We act as your technical team from day one. With CTO-as-a-Service, a senior Euristiq architect makes technical decisions with you. Discovery turns the idea into a scoped plan, a PoC tests the riskiest assumption, and the MVP puts the product in front of users. We explain every technical decision in business terms, so you stay in control of the product.
Software Development for Startups
Euristiq provides software development services for startups, from PoC to a market-ready product for real users and growth. Senior teams of 3-4 engineers help you decide what to build first, deliver working software in the second week and keep you focused on what develops your business.
Software development
for startups at every stage
The software development help you need depends on two things: how far your product has come and who on your team makes technical decisions. Find your starting point below.
Custom software development services for startups
From the first proof of concept to a product used by real customers, our team stays with you and fills the engineering gaps you have at each stage, covering the entire product lifecycle.
Validate
Check that the idea and the technology work before you commit the full budget.
Product discovery
Turn an idea into a defined scope, architecture and estimate before development starts. You will know what you are building, what it will cost and why each feature is in the first release.
PoC development
Test whether the core idea or technology works before committing the full budget. A PoC answers one technical or business question and usually takes 2-4 weeks.
CTO-as-a-Service
Get senior technical leadership without hiring a full-time CTO. An experienced Euristiq architect makes the technology decisions with you, from tech stack and architecture to team setup and release planning, and keeps them aligned with your business goals as your product grows.
Launch
Put a first working product in front of real users.
UI/UX design
Design the product experience before development starts: user flows, wireframes and clickable prototypes you can test with users, then a UI your developers can build from.
MVP development
Launch the smallest version of your product that real users can use and pay for. To develop MVPs typically take 6-12 weeks, plus additional 6 weeks to the first production release.
Grow
Turn a validated MVP into a complete product.
Product development
Develop a validated MVP into a complete product: new features, integrations, payments, admin tools and an architecture that supports more users. Product development runs 3-12+ months, depending on scope.
AI development
Add AI features, such as conversational assistants and document processing, to your product or build an AI-first product from scratch. Euristiq, having the AWS AI Services competency, can help you with any AI endeavor for your startup.
Scale
Keep the product fast, stable and affordable to run as usage grows.
Cloud and DevOps
Set up cloud infrastructure, CI/CD and monitoring from the start, so you can keep fast releases and predictable hosting costs as the number of users grows. Having the AWS DevOps Consulting and Cloud Operations competencies, Euristiq is the expert partner you are looking for.
Code audit and refactoring
Take over a codebase written by a startup founder, freelancer or previous vendor. We find what slows development and fix it while the product keeps running.
Post-launch support
Keep the product stable and improving after launch for a fixed price per month.
CASE STUDIES
Startups we have built software with
Multi-tenant wealth management platform
Multi-tenant wealth management platform
Mozaiik needed a multi-tenant SaaS MVP ready in time for pending tax and estate-planning deadlines, with enterprise-grade security built in from day one. Euristiq delivered the platform in a few months of AI-native development instead of the year originally estimated.
40%+
development costs saved
through AI-native delivery
$150K+
annual savings
for firms switching from US-built platforms that do not handle Canadian tax rules
Construction budgeting software
Construction budgeting software
Vamest came to us with a raw idea for pre-construction budgeting and forecasting. In four months, we built a market-ready subscription web app on AWS with Stripe payments, now available to the public.
Market-ready product in 4 months
Commercial real estate lending marketplace
Commercial real estate lending marketplace
FundRe set out to bring visibility to Europe’s private commercial real estate debt market, where deals lived in spreadsheets, email chains and personal introductions. We built a cloud platform from scratch that automatically matches sponsors and debt advisors with lenders based on each lender’s criteria.
Under a year
from idea to a fully operating platform
3
user roles in one matching workflow
No direct analog
in the European market at launch
Business travel management app
Business travel management app
The founders needed a development partner to take a business travel management app from an early idea to a product teams would actually use. Two Euristiq engineers worked embedded with their team through an Alpha → Beta → MVP cycle, delivering a full UI/UX redesign, automated expense tracking with OpenAI models and a GPT-powered chatbot on a secure AWS foundation.
5
corporate clients
onboarded during the MVP stage
< 12
months
from early idea to MVP
2 out of 3
engineers
on the build team from Euristiq
Software for CBD oil extraction appliance
Software for CBD oil extraction appliance
Drizzle’s founder had written most of the device software for Merlin400, and technical debt was slowing development. We refactored the Python codebase running on Raspberry Pi so the product could keep evolving.
What startup founders say about working with Euristiq
Euristiq has delivered a working MVP faster than originally estimated and within a cost-efficient development process. They’ve combined strong technical expertise with a real understanding of the business problem. The platform has also moved us from an early concept to a secure and scalable product with a clear path toward commercialization.
For me, it wasn’t just the amount of output but the quality of it. We accomplished more in less than a year than I’ve seen done in many years at other companies. Considering that 2 out of the 3 engineers were from Euristiq, much of that success is thanks to them – their tireless effort and their ability to deliver well-structured, high-quality code.
How to start working with us
01
Book a call
Tell us about your idea, your stage and your timeline.
02
Sign an NDA
We sign an NDA before you share the details of your product.
03
Agree on the plan
We agree on the scope and sign a contract that gives you full ownership of the code.
Our software development process for startups
Each step ends with something you can test or show: a scope, a prototype or a working release. You see progress early on and decide what comes next based on real data. We start project development within 2 weeks after the contract is signed.
01
Discover
We study the market and business model, find the riskiest assumptions and define what the first version must do.
02
Decide
Together we choose the scope, tech stack and engagement model, and agree on budget and milestones before development starts.
03
Design
We design the user experience and architecture for the first release, with room to grow once the product gains traction.
04
Deliver
Senior engineers build in short iterations. The average time to the first production release on MVPs is 6 weeks.
How much does software development for startups cost?
The cost depends on what you need to prove at each stage. Starting with the smallest step that answers your biggest question protects your runway. Prices below are starting points; the final estimate is given after discovery.
Workshop
up to 4 hours
FREE
Book a workshop What you get
Identification of high-impact actions for your business
PoC
2-4 weeks
from $15,000 USD
Request proposal What you get
An answer to one technical or business question
Product development
3-12+ months
from $50,000 USD
Request proposal What you get
A complete product built to scale
Outsourcing software development for startups: benefits working with Euristiq
Accurate scoping
Discovery defines the scope, requirements and estimate before development starts, so the budget is based on real requirements.
Change management
Every scope change goes through a change management procedure, so you agree on its effect on budget and timeline before work begins.
Your code, your IP
We sign an NDA before you share your idea. Full code ownership is written into the service agreement.
Senior teams
Teams of 3-4 senior engineers, compared with the 6-8 typical elsewhere.
Certified security
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, PIPEDA-compliant delivery and an AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner.
Fast start
Work starts within 2 weeks after the contract is signed.
Looking for a tech partner for your startup?
The right partner should tick every box: experience taking products from idea to paying users, senior engineers who make technical decisions, clear terms on cost, scope and code ownership, and a partnership that continues after launch.
Why startups choose Euristiq
A tech partner that moves at startup speed
You see working software from week two, and our MVPs reach their first production release in a median of 6 weeks. No CTO yet? With CTO-as-a-Service, a senior Euristiq architect makes the technical decisions with you from day one. Everything we build is yours: we sign an NDA before you share your idea, and full code ownership is written into the service agreement.
Rated by the clients we build with
ISO: Security at its core
At the startup stage, your product idea is your biggest asset. Euristiq is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, so every project, from a two-week PoC to a full product, follows the same certified security procedures. Our delivery is also PIPEDA-compliant. When your first enterprise customer sends a security questionnaire, you’ll know your product was built on secure foundations.
AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner
AWS recognizes Euristiq as an Advanced Tier Services Partner, with competencies in AI Services, DevOps Consulting and Cloud Operations. For a startup, that means your MVP runs on an architecture that follows AWS best practices from the first release. It’s built to grow with your users and keep hosting costs predictable as usage increases.
FAQ
How should a startup approach software development?
Prove the riskiest assumption first, then build. Discovery defines the problem and scope, a proof of concept tests whether the core idea works, and an MVP puts a usable product in front of real users. Release in short cycles, measure what users do and invest in scaling once the product shows traction.
How do I choose a software development company for my startup?
Look for experience with early-stage products, a senior team you can meet before signing, transparent pricing tied to scope, clear terms on code and IP ownership, and working hours that overlap with yours. Ask for case studies from startups at your stage and speak with the people who will build your product.
What software development services does a startup need?
It depends on the stage. Before development, discovery and a proof of concept reduce the risk of building the wrong thing. To launch, you need MVP development: design, engineering and QA. After launch, product development, cloud and DevOps, and support keep the product growing. Many startups add AI features at this stage.
How much does software development cost for a startup?
At Euristiq, a proof of concept starts from $15,000, an MVP from $25,000 and product development from $50,000 (USD). The final price depends on scope, integrations and team size, and is set after discovery.
How long does it take to build an MVP?
MVPs usually take 6-12 weeks. On Euristiq MVP projects, the median time to the first production release is 6 weeks, and you see working software from week two.
What is the best tech stack for a startup SaaS?
No single stack fits every product. Choose one your future team can hire for, that gets you to market quickly and that your cloud provider supports well.
When should startups hire a product team?
Usually once an MVP shows user traction and the roadmap outgrows what one or two builders can ship. A product team of a product manager, designer, engineers and QA lets you run discovery and delivery in parallel. Hiring takes time, so many startups start with a partner pod and build an in-house team gradually.
Who owns the code and intellectual property?
You do. Full ownership of the code is written into the service agreement, and we sign an NDA before you share the details of your idea.
How do you handle changes in scope?
Through Euristiq’s change management procedure. Before a change goes ahead, you see how it affects budget and timeline and decide whether to proceed.
Do you work with non-technical founders?
Yes. With CTO-as-a-Service, a senior Euristiq architect leads the technical side, from architecture to releases, and explains each decision in business terms so you can make product decisions with confidence.
What is the difference between a PoC, a prototype and an MVP?
A proof of concept tests whether an idea or technology works. A prototype shows how the product will look and feel, usually without full functionality. An MVP is the first working version real users can use, built to learn what they value before you invest in the full product.
Can you take over code written by another team or by the founder?
Yes. Drizzle’s founder had written most of the code, and technical debt was slowing development. We refactored it so the product could keep growing.
Do you sign an NDA?
Yes. After you book a call, we sign an NDA before you share the details of your product.
