We’re the co-founder you’ve been looking for.
Let’s face it, startups are really difficult; most never even get off the ground. We are your experienced, technical co-founder who provides the expertise and connections to maximize your company’s chances of success.
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View AppMake no mistake: you are looking for co-founders.
Founders that spend large amounts of money on agencies to build a "perfect product" are left with a repository of code, a product that customers aren't satisfied with, and no one to help them figure out what's wrong and how to fix it. "Build it and they will come" simply doesn't work. You need long-term incentives.
Venture Studio | Junior Tech Co-Founder | Senior Tech Co-Founder | Development Agency | |
Pricing | ||||
MVP Development | $25K-$75K | $90K-$110K per year | $120K – $200K per year | $50K – $500K+ |
Long-term Development | $25K-$100K per year | $90K-$110K per year | $120K – $200K per year | N/ANo incentive! |
Equity | 20% - 30% | 20% - 50% | 20% - 50% | N/ANo incentive! |
Time-to-Market | Low | High | Medium | Low |
Risk | Low | High | Medium | High |
Development Experience | High | Low | High | High |
Long-term Involvement | High | High | High | Low |
Mentorship Network | Yes | No | No | No |
Go-to-Market Strategy | Yes | No | No | No |
Fundraising Experience | Yes | No | No | No |
Investor Network | Yes | No | No | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
We accept applications on a rolling basis to give everyone a chance to apply when they feel ready.
We try our best to respond to all applications quickly. But as you can imagine, reviewing decks and applications from a multitude of companies takes time. Please be patient while we look through your materials.
No, but you'll need to incorporate before moving ahead if you're accepted.
In general, no we won't sign an NDA. No investor would at such an early stage. That said, our Engagement Letter includes specific sections to fully protect your IP and confidentiality.
We do our best to explain our rationale when not accepting a company, but sometimes there just isn't a single clear reason. Given our model, we only work with an extremely limited number of companies at a time to make sure each one gets all the attention it requires.
Of course, that means that many companies are not accepted, and sometimes tough decisions need to be made on which ones to accept.
Of course, we welcome you to apply again if you were not accepted previously. Let us know how things have changed/progressed since the last time.
Absolutely. We work with both Pre-Seed and Post-Seed companies up to Series A funding. If you have already raised capital and are looking for help to scale, please check out our Post-Seed section or reach out directly.
As a Startup Innovation Lab (aka Venture Studio), we work with early-stage companies from Pre-Seed to Series A. For Pre-Seed companies, we invest and act as co-founders; for Post-Seed companies we act as early employees.
Yes. There's usually no reason that there can't be multiple products on the market in a particular space. We definitely won't share ideas or secrets between the competing companies, and we will provide both companies with all the attention they need to grow.
In general, yes. But that is not a requirement. Apply and we can discuss whether working together makes sense.
That's totally fine. We can still help you with additional development resources and by assisting with design, growth and scaling the team.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Each company we work with is different. If you are accepted, we will discuss your company's status and future roadmap in order to come to an agreement over investment and equity requirements.
It really depends. Anywhere from <1% to 35% depending on the team, company and stage.
Yes, but not right away and not in all of them. Because we typically get involved at such an early stage, we do not provide capital immediately. Instead we provide access to top quality development and growth at a fraction of the cost as well as many other benefits. However, once you have launched and go to raise a round, we may participate and invest at that stage.
Your company owns everything. We structure any development as work for hire and irrevocably assign copyrights and other claims to your company.
This is when the fun part begins. We'll work closely with you to monitor usage, collect feedback, do A / B testing, etc. to perfect your product and demonstrate some traction. Meanwhile, we'll prepare you to pitch to investors, hand-pick a selection of investors from our network, and start making introductions with the goal of raising funds.
As responsible founders, we hope you explore every avenue available to your company.
There are two main benefits of Startup Innovation Labs over web/app agencies. First is the cost factor: our startups receive access to high-end talent at a tiny fraction of the price an agency would charge. Second is the attention factor: we truly see ourselves as your co-founders and want to work together to make your company succeed. An agency completes the assigned project and that's the end. We're in it for the long-haul and provide access to many resources that an agency simply cannot, such as advice, mentors, a network of investors and accelerators, etc.