TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY SPRINT

Prove it works at production scale before you fund the full build.

In 2–3 weeks, we prototype the riskiest technical components, validate the architecture, and deliver a buildable specification with real estimates.

0–3 wk

Typical Duration

$0–25K

Investment

PoC

Working Prototype

0 surprises

After Kickoff

WHAT THIS ENGAGEMENT IS

Prove it works before you fund the full build.

You have an idea. Maybe it's a new product, a major platform capability, or a complex integration. The question isn't whether someone can build it. The question is whether it can work reliably at production scale, what the real technical risks are, and what it'll actually cost.

We take the hardest technical unknowns and attack them directly. We prototype the risky components with working code, evaluate architecture options against your real constraints, and surface the issues that would otherwise show up six months into development when they're expensive to fix.

Perfect for: Teams facing a major technical bet who need proof that the approach works before committing engineering resources. New products, platform migrations, complex integrations, build-vs-buy decisions.

How We Work

How It Works

Technical Discovery & Risk Mapping

First

We dig into your concept and identify the technical risks: the components where failure is most likely or most expensive. Performance bottlenecks, integration complexity, data scale challenges, third-party dependencies. We map the unknowns that matter.

Product requirements or concept brief

90 min with product owner and tech lead

Prioritized technical risk map

Proof-of-Concept Prototyping

Then

We build working prototypes of the riskiest components. Not mockups. Actual code that proves the approach works. Can the data pipeline handle the volume? Does the integration work the way the vendor claims? Will the algorithm perform at scale? We find out.

Access to existing systems and APIs

Working proof-of-concept code for high-risk components

Performance benchmarks against production targets

Architecture & Effort Estimation

With the risky parts proven (or disproven), we design the full architecture and estimate the build. Every estimate is grounded in what we actually learned from prototyping, not theoretical guesses.

Architecture decision records with trade-offs

Component-by-component effort breakdown

Infrastructure and third-party cost projections

Findings & Specification Delivery

Finally

We deliver everything: the proof-of-concept code, the architecture, the estimates, and the risk assessment. We walk your team through it all so there are no surprises. You leave with a go/no-go decision backed by evidence.

60–90 min walkthrough with leadership

Complete technical specification document

All prototype code and benchmarks

What You Walk Away With

PROOF

Working Proof-of-Concept

Prototype code that validates the riskiest technical components against production requirements. Working code with performance benchmarks, not a demo. You'll use it to confirm the approach works and as a foundation for the full build.

SPEC

Technical Specification

A buildable spec with architecture decisions, component breakdown, data model, integration approach, and API design. Grounded in what the prototyping actually revealed. Detailed enough for an engineering team to start building.

ESTIMATES

Effort & Cost Estimates

Component-by-component estimates backed by prototyping data, not guesses. Includes engineering time, infrastructure costs, and third-party service costs. Presented as ranges with assumptions documented.

RISK

Risk Assessment

Every technical risk cataloged: what we tested, what we found, what still needs attention. Risks that were validated through prototyping are flagged as resolved. Remaining risks include mitigation strategies and contingency plans.

OUTCOMES

What changes when the hard parts are already proven.

Technical risk drops dramatically. The unknowns that kill projects six months in are resolved before development starts.
Budget conversations are grounded in evidence. Stakeholders see prototype results and benchmarks, not guesses.
Your team starts building with confidence. The architecture is proven, not theoretical.
Go/no-go becomes a real decision. You're choosing based on what actually works, not what should work.

WRONG FIT

This might not be for you if...

You need to validate a concept with end users first. You already have a proven architecture and just need builders. You want a second opinion on existing code quality.

Better Starting Points

For user validation, start with our Design Sprint. For architecture review, a Technical Assessment is a better fit. For builders ready to go, jump straight to Development + Delivery.

RIGHT FIT

This is exactly right if...

You have an idea that pushes technical boundaries and need to know if it'll work at scale. You're making a major platform bet and can't afford to discover the technical limits six months in. You need evidence, not opinions, before committing budget and engineering resources.

What Happens Next

We send over a brief engagement letter and schedule your kickoff within the week. Most sprints start within 5 business days.

LOGISTICS

Common Questions

01What kind of prototyping do you actually do?

We build working code that tests the riskiest technical assumptions. Not wireframes or mockups.

Depending on the project, that might mean a data pipeline processing realistic volumes, an API integration handling edge cases, a performance benchmark against production targets, or a proof-of-concept for a novel algorithm. The goal is to prove (or disprove) that the hardest parts actually work.

02How defined does our idea need to be?

Enough to identify the technical risks. A product brief, requirements doc, or even a detailed pitch deck can work.

We don't need pixel-perfect designs or a full PRD. We need to understand what you want to build and why, so we can zero in on the parts that are technically risky. If your concept is still very early, a Design Sprint might be a better first step to solidify the direction.

03Can we use the deliverables to hire our own team?

Yes. The specification and prototype code are designed to hand off cleanly to any competent engineering team.

Many clients use our deliverables to write better job postings, evaluate agency proposals, or onboard contractors. The prototype code serves as a reference implementation, and the spec documents every decision so a new team can pick up where we left off.

04How accurate are the effort estimates?

More accurate than typical estimates because they're grounded in prototyping, not assumptions.

When we prototype a component and measure its complexity, the estimate for that component is much tighter than a theoretical guess. Components we didn't prototype carry wider ranges. Every estimate includes its assumptions so you can track what changes.

05What if the answer is "it can't be built"?

Then you just saved yourself months and significant budget. We'll show you exactly what doesn't work and what alternatives exist.

Sometimes the answer is "not with this approach" rather than "not at all." We'll show you the prototype results, explain what hit the wall, and recommend alternatives: a different architecture, a scope reduction, or a technology that needs to mature first. A definitive "no" at this stage is worth far more than a slow "no" during development.

06Is your team in-house or offshore?

In-house, US-based. Same engineers from kickoff to delivery.

Every engineer on your sprint is a full-time member of our team. No handoffs to offshore contractors, no rotating staff. The people who prototype your architecture are the same people available to build it.

WHAT'S NEXT

Where This Leads

Green light?

Development + Delivery

The proven architecture and specification become the foundation for a development engagement. Your engineering team starts building on solid ground.

Explore Development

Needs more planning?

Technical Roadmap Strategy

If the scope is large or the architecture complex, a roadmap can sequence the build into phases with clear milestones.

Explore Roadmap Strategy

De-risk the build before you fund it.

We'll send over a brief engagement letter and schedule your kickoff within the week. Most sprints start within 5 business days.

Let's Get Started →Have Questions?