Engagement Models

Stop Guessing. Start Shipping AI That Works.

These engagement models wrap any product line — workflows, apps, or managed web. Three proven paths with clear scope, gate-based payments, and full ownership of everything we build.

200+
Projects Delivered
12
Industries Served
4x
Avg Client ROI
Three Clear Paths

Pick the Engagement That Fits

Every company is in a different place with AI. We've designed three tiers so you get exactly the right level of support — no more, no less.

Discovery

AI Discovery Sprint

Know Exactly Where AI Fits — in 4 Weeks

Most companies waste months debating where to start with AI. The Discovery Sprint gives you a clear, prioritized roadmap in four weeks — so you can move forward with confidence instead of guesswork.

Assessment

AI Readiness Assessment

We audit your data infrastructure, workflows, team capabilities, and existing tools. You get an honest picture of what's possible today and what needs to change.

Mapping

Opportunity Mapping

We identify the 5-10 highest-impact AI opportunities in your business, ranked by ROI, feasibility, and time-to-value. No generic lists — these are specific to your operations.

Roadmap

Prioritized Roadmap

A phased implementation plan with clear milestones, tech stack recommendations, resource requirements, and realistic timelines. Ready to hand to your board or your engineering team.

ROI

Cost & ROI Model

Before-and-after projections for each opportunity. You'll know exactly what to expect in terms of cost savings, efficiency gains, and revenue impact.

Leadership

Fractional Chief AI Officer

Senior AI Leadership Without the $400K Hire

You get a seasoned AI leader embedded in your organization 10-20 hours per week. They run monthly strategy sessions, evaluate vendors, coach your team, and make sure every AI initiative connects to business outcomes — not just technical novelty.

Strategy

Monthly Strategy Sessions

Regular deep-dives with your leadership team to review progress, adjust priorities, and plan the next phase of AI adoption across the organization.

Evaluation

Vendor & Tool Evaluation

Independent assessment of AI tools, platforms, and vendors. We recommend what to buy, what to build, and what to skip — with no vendor kickbacks.

Coaching

Team Coaching & Upskilling

Hands-on training for your technical and non-technical teams. We build internal AI fluency so you can eventually run this without us.

Oversight

Implementation Oversight

We oversee your internal AI builds or third-party implementations to make sure they're on track, on budget, and actually solving the right problems.

Governance

Risk & Governance

AI policy frameworks, compliance guidance, and risk assessments tailored to your industry. Stay ahead of regulation without slowing down.

Transition

Hiring & Transition Plan

When you're ready to bring AI leadership in-house, we help you write the job description, evaluate candidates, and transition knowledge.

Transformation

AI Transformation Program

From Strategy Through Deployment — You Own Everything

Full-scale AI implementation with phased milestones and gate-based payments. We build custom AI systems, deploy them into your environment, train your team, and hand over complete ownership. No vendor lock-in. No recurring platform fees.

Build

Custom AI Application Development

We build the apps, agents, and automations your business needs — designed for your workflows, deployed on your infrastructure, owned by you.

Replace

SaaS Replacement

We audit your current SaaS stack, identify tools we can replace with custom-built AI, and deliver solutions you own for less than your current monthly bills.

Gates

Phased Delivery & Gate Payments

Work is broken into clear phases with defined deliverables. 10% upfront, 90% released at milestone gates. You approve each phase before the next begins.

Training

Team Training & Knowledge Transfer

Your team is trained to maintain, extend, and operate everything we build. Full documentation, runbooks, and hands-on workshops included.

We've Seen It All

Wherever You Are, We've Helped Companies Like Yours

Before you talk to us, you should already trust us. Here's how we handle the three most common situations we see.

Tried It In-House

"We built something, but nobody uses it."

Most internal AI projects fail because they solve a technology problem instead of a business problem. We audit what you have, figure out what's actually blocking adoption, and either fix it or replace it with something your team will use every day.

Got Burned by an Agency

"We spent six figures and got a demo."

Gate-based payments exist because of stories like yours. You pay 10% upfront and release the rest only when milestones are delivered and approved. Every deliverable is defined in advance. If we don't deliver, you don't pay.

Haven't Started Yet

"We know we need AI, but we don't know where to begin."

That's exactly what the Discovery Sprint is for. In four weeks you'll have a clear roadmap with prioritized opportunities, realistic costs, and a step-by-step plan. No commitment beyond the sprint — and you'll finally have the clarity to move forward.

How It Works

From First Call to Full Ownership

Every engagement follows the same transparent process. You always know what's happening, what's next, and what it costs.

Share Your Situation
Book a 30-minute call. Tell us what you've tried, what's broken, and where you want to go. No pitch deck required — just an honest conversation.
1
Get a Clear Diagnosis
Within one week we deliver a written assessment of your AI readiness, the highest-impact opportunities, and a recommended engagement path. Free, no obligation.
2
Pick Your Path
Choose the tier that fits: a focused Discovery Sprint, ongoing Fractional CAIO leadership, or a full Transformation Program. Every engagement starts with defined deliverables and milestones.
3
See Results at Every Gate
Work is delivered in phases with clear checkpoints. You review, approve, and release payment only when milestones are met. 10% upfront, 90% at gates.
4
Own What We Build
Everything we create belongs to you — code, models, documentation. No vendor lock-in. Your team is trained to run it without us.
5
✓ 10% upfront, 90% at gates ✓ You own all code and IP ✓ No vendor lock-in ✓ Full team training included
Common Questions

FAQ

We tried AI in-house and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
Most internal AI projects fail because they start with technology instead of business outcomes. We start with your workflows, identify the highest-ROI opportunities, and build only what will actually get used. Every engagement has measurable success criteria defined before we write a line of code.
We hired an agency before and got burned. How do we know this won't happen again?
Gate-based payments mean you never pay for work that hasn't been delivered and approved. Every milestone has clear deliverables you review before the next phase begins. If we don't deliver, you don't pay. We also transfer full ownership of everything we build — no lock-in, no hostage code.
How is this different from hiring a full-time AI lead?
A strong AI hire costs $300K-$500K fully loaded and takes 3-6 months to find. Our Fractional CAIO gives you senior AI leadership at a fraction of the cost, starting immediately. When you're ready to bring it in-house, we help you hire and transition.
What does 'value-based pricing' actually mean?
Show us your current SaaS bills, manual labor costs, or vendor spend for the workflows we're replacing. We'll price our work at half that annual cost. You save money from day one, and we're incentivized to deliver real value — not bill hours.
Can you work with our existing tools and tech stack?
Yes. We integrate with Slack, Jira, GitHub, Google Workspace, Salesforce, HubSpot, and dozens more. If it has an API, we can connect to it. We build on your infrastructure, not ours.
How long before we see results?
Discovery Sprint: full roadmap in 4 weeks. Fractional CAIO: strategic clarity within the first month, first automation wins within 60 days. Transformation Program: first working system deployed within 6-8 weeks of kickoff.
What if we're not sure which tier is right?
Start with a free 30-minute call. We'll assess where you are and recommend the right path. Most companies that are unsure start with the Discovery Sprint — it gives you a clear roadmap without a large commitment.

Ready to Get AI Right?