For Bootstrapped Startups
Bootstrapped Is Different
When you're bootstrapped, you can't afford to build the wrong thing. You need to validate before you invest, ship fast, and iterate based on real user feedback. Every feature decision is a bet.
We've helped bootstrapped founders go from napkin sketch to acquisition. We've rebuilt platforms that couldn't find product-market fit. We've stabilized products that needed to demonstrate traction for fundraising.
Our Product Liftoff™ process is designed for this—4 weeks to validate your idea, create prototypes, and build a roadmap before you spend significant money on development.
I interviewed over 12 firms. What stood out was Shane's technical expertise—he came back with incredibly thoughtful questions about my needs and opportunities. He was also very candid about time and costs.
Bootstrapped Companies We've Helped
From idea to traction
TuneRegistry
Music rights management platform. Helped build MVP that validated the market opportunity.
UltraPress
E-commerce design tool. Grew from bootstrapped MVP to millions of users.
Village Parents
Peer learning platform. Rebuilt to find product-market fit.
Respect Your Runway
We're honest about costs.
No surprise invoices, no scope creep, no "that wasn't in the estimate." We'll tell you what's possible with your budget and what tradeoffs you're making. Fixed-price Product Liftoff™ gives you certainty before the expensive development starts.
We'd rather tell you we're not the right fit than take your money for something that won't succeed.
No Dependency
Built to hand off.
You might bring development in-house. You might raise money and hire a team. You might grow and stay with us. Whatever happens, the code we write is designed for whoever comes next.
Clean architecture, documentation, test coverage. No vendor lock-in, no proprietary frameworks, no dependencies on us.
ClearSummit is not cookie-cutter—they tailored their approach according to my project while keeping in line with initial expectations around budget, scope, and deadline.
How We Work
Product Liftoff™
4 weeks, fixed cost. We validate your idea, create prototypes, and build a development roadmap. You know exactly what you're building and what it costs before committing to full development.
Lean MVP Development
Focus on the features that test your core assumptions. Ship something users can touch within weeks, not months. Iterate based on real feedback.
Iterate or Pivot
User feedback tells you what to build next. We help you decide when to double down and when to pivot. No sunk cost fallacy—just honest assessment of what the data says.
Scale When Ready
When you've found product-market fit, we help you scale—whether that's with us, your own team, or a combination. The foundation supports growth.
Let's Validate Your Idea
Tell us what you're building. We'll give you an honest assessment of what it takes—and whether we're the right fit.