How We Work

Flexible engagement, serious delivery

We back founders with technical execution and commercial structures that fit early-stage reality — from fixed-fee builds through to genuine equity-based partnership.

The gap we fill

Building an AI product is hard. Getting the right technical help is harder.

Generic agencies don't understand AI/LLM product architecture.
Freelancers build features, not products.
Full-time technical co-founders are rare and expensive to lose.
Nobody wants to hand over 30–40% equity just to get an MVP built.

Who we build for

Founders serious about shipping.

✓Pre-seed and bootstrapped founders who need a working MVP, not a slide deck.
✓Non-technical founders who need a real technical partner, not just a contractor.
✓Early-stage teams that need AI features built properly — not bolted on.
✓Founders open to a partner invested in the outcome, not just the invoice.

Engagement models

Five ways we can work together

We offer a range of commercial structures so founders at every stage can access serious technical delivery — from straightforward fixed-fee builds through to genuine equity-based technical partnership.

Model 01

Fixed Fee

Set price for a defined scope. Clear scope, clear price, clear delivery date.

No equity, no ongoing obligation
Best for funded founders and defined feature builds
Straightforward vendor relationship

Model 02

Fixed Fee + Equity Kicker

Near-market rate for the build, plus a small equity stake (0.5–3%) as a long-term relationship.

Full delivery at a fair price
Small stake because we believe in what you're building
Best for funded founders who still want us invested

Model 03

Reduced Fee + Meaningful Equity

Discounted rate in exchange for a real equity stake (3–10%), sized to the value we're giving up.

Priced transparently — market rate vs. what you pay vs. the equity gap
Standard vesting (typically 4 years, 1-year cliff)
Best for pre-seed founders with a credible idea and limited cash

Model 04

Deferred Fee / Equity-for-MVP

We build your MVP for little to no upfront cost in exchange for a larger equity stake (10–25%), acting as a technical co-founder for the build.

Reserved for ventures we're genuinely excited about
Proper founders' agreement and vesting schedule
Best for strong founding teams pre-funding, high-conviction ideas

Model 05

Retainer + Equity (Fractional CTO)

Monthly retainer plus a small-to-moderate equity stake for founders who need ongoing technical leadership.

Defined monthly hours and scope
Equity reflects long-term involvement, revisited at agreed intervals
Best for founders post-MVP needing ongoing technical direction

Not sure which fits? Tell us about your project on the contact form and we'll suggest the structure that best matches your stage.

How we work

Discovery, build, launch — with commercials that fit your stage.

Scope with clarity

Build with discipline

Launch and iterate

NovaPath Studios is a founder-led technical studio that partners with early-stage founders to design, build, and launch AI-native products — from MVP through production.

We're the team behind ScopePilot, an AI SaaS live with paying customers. That means the patterns we bring — LLM orchestration, billing, auth, and clean product architecture — are ones we've shipped, not read about.

We take on a small number of founder engagements at a time. When we take one on, it gets our attention — founder-led, direct, and structured for a real launch.

Shipped

Live products, paying users

Focused

AI, SaaS, and product MVPs

Aligned

Cash, equity, or a mix

We ship our own products

ScopePilot is live with paying customers — we're not learning AI product work on your dime.

Straight technical execution

React, TypeScript, Supabase, Claude/OpenAI APIs, Stripe. Modern stack, no experiments on your build.

Founder-led delivery

You work directly with the person writing the code. No handoffs, no account managers.

Commercials that fit your stage

Fixed fee, fixed fee + equity, or deferred fee — matched to your cash position and stage.

Contact

Tell us what you're building

Send us a short outline of your product, your stage, and how you'd like to work together. If it's a fit, we'll follow up with next steps within a few working days.