Your insight. Our product team. One shared mission.
You do not need to be an engineer to start a serious software venture. You do need an acute problem, firsthand view of who suffers from it, and the commitment to help us validate and sell. We bring product strategy, UI/UX design, and production engineering to the table.
Operators with domain conviction
- ✓You know the problem firsthand or have daily access to the operators who do.
- ✓You can describe the makeshift workaround (messy spreadsheets, paper forms, WhatsApp chaos) people use right now.
- ✓You are eager to talk to customers, test assumptions, and make pragmatic trade-offs.
- ✓You can contribute domain expertise, customer distribution, or sustained operational leadership.
- ✓You want an active, equal co-founder partner—not a passive vendor.
Speculative or passive proposals
- ✕You expect guaranteed funding, grants, or a salary during initial validation.
- ✕You want software built in isolation without speaking to real users or running validation interviews.
- ✕You seek a passive royalty for an idea with no continued operational or sales involvement.
- ✕You are unwilling to execute formal legal contracts governing IP assignment, vesting, roles, and expenses.
What each partner brings to the table
- • Deep industry domain knowledge and technical vernacular
- • Direct access to first 20+ test customers and design partners
- • Customer interview scheduling and continuous feedback loop
- • Go-to-market distribution, sales calls, and pilot agreements
- • Long-term operational commitment to company growth
- • Discovery facilitation and hypothesis validation systems
- • Complete UI/UX design system and responsive interfaces
- • Senior full-stack architecture (frontend, APIs, databases)
- • Reusable hardened infrastructure (auth, schema, analytics)
- • Domain expert mentorship matching and cost architecture guidance
- • Go-to-market marketing playbooks & distribution strategy
- • Automated deployment, DNS, and launch playbooks
Clear ownership before code.
For accepted co-build partnerships, TBLLAB proposes a standard 50/50 equity starting point. Before substantive development begins, we sign a formal agreement that clearly defines:
Note: Submitting this form does not grant equity or create a legal partnership. Terms are finalized only after mutual due diligence and signed contracts.
From application to production launch
Apply with the Problem
Tell us who experiences the pain, what workarounds they use, and why current software falls short.
Fit & Discovery Call
We dig into customer access, urgency, domain dynamics, and founder commitment to ensure mutual alignment.
Evidence & Validation
We run rapid user interviews and test willingness to adopt or pay before writing production code.
Written Partnership Agreement
Scope, 50/50 equity structure, roles, IP assignment, vesting, cash expenses, and dispute terms are formally signed.
Sprint Build
We engineer the smallest useful product in 4-8 weeks using shared studio infrastructure.
Launch & Retention
Deploy to initial users, monitor telemetry, and iterate continuously on real customer feedback.
Common questions from prospective founders
No. You do not need to write code. You should deeply understand the problem, have observed it up close, or have meaningful access to the people who experience it every day. We look for domain knowledge, customer empathy, and active commitment—we provide the full product strategy, design, and engineering team.
No. We review every application for problem severity, customer pain, current workarounds, founder contribution, and technical feasibility. We only partner on ventures where there is compelling evidence that a focused software product can solve a genuine, repeated pain point.
50/50 is TBLLAB' proposed standard starting point for accepted co-build partnerships. The actual arrangement is documented in a signed agreement before development begins and accounts for specific responsibilities, pre-existing IP, ongoing time commitments, vesting schedules, dilution protections, and governance.
No. The application is solely an initial expression of interest. A binding partnership exists only after both sides have completed exploratory due diligence, aligned on terms, and executed formal written agreements.
IP ownership and licensing rights are established in the written agreement before substantive engineering begins. Typically, IP created for the venture belongs to the new venture entity, with appropriate protections for pre-existing founder knowledge and studio foundations.
Co-Build Applications Are Currently Paused
We are currently focused 100% on engineering and launching our active studio ventures. External founder applications and outside idea submissions are paused and will reopen in our next cohort.
Signups and idea submission gates will be announced soon. Explore our currently active products in the meantime.