labs@atheron:~/industries/saas$ ship --mvp --api --observability

Startup and SaaS builds

Ship the first version, then the next ten.

You need a first version before the money runs out, a codebase you can hand to a team, and a cloud bill you can explain to investors. We build the products, APIs and AI features that SaaS companies run on, and we take over the ones that someone else started.

Start a project See the example projects

// what you are up against

The problems we hear most.

A runway, not a roadmap

A first version has to reach customers while there is still money to learn from them, so every feature has to earn its place.

An inherited codebase

The agency or the first engineer has moved on, the code has no tests, and every release breaks something.

A cloud bill nobody explains

Hosting costs grow faster than customers, alerts go to an inbox nobody reads, and the first outage is found by a customer.

Questions before a round

Investors ask about architecture, security and the team, and the founders cannot answer them with confidence.

// example projects

Systems we could build for you.

Each one is hypothetical, labelled as such, and priced live from our rate card. Open any of them in the estimator and make it yours.

Example projectWeb appMobile app

MVP with subscriptions

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A founder with a validated idea and early customers waiting needs a working web and mobile product with sign-in and subscriptions, without a team to build it.

// What we would build

A focused first version on the web and iOS and Android: sign-up and onboarding, the core workflow, subscriptions and invoices through Stripe, an admin for the founder and analytics from day one, built so a future team can carry it on.

// What is in it

Sign-up, onboarding and team accounts
The core workflow your customers pay for
Subscriptions, trials and invoices through Stripe
An admin to support customers
Product analytics from the first user
Tests and documentation a future team can use

// Stack

Next.js
React Native
PostgreSQL
Stripe
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$110,000 to US$168,000, delivered within 28 weeksCAD 156,300 to 239,000
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 3.5 to 4 weeks
Design approved: 6.5 to 11.5 weeks
Core features: 2.5 to 3.5 weeks
Full build: 1 to 2.5 weeks
First build on devices: 3.5 to 6 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.5 to 1 weeks
Store submission: 1 to 2 weeks
Launch: 1 to 2 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

App store review: 1 week

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 31,260 to 47,800
Discovery 9.2%: CAD 14,379.60 to 21,988.00
Design approved 9.2%: CAD 14,379.60 to 21,988.00
Core features 7.6%: CAD 11,878.80 to 18,164.00
Full build 5%: CAD 7,815 to 11,950
First build on devices 20.1%: CAD 31,416.30 to 48,039.00
Testing and fixes 2.5%: CAD 3,907.50 to 5,975.00
Store submission 6.7%: CAD 10,472.10 to 16,013.00
Launch 9.7%: CAD 15,161.10 to 23,183.00
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 15,630 to 23,900

Start from this example

Example projectAIFrontier model

In-product AI feature with evaluation

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A SaaS company's customers ask for an AI assistant inside the product, and the team has a prototype that works in demos and fails in ways nobody measures.

// What we would build

An AI feature built into the product with the customer's own data, a test set of real questions, and evaluations that run before every release, so quality is measured, not guessed. It uses a frontier model through its API, because the product already sends customer data to cloud providers under its terms and traffic is high; we keep each customer's data separate.

// What is in it

The assistant inside your product, using each customer's data
Each customer's data kept separate
A test set of real questions and answers
Evaluations that run before every release
Usage and cost tracked per customer

// Stack

Frontier model API
PostgreSQL with pgvector
Node.js
Evaluation harness
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$70,900 to US$108,000, delivered within 15 weeksCAD 100,900 to 154,300
Hosting: ≈ US$3,970 a monthCAD 5,655 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

AI route: Frontier model
Model running cost: ≈ US$3,480 a monthCAD 4,955 a month

Timeline by milestone

Specification and evaluation plan: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Working pilot: 4.9 to 8.4 weeks
Hardening and testing: 0.5 to 1.5 weeks
Production: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 20,180 to 30,860
Specification and evaluation plan 14%: CAD 14,126 to 21,602
Working pilot 42%: CAD 42,378 to 64,806
Production 14%: CAD 14,126 to 21,602
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 10,090 to 15,430

Start from this example

Example projectAPI

Public API with docs and SDKs

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A SaaS company's larger customers want to connect it to their own systems, and the internal endpoints the web app uses are undocumented and change without warning.

// What we would build

A versioned public API with keys and OAuth, a developer portal with docs and examples, SDKs in two languages, webhooks and a gateway with rate limits and monitoring, so customers can build on the product safely.

// What is in it

A versioned REST API with keys and OAuth
A developer portal with docs and examples
SDKs in two languages
Webhooks for the events customers care about
Rate limits, monitoring and usage per customer

// Stack

Node.js
PostgreSQL
OpenAPI
API gateway
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$72,800 to US$111,000, delivered within 14 weeksCAD 103,700 to 158,600
Hosting: ≈ US$492 a monthCAD 700 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

API contract agreed: 2.9 to 3.9 weeks
Core resources built: 2.4 to 4.4 weeks
Security, gateway and connections: 1.9 to 2.9 weeks
Docs, SDKs and load tests: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Launch and first callers: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 20,740 to 31,720
API contract agreed 8.7%: CAD 9,021.90 to 13,798.20
Core resources built 26.2%: CAD 27,169.40 to 41,553.20
Security, gateway and connections 17.5%: CAD 18,147.50 to 27,755.00
Docs, SDKs and load tests 8.7%: CAD 9,021.90 to 13,798.20
Launch and first callers 8.9%: CAD 9,229.30 to 14,115.40
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 10,370 to 15,860

Start from this example

Example projectWeb app

Rescue of an inherited codebase

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A SaaS startup's product was built by an agency that has moved on, the code has no tests, releases break billing, and the hosting is in an account nobody fully controls.

// What we would build

We review the code, the hosting and who holds the keys, write up what we found, then stabilise: tests around the parts that make money, fixes for what breaks, hosting moved into your own account, and a release process your next team can follow, with support while it settles.

// What is in it

A plain written review of code, hosting and access
Tests around billing and the core workflow first
Fixes for the faults that break releases
Hosting and keys moved into accounts you own
A release process your next team can follow

// Stack

Next.js
PostgreSQL
AWS
Terraform
GitHub Actions

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$89,300 to US$137,000, delivered within 19 weeksCAD 127,200 to 194,600
Hosting: ≈ US$492 a monthCAD 700 a month
Support: ≈ US$5,010 a monthCAD 7,135 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved: 3.9 to 6.4 weeks
Core features: 2.9 to 4.4 weeks
Full build: 1.9 to 2.9 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 25,440 to 38,920
Discovery 7.7%: CAD 9,794.40 to 14,984.20
Design approved 7.7%: CAD 9,794.40 to 14,984.20
Core features 23.3%: CAD 29,637.60 to 45,341.80
Full build 15.5%: CAD 19,716 to 30,163
Testing and fixes 7.7%: CAD 9,794.40 to 14,984.20
Launch 8.1%: CAD 10,303.20 to 15,762.60
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 12,720 to 19,460

Start from this example

Example projectWeb app

Product metrics warehouse

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A SaaS company reports revenue from Stripe, usage from the database and churn from a spreadsheet, and the numbers in the board deck never match the numbers in the product.

// What we would build

A small warehouse that reads billing, product usage and the CRM into one model, with agreed definitions for revenue, churn and activation, and dashboards the team and the board read from the same source.

// What is in it

Billing, usage and CRM in one model
Agreed definitions for revenue, churn and activation
Cohorts and retention by plan and signup month
Dashboards for the team and the board
Data in a warehouse you own

// Stack

PostgreSQL
dbt
Next.js
Stripe interface
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$44,500 to US$68,100, delivered within 14 weeksCAD 63,400 to 97,000
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$1,000 a monthCAD 1,425 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.9 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 30%: CAD 19,020 to 29,100
Discovery 6.6%: CAD 4,184.40 to 6,402.00
Design approved 6.6%: CAD 4,184.40 to 6,402.00
Core features 20%: CAD 12,680 to 19,400
Full build 13.3%: CAD 8,432.20 to 12,901.00
Testing and fixes 6.6%: CAD 4,184.40 to 6,402.00
Launch 6.9%: CAD 4,374.60 to 6,693.00
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 6,340 to 9,700

Start from this example

Example projectWeb app

Onboarding and activation redesign

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A SaaS product gets plenty of sign-ups, but most new accounts never reach the moment where the product proves its worth, and nobody knows where they stop.

// What we would build

Research with real new users, a redesigned onboarding and first-run experience in the product's brand, tested before it is built, and events that show where people stop, so activation can be measured and improved.

// What is in it

Interviews and sessions with real new users
A redesigned onboarding, tested before it is built
Empty states and guides that lead to the first result
Events that show where new users stop
Copy ready for translation into your markets

// Stack

Figma
Next.js
PostgreSQL
Product analytics
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$53,100 to US$81,200, delivered within 17 weeksCAD 75,600 to 115,600
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$1,000 a monthCAD 1,425 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved: 4.4 to 7.4 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.9 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 30%: CAD 22,680 to 34,680
Discovery 6.6%: CAD 4,989.60 to 7,629.60
Design approved 6.6%: CAD 4,989.60 to 7,629.60
Core features 20%: CAD 15,120 to 23,120
Full build 13.3%: CAD 10,054.80 to 15,374.80
Testing and fixes 6.6%: CAD 4,989.60 to 7,629.60
Launch 6.9%: CAD 5,216.40 to 7,976.40
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 7,560 to 11,560

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appWeb3

Wallet sign-in for a web3 audience

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A developer tools company sells to teams who build on public blockchains, and many of its users would rather sign in with their wallet than create another password.

// What we would build

Wallet sign-in added beside email and passkeys, linked to the same account, so users choose how to sign in and the product's data and billing stay as they are. If your users do not already hold wallets, this adds nothing, and we will say so.

// What is in it

Sign in with a wallet beside email and passkeys
One account, whichever way a user signs in
No tokens, no payments on chain
Billing and data unchanged
Tested with the wallets your users hold

// Stack

Next.js
Sign-In with Ethereum
PostgreSQL
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$52,000 to US$79,400, delivered within 19 weeksCAD 74,000 to 113,100
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$1,000 a monthCAD 1,425 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Specification: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.4 to 3.9 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Contracts and tests: 0.9 to 1.9 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 weeks
Testnet deployment: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Mainnet: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 30%: CAD 22,200 to 33,930
Discovery 3.7%: CAD 2,738.00 to 4,184.70
Specification 4.3%: CAD 3,182.00 to 4,863.30
Design approved 3.7%: CAD 2,738.00 to 4,184.70
Core features 11.2%: CAD 8,288.00 to 12,667.20
Full build 7.4%: CAD 5,476.00 to 8,369.40
Contracts and tests 13.1%: CAD 9,694.00 to 14,816.10
Testing and fixes 3.7%: CAD 2,738.00 to 4,184.70
Testnet deployment 4.3%: CAD 3,182.00 to 4,863.30
Launch 3.7%: CAD 2,738.00 to 4,184.70
Mainnet 4.9%: CAD 3,626.00 to 5,541.90
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 7,400 to 11,310

Start from this example

// by service

Go deeper on one kind of work.

Pages for the services we have the most to say about in this industry.

~/apps

SaaS MVP development

First versions of SaaS products on the web and mobile: sign-up and onboarding, the core workflow, subscriptions through Stripe, an admin and analytics from day one, built so a future team can carry them on.

~/ai

In-product AI features

AI features built into SaaS products with each customer's own data kept separate, a test set of real questions and evaluations before every release, so quality is measured rather than guessed.

~/api

Public APIs for SaaS

Versioned public APIs for SaaS products with keys and OAuth, a developer portal, SDKs, webhooks, rate limits and monitoring, so customers can connect your product to their own systems safely.

~/cloud

Managed cloud for SaaS

Running SaaS infrastructure for startups and SaaS teams: hosting in accounts you own, infrastructure as code, monitoring and alerts that reach a person, backups that are tested and cost work that keeps the bill in step with growth.

~/data

SaaS metrics warehouse

A small data warehouse for SaaS companies that reads billing, product usage and the CRM into one model, with agreed definitions of revenue, churn and activation and dashboards the team and board share.

~/rescue

Codebase rescue

Taking over a SaaS codebase another agency or engineer built: a written review of code, hosting and access, tests around what makes money, fixes for fragile releases and hosting moved into accounts you own.

~/design

Onboarding design

Research and design for SaaS onboarding: interviews with real new users, a redesigned first-run experience tested before it is built, and events that show where new users stop so activation can improve.

// questions

What buyers in this industry ask us.

Do you work with pre-seed founders?

Yes. A focused first version suits a founder with early customers, and the estimator shows the range for your scope.

Can you help us prepare for technical due diligence?

Yes. A fractional technical lead can review your product and prepare the answers investors ask for; that review is quoted on a call.

How do payments work?

A deposit to start, then payments at agreed milestones, with 10% held until 30 days after launch. The deposit is a smaller share on larger projects.

Who owns the code?

You do, once the work is paid for.

// other industries

Nearby industries.

~/digital-assets

Crypto and digital assets

Compliance back offices for your exchange, investigation assistants, multisig treasuries, token vesting portals and community bots.

See the examples

~/finance

Finance and fintech

Lending apps with identity checks, support agents, underwriting document readers and partner settlement ledgers.

See the examples

~/marketing

Marketing and advertising

Campaign dashboards with client portals, brand voice models, impression reconciliation ledgers and referral campaign bots.

See the examples

All industries

// where we work

Find your market.

We work from Kelowna with clients across Canada, the United States and further afield. Each market page covers working hours, hosting, the privacy law that applies, and prices in your currency.

Every market

// next

Not quite your project?

Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you with a range and the questions that would narrow it. Or book a call and talk it through.

Start a project Book a call