Vaporware is a full-service innovation studio.
We partner with founders to build high-growth companies.
What We Do
We validate, build, and sell B2B SaaS products with founders who have domain expertise and vision.
- Market Research
- Design Thinking
- Customer Discovery
- Concept Validation
- Go-To-Market
- Product Management
- Engineering
- Data Science
- UI & UX Design
- Marketing
- Pipeline Development
- Customer Acquisition
- Product-Led Growth
- Customer Success
- Operations
- Company Formation
- Recruiting
- Fundraising
- Legal & HR
- Finance
Results
8
Funded Startups
Thriving startups we've
helped raise and scale up.
61
Ideas Sunset
Founders we’ve helped
test the market with their idea.
7.4M
Funds Raised
Seed-round investments
our startups have raised.
How we do it
Building a successful startup takes years and often leaves founders over-diluted. We've developed the playbook and team to eliminate those risks.
Refinement
Start with your idea. We express ideas as wireframes and outline the opportunity with go-to-market strategy.
We combine our technical and product expertise with your market expertise to refine your idea into one that can be a venture-scaled software company that customers will love.
Validation
Every idea looks great, but 9 out of 10 aren't. Instead of building every idea, we use pitch decks, landing pages, and prototypes to see if the idea is worth your energy.
With unbiased customer feedback, investor interest, and passionate early adopters, we only move forward when customers demand it.
Creation
When the market demands a solution, we move fast. Our in-house team of product builders turn your validated concept into a real product with early adopters.
Traction
Revenue from your first 100 customers. Once early adopters become paying customers, we focus on the first real round of customer acquisition by developing repeatable pipelines through proven B2B sales and marketing techniques.
Independence
Great companies scale fast. With our founder-friendly partners and connections, we’ll get your company to new heights, funded with seed-stage investors, and staffed with top-tier employees.
FAQ
Will Vaporware develop my app idea?Yes, but we focus on solving the problem as the market demands, and are not tied particular solutions. Most ideas change with validation from the market.
- Does Vaporware take equity?
We join seed investment rounds as investors after traction is gained, but we don't take equity before the product gets traction. We can connect you with idea-stage angel investors, but we don't recommend raising on an idea as it will over-dilute your ownership.
- How much does it cost?
Our goal is to do the most with the least. We start engagements (with the refinement stage) at $10K, but founders often spend between $200K and $500K over 6 months to successfully get to traction, a $10M+ valuation, and raise a $1-2M seed round. There are lower-priced options to get to market and traction, but those options always have higher long-term costs.
Let's talk to model your cash flow needs.
- How long does it take?
Our goal is to move as quickly as possible. We've advised startups in a single phone call and invalidated ideas in just 2 weeks. Successful startups reach independence in just 6 months, but some have raised their seed round faster.
Let's talk to project what your journey might look like.
- What does a typical startup journey look like?
Our engagements are goverened by a single Master Agreement that defines general things like how you own 100%. We then sign a small project agreement for the refinement stage. If we work well together, we sign a single agreement that encompasses the rest of the journey, becoming a dedicated startup team for the next 4-6 months.
We'll be doing all the work together, where everyone wears several hats, just like a standalone startup. We'll also be pulling in community experts we've built deep relationships with along the way.
- Is Vaporware a venture/startup studio?
Startup studios usually work on spinning out their own idea, taking a founder's share (10-40%) of the startup. Some don't even develop the products themselves.
We work with founders who own a problem and have some ideas, so they keep 100% of their company until they're ready to fund raise and the terms are in their favor.
- How is Vaporware different from an accelerator or incubator?
Our focus is on doing the startup validation and execution, not teaching you how to do it. If you want to learn how to do this stuff on your own, there are hundreds of resources and some amazing programs locally that can teach you.
We also use our own general framework, not a prescribed program. You won't be part of a cohort or have a demo day.
- Is Vaporware a technical co-founder?
We often play a technical co-founder role for many business founders. We're also a product, sales, marketing, design, financial, recruiting, and development co-founder. Better yet? We're all that in one. We bring this variety of experience and perspective as a cohesive team.
- Is Vaporware a development firm?
Development firms write code for business requirements. While that's a step in our process, we focus holistically on taking products to market. If you just need a team of code monkeys, we're happy to refer you to another group depending on your budget.
- Do I have to be in (or move to) Raleigh to work with Vaporware?
Not at all. We work with founders all over the US. It's helpful to collaborate in person, but thanks to tools like Miro and Slack, virtual can be better.