Partner Build — custom software in exchange for a seat at the table.
You bring cash and a real business. We bring the engineering. We build together, and Bluestone takes a small equity stake in return for a reduced build fee.
How the Partner Build works
You pay a reduced cash fee — meaningfully lower than the Own It tier — and Bluestone takes an equity position in the company or product in return.
Bluestone becomes a long-term stakeholder, not just a vendor. We have skin in the game, which means we're still around after launch — iterating, improving, and helping the product succeed because our outcome is tied to yours.
Cash + equity splits are negotiated case by case. We're upfront about ranges before any deal moves forward.
Who this is for
Early-stage startups with some funding, growth-stage businesses investing in a serious internal product, or founder-led companies that want a technical co-builder with real incentive to deliver and iterate. If you've got cash to deploy but want a partner — not just a contractor — this is the tier built for that.
What you get
- Reduced cash build cost compared to Own It
- A fully-built custom product designed around your business
- Ongoing relationship with Bluestone as a stakeholder
- Equity structure that aligns incentives long-term
- Access to Bluestone's network of operators and founders
What Bluestone gets
Transparency upfront: Bluestone takes a small equity stake — typically 2–10% depending on stage, capital invested, and deal structure. We become a minority partner with no operational control. We don't run your company. We don't take a board seat by default.
We're building a long-term portfolio of companies we believe in. Every Partner Build is a small bet on the people we're working with — and we're selective on purpose. If we sign, it's because we think the business will work.
Pricing
Same scope as Own It — $10,000 to $40,000 at full cash — but with equity in the mix, the cash side gets meaningfully smaller.
In a Partner Build, cash often drops to as low as $4,000 in exchange for a small equity stake. Splits are negotiated case by case. We walk you through the math on the first call so there's nothing to figure out alone.
If you have no cash at all, see No Capital? No Problem — same engineering team, equity-only structure.
Want to talk through a partner deal?
Reach out and tell us about the business. We'll book a 30-minute call to understand the shape of the deal, walk you through how we structure equity, and decide together whether it's the right fit.