No money?
We build it for equity.
Real idea, real market, no cash for a full build? If we believe in all three, we build your software in exchange for equity. We've done it before. We're selective — and that's the point.
- 10–30%
- Equity range
- $0
- Cash floor
- 22d
- First deliverable
- 100%
- Code yours
We invest engineering instead of cash.
For founders without an upfront budget. We evaluate three things — the idea, the market, and you. If we believe in all three, we build it for equity. If you make the cut, you get a real engineering team fully invested in your outcome because we literally own part of it.
This isn't a pitch competition. It isn't an accelerator. It's a build engagement with the cash side swapped out for cap-table alignment. We've done it before. We'll keep doing it on the right deals.
Looking for cash + equity instead of equity-only? Partner Build is the middle path.
What we look for.
Five filters. Most ideas miss on at least one. The ones that clear all five are the ones we build.
Filter 01
A real, defined market
Not a vague vision. A specific buyer, a known problem, a price they’ll pay.
Filter 02
Founder edge
Domain expertise, an unfair distribution channel, or hard-won insight that took years to earn.
Filter 03
Realistic path to revenue
Inside 12 months, with a credible plan you can defend in two questions.
Filter 04
Meaningful equity
Typically 10–30%. Aligned with the size of the build and the stage of the company.
Filter 05
Coachability
We push back. We suggest different paths. You take the call. Partners, not subordinates.
What to expect.
Slow upfront, fast in execution. We say no often. When we say yes, we move.
Phase 01
Slow on the front
1–3 calls and real diligence before a yes. We need to know your market and your conviction.
Phase 02
Honest no
If it’s a no, we tell you why in writing. Often it’s timing or fit, not the idea.
Phase 03
Fast once we’re in
Approval to first deliverable: 22 days. Build window: 4–10 weeks.
Phase 04
Long after launch
We’re on your cap table. We pick up. We help with hiring, intros, the next product call.
If we believe in your idea enough to put our team on it for equity, we believe in it enough to still be picking up the phone in year three.
Build for equity, answered plainly.
- What does it mean to have software built for equity?
- Bluestone builds your software in exchange for an ownership stake in your company instead of a cash fee. Typically 10% to 30% equity, depending on build size and stage. The build is real and the equity is real — both sides take on risk, which is why the process is selective.
- How much equity does Bluestone take for a no-capital build?
- Typically 10% to 30%, aligned to the size of the build and the stage of the company. Founders who have some capital and want to give up less usually fit the Partner Build tier instead, which is reduced cash plus 2% to 15% equity.
- What do you look for before saying yes?
- Five things: a real and defined market with a specific buyer and a known problem; founder edge such as domain expertise or an unfair distribution channel; a realistic path to revenue inside 12 months; an equity stake that matches the build; and coachability, meaning a founder who takes the call after real pushback.
- How selective is the process, and how long does it take?
- Deliberately selective — Bluestone says no more often than yes. Expect 1 to 3 calls and real diligence before a decision. If the answer is no, you get the reason in writing, and it is usually timing or fit rather than the idea itself.
- How fast does the build move once approved?
- Approval to first deliverable is 22 days. The full build window is typically 4 to 10 weeks. The process is slow at the front and fast once the deal is signed.
- What happens after the software launches?
- Bluestone is on your cap table, so the involvement continues past launch — picking up the phone, helping with hiring, making introductions, and weighing in on the next product decision. The equity is what keeps that relationship alive in year three.
- Do we still own the code if Bluestone takes equity?
- Yes. The client owns the source, the data, and the IP. Equity buys the partnership, not the codebase, and the engineering standards are the same as a full-cash Own It build.
Apply, or book a call first.
Tell us what the business does, who the customer is, why you're the right person to build it, and what you're proposing in equity. We read everything.