope is creeping. No yes-manning.

Sound like a fit?

Whether you have a detailed spec or just a problem you haven't solved yet — the first conversation is always free, always honest, and never a hard sell.

Let's Talk Strategy