AI-native by default, not as a bolt-on.
Every build considers LLM integration from week 1. Where AI earns its keep, we use it. Where it doesn't, we say so. We don't ship AI for the press release.
AI · where it earns its keepWhen the problem isn't solved by ads, SEO or a marketing site — it is solved by a tool that does not exist yet. We build AI agents, automation pipelines, internal tools, custom CRM, and bespoke web apps for founder-led teams. Production-grade engineering, founder-close cadence.
From a single automation to a dedicated shipping team. Same founder-close cadence regardless of build size.
Autonomous workflows, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, internal copilots, LLM-powered SaaS features. Built on OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or open-weight models.
OpenAI · Anthropic · LangChain · Vector DBMulti-step workflows that connect SaaS tools, internal systems, and data sources. n8n, Make, or custom code — depending on complexity and cost.
n8n · Make · Zapier · CustomOps dashboards, lead-routing systems, agent portals, content-ops tools. Built on Retool, Tooljet, or custom Next.js — whichever fits the workload.
Retool · Tooljet · Next.js · SupabaseWhen off-the-shelf CRM is the bottleneck. Bespoke pipelines, custom fields, deep integrations, multi-tenant data models, role-based access.
Postgres · Prisma · Clerk · StripeStripe, vertical SaaS APIs, AI providers, payment processors, WhatsApp Business, Slack. Production-grade with retries, observability, and error handling.
Stripe · WhatsApp · Slack · APIsAuthenticated client portals, customer dashboards, multi-tenant SaaS MVPs. Production-grade Next.js or SvelteKit with auth, payments, and database.
Next.js · SvelteKit · Clerk · PostgresMost dev shops sell hours. Most consultancies sell decks. We ship working software on a weekly cadence — with strategy as the operating layer underneath, not as a separate invoice.
Every build considers LLM integration from week 1. Where AI earns its keep, we use it. Where it doesn't, we say so. We don't ship AI for the press release.
AI · where it earns its keepEnd of week 2: a clickable, deployed prototype on a staging URL. Not a Figma file. Not a slide deck. Real flows, real data, real iteration loop with users.
Week 2 · live prototypeYou talk directly to the engineer and strategist running the build. No account-management theatre, no "I'll check with the team and get back" cycle.
0 layers · direct lineEvery build engagement starts with discovery — problem framing, build-or-buy, technical scoping. Strategic advisory is woven into the weekly cadence. We do not sell strategy as a standalone deliverable.
Strategy · the operating layerCode in your GitHub. Infrastructure on your accounts. Data in your databases. API keys in your vault. No proprietary platforms you cannot leave, no licence-lock revenue.
Headless · zero lock-inOne automation per month or a dedicated shipping team. Same operating model. No team-rebuild penalty when you need more (or less). Tiers move with you.
Tier · adjustable monthlyA repeatable four-phase arc. Same operating model whether you need a single automation or a multi-quarter app build.
1 to 2 week sprint. Problem framing, user interviews, technical scoping, build-or-buy analysis. We deliver a written brief — not a sales deck. If the answer is "don't build it," we say so.
By end of week 2, a working prototype on a staging URL. Core flows clickable, real data piped in, AI integration in place if relevant. Founder and 3 to 5 users test it. Iterate.
Production engineering. Auth, payments, database scaling, observability, error handling, security. Weekly demos from your strategist + engineer. Production deploy by week 10–12.
Post-launch. Iteration on real-user feedback. New features shipped on a continuous cadence. Monitoring, dependency hygiene, AI model updates. The app becomes a product, not a project.
Most agencies sell strategy as a discrete deliverable — a deck, a workshop, a quarterly retainer for someone to nod thoughtfully at your roadmap. We do not. Strategy is the operating layer beneath every LucidArc engagement, not a separate invoice.
Every Build engagement opens with a 1 to 2 week discovery sprint — problem framing, user interviews, build-or-buy analysis, technical scoping. The weekly demo cadence carries strategic conversation — what to ship next, what to cut, what to wait on. The quarterly review is the founder-level P&L review, not a Powerpoint of platitudes.
For founders who want pure fractional advisory — fractional CTO, fractional CPO, growth-strategy retainer — it lives inside the Operate tier as a dedicated strategist allocation alongside the engineering team. Strategy without execution is a deck. Execution without strategy is a Webflow template. We do both, on the same engagement.
Tier decides depth and team allocation. Scope below is the floor.
Monthly retainers below. For one-off builds with a clear scope and deadline, we quote fixed-price after the 1-week discovery sprint.
For teams shipping a single automation, AI workflow or internal tool per month on a steady cadence.
For founders shipping a full custom app or AI agent — 12-week sprint to production, then continuous iteration.
For founders with ongoing product ambitions — dedicated shipping team, fractional CTO advisory baked in.
What's not included: third-party SaaS & AI usage (LLM API costs, hosting, databases — billed at cost or on your account), one-off external creative production, and marketing site builds (lives under Web Development). All prices in USD, exclusive of taxes. Fixed-price project quotes available after the 1-week discovery sprint.
Three engagement shapes we know cold. If you do not see yourself here, it is okay to say so on the call.
Off-the-shelf CRM, Zapier flows, manual ops — the duct-tape stack has hit its ceiling. Custom CRM, automation pipelines, internal dashboards. Usually starts as Sprint, scales to Build.
Founders shipping AI agents, copilots, or LLM-integrated SaaS features. Need someone who has shipped RAG and prompt engineering in production. Usually Build tier, sometimes Operate for serious product velocity.
Holdings, scaling brands, multi-property operators. Need a dedicated shipping team for ongoing app/portal/automation work without rehiring. Operate tier with fractional CTO baked in.
Six build types are most common: AI agents and copilots, automation pipelines, internal dashboards and ops tools, custom CRM and database applications, third-party integrations (Stripe, AI APIs, vertical SaaS), and bespoke web applications. Anything beyond a marketing site that needs custom logic, persistent data, or AI integration sits inside this service.
We commit to a working prototype on a staging URL by the end of week 2. Not a Figma file, not a slide. A clickable, deployed prototype with real flows. The fastest way to know whether the idea works is to put it in front of users.
Yes. AI agents, RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) systems, autonomous workflows, internal copilots, and LLM-integrated SaaS features are a primary build type. We work with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and open-weight models depending on cost, latency, and privacy requirements. Strategy comes first: AI integration is only useful where it earns its keep.
Python and Node.js as the build languages. Next.js or SvelteKit for app front-ends. Postgres or PlanetScale for data. Vercel, Cloudflare, or your cloud (AWS, GCP) for hosting. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google for LLM APIs. n8n or custom code for automation. Stack is chosen for the workload, not for what we already know.
Yes — always. Code in your GitHub. Infrastructure on your cloud accounts. Data in your databases. API keys in your vault. We work inside your infrastructure, never inside our own. No vendor lock-in clauses, no proprietary platforms you can't leave.
Three differences. One: you get a team — a strategist, an engineer, and a designer when needed — instead of one person. Two: we ship from day one, not after a 90-day ramp. Three: scope is variable — you can scale from one workflow per month to a continuous shipping team without rehiring. We sit alongside an in-house team well; we also act as the team when there isn't one yet.
Yes. Monthly retainers (Sprint, Build, Operate) are the productized version. For one-off builds with a clear, scoped deliverable — an internal CRM, an AI agent, a custom dashboard — we can quote fixed-price after the 1-week discovery sprint. Fixed-price work has a deposit and milestone structure.
Strategy is the operating layer across every LucidArc engagement, not a separate product. Every Build engagement starts with a 1 to 2 week discovery sprint — problem framing, user interviews, technical scoping, build-or-buy analysis. Founder-level strategic advisory is woven into the weekly cadence and quarterly reviews. We do not sell strategy as a standalone deliverable.
Custom CRM, lead-routing automations, and AI scoring engines that the ads team feeds into. Build powers performance.
Adjacent · Sunset Service · 02 / 04AI-powered content workflows, programmatic SEO tooling, and entity-graph engines that feed the SEO surface.
Adjacent · Dusk Service · 03 / 04Marketing sites and landing pages live here. The moment a build needs auth, payments, AI, or a database — it crosses into Build.
Adjacent · Breeze