Co-building means we sit alongside an experienced operator from idea through exit. The minimum bar is industry insider — someone with a real read on a market, an existing customer base or a clear path to one. We add the technology, the product-build judgment, and the partnerships; you add the domain expertise that no outside team can shortcut.
The framework
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01
Discover
1–3 monthsADAIA brings
- Edge research
- Quick prototypes
- Early dealflow
Partner brings
- The idea
- Domain expertise
- Customer access
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02
Validate
3–6 monthsADAIA brings
- CIO access
- VC access
- Industry influencers
Partner brings
- Market read
- Pivot decisions
-
03
Build
6–12 monthsADAIA brings
- 8× avg dev velocity
- Agent-centric architecture
- API + MCP as first-class surface
Partner brings
- Product decisions
- User feedback
-
04
Scale
1–10 yearsADAIA brings
- Orion GTM platform
- Operating reviews
Partner brings
- Operations
- Headcount
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05
Exit
CompressingADAIA brings
- Acquirer relationships
- Early planning
Partner brings
- Execution
- Negotiation
The deal
We bring
- Technology stack and product judgment
- Operating cadence and shipping discipline
- Partnerships: capital, talent, distribution
- Profound services discount for equity
- Exit planning from day one
You bring
- Domain expertise no outside team can shortcut
- Customer access or a real path to it
- Conviction through pivot cycles
Modes
Internal~20% of portfolio
ADAIA starts solo when signal volume from Practice engagements is high enough to justify the build without a partner.
Co-build~80% of portfolio
Multiple sub-modes:
- Start together from day zero
- ADAIA builds first, partner executes equity option later
- Revenue-share where ADAIA builds, partner monetizes
Fit signals
Best fit when
- Industry insider with customer access
- Second-time founder
- Conviction and systems thinking
- Aligned with the business-autonomy thesis
- Arrived via a Practice engagement
Not for
- First-time founder without domain access
- Looking for a CTO-for-hire
- Competing AI consulting firm or product
- Business model that depends on critical mass
How to engage
- Send us whatever you have — deck, one-pager, written description, links to traction.
- We respond within 5 business days.
- First conversation is one hour with an Associate.
- If both sides see the bet, Discovery starts within 2 weeks.