Straight answers to the questions buyers ask

How much does it cost to build an MVP in 2026?

A focused, validation-ready MVP runs roughly $3,500 to $15,000 when scope is tight. Full products with payments, multiple roles, and integrations run higher. The biggest cost driver is scope, not hourly rates.

How long should an MVP take?

A scoped MVP can ship in about two weeks with a senior team and an AI-native workflow. If someone quotes three to six months for a first version, the scope is too big.

What does AI automation cost?

Most one-time automations land between $2,500 and $15,000, with optional monthly care from around $500. The hidden cost is per-task AI spend, which is why we design for low cost per task.

Should I use fixed price or time and materials?

Fixed price is best for well-scoped sprints, paired with weekly demos and a clear definition of done. Time and materials or a retainer fits open-ended work. Be wary of fixed price with no demos, since it rewards shipping fast over shipping well.

What is an MCP and why does it matter?

An MCP lets an AI assistant act inside your real tools and data, not just chat. It is how you move from AI that talks to AI that does the work, with a human in the loop.

How do you keep AI costs from blowing up?

Model and prompt tuning, caching, routing simpler tasks to cheaper models, and batching. We track a clear cost per task and per user so the bill stays predictable as you grow.

Do you do staff augmentation?

No. We are a product studio, not a staffing shop. You get a former CTO and senior engineers who own the outcome, not junior hands rented by the hour.

Who owns the code and IP?

You do, from day one, with clean handover and documentation.