Discovery
Technical discovery
2-week paid scoping engagement.
$2,499
USD · one-time · credited against build
- Stakeholder interviews + workflow audit
- Tech & integration architecture
- Build vs. buy recommendation
- Fixed-fee build estimate
Custom software & internal tools
Build the tools your team stopped duct-taping.
Custom software, internal tools, integrations, and apps that close the gap between your spreadsheets and your customers. Production-grade engineering, full source code ownership.
We built our own internal platform, El Dugout, replacing 6 paid SaaS tools. Same approach we bring to client work.
Best for
- Operations teams running on 7 spreadsheets and 3 Slack threads
- Founders validating an MVP that needs to actually work in 6 weeks
- PyMEs whose customer-facing app contradicts their CRM
- Companies tired of paying for SaaS that doesn't fit how they work
The problem we usually walk into
Off-the-shelf tools that don't fit, plus monthly bills that do.
Most operations problems aren't really tool problems. They're integration problems: data lives in one system, decisions get made in another, and a third tool sends the email. Adding a fourth SaaS to the stack rarely fixes it.
Custom development isn't always the right call, but when it is, it pays back in clarity, speed, and a tool that adapts to your team instead of the other way around.
What changes
Outcomes we sell.
01 · One source of truth
Customer, project, payment, document data live in one place, even if it integrates with five other systems.
02 · Hours back per week
Manual reports, copy-pasting between tools, "I'll check and get back to you", replaced by workflows your team trusts.
03 · Lower SaaS spend
When custom replaces 4–6 subscriptions, the math often pays back in 12–18 months, and you own the asset.
04 · Production-grade quality
Tested, documented, deployed with CI. Not a "vibe-coded prototype" handed off as production.
05 · No vendor lock-in
Source code, infrastructure access, and documentation are yours. Bring in another team if you ever need to.
Tech stack
Battle-tested. Boring on purpose.
We pick stacks that scale and that other developers can pick up. The same families that companies like Airbnb, Stripe, and Shopify use.
Frontend & mobile
React · Next.js · Vue · Swift · Kotlin · React Native · Tailwind
Backend & APIs
Node.js · Python · PHP · Express · Laravel · Supabase
Data & cloud
PostgreSQL · MySQL · MongoDB · AWS · Docker · Git / GitHub
AI & integrations
OpenAI · Claude · Groq · Stripe · HubSpot · Zapier · Make
Proof
El Dugout, our internal platform, built in 6 weeks.
9 modules: Kanban, Gantt, encrypted vault, document signing, wiki, social planner, smart calendar, reports, OKRs. Replaced 6 SaaS subscriptions ($240/month). Zero vendor lock-in. Same approach we bring to client engagements.
Read the El Dugout case study$2,880
saved per year
9
tools consolidated
6 wks
canvas to production
"From 6 paid tools to one custom platform, owned, scoped to how the team actually works."
Scope & pricing
Engagements scoped per project, hourly rate transparent.
MVP
MVP build
Production-grade in 6–10 weeks.
from $12,999
USD · fixed price after discovery
- Web app, internal tool, or admin portal
- Auth, role-based access, audit log
- Production deployment + monitoring
- Source code + 30-day support
Platform
Custom platform
Multi-module, multi-team systems.
custom
USD · scoped per scope & complexity
- Multi-module like El Dugout
- Mobile + web in one program
- Long-term roadmap & retainer
- Dedicated PM / lead engineer
Hourly rate for change requests after handoff: $95 USD/hour. Maintenance available, see Maintenance.
Buyer questions
Before you sign on.
Who owns the source code?
You do. We hand over the repo, infrastructure access, and a written handoff doc. No vendor lock-in. You can hire any developer to maintain it after.
How do you decide what to build vs. what to buy?
Discovery answers this. If a SaaS solves 80%+ of the problem and integrates well, we recommend buying. Custom only when the off-the-shelf option creates more drag than it removes, or when the data needs to stay in your hands.
Do you support what you build?
30 days of support included with every build. After that, you can self-manage, hire your own dev, or stay on with a Maintenance retainer.
What about AI features?
We build AI-augmented features (LLM workflows, RAG, automated summaries) when they actually solve the problem better than non-AI logic. We don't sprinkle AI on a project to make it sound modern.
Can you take over a project mid-build?
Yes, with a paid technical due-diligence sprint first. We've stepped in for stuck projects, we'll only proceed if there's a clean path forward.
Next step