Product · AI · Data · Advanced technology

Evidence over enthusiasm.

We diligence what we can build, and we build what survives diligence.

01Two principals, no juniors
02Fixed-scope first step
03Software to sensors
04Canada + United States

Selected work · Investment management

Every extracted field links back to its source.

Client
Multi-asset investment firm
Built
AI research & diligence platform
Outcome
Analysts review only the flagged fields

Illustrative interface, representative of the system we built. Client details withheld.

See all work →
Illustrative research workspace: extracted fund terms, each linked to its source document

Our point of view

Most technology risk hides between the pitch deck and the code. We check a technology all the way down, from the physics to the model, then build what holds up.

We show our working.

Every claim we make points to something you can inspect: an evaluation, a memo, a working system.

Not every problem needs AI.

We use models where they create leverage and plain engineering where they don’t, and we’ll tell you when not to build at all.

Two principals. No juniors.

The people who scope your work do your work, from the first call to the handover.

Two ways in

A fixed first step, a stated price.

Every engagement starts with a short, fixed-scope diagnosis. Building comes after, only if it makes sense.

For investors

A straight answer before investment committee.

Independent technical and AI diligence on deal time, including hardware and deep tech.

Diligence screen

Is the technology real, and where are the red flags? A plain read before exclusivity.

About 1 weekFixed fee

Confirmatory diligence

Code, data, AI claims, security and team, with every finding rated and costed.

2–3 weeksFixed fee
See diligence →
For operators

AI and products that reach real users.

Strategy, AI, data and engineering from one senior team, from first question to live system.

Discovery sprint

An open question becomes a product definition, tested prototype and plan.

2–4 weeksFrom $50k

Build

Design, engineering, AI evaluation and launch, by the principals who scoped it.

8–16 weeksMilestone-priced
See builds →
For both

Fractional leadership

A part-time CTO or Chief AI Officer for a company or a portfolio.

OngoingMonthly retainer

Every build runs the same eight rings

  1. 01Discover
  2. 02Define
  3. 03Design
  4. 04Architect
  5. 05Build
  6. 06Test
  7. 07Launch
  8. 08Improve
How we work →

More work

From atoms to agents.

Physical science, software and AI are one ability here: we can verify a technology from the material up. Client names stay confidential.

Data productsPipeline

Large-scale unstructured-data transformation

Systems that collect messy documents and user data, extract structure, validate it, and feed products, analytics and automated operations.

OutcomeMessy documents become validated, analytics-ready data.

Education · VR · AIPlatform

An immersive education platform for live VR classrooms

A connected product suite for teachers, students, administrators and content teams, from live class orchestration to AI-graded homework.

OutcomeLive classes, homework grading and admin reporting run on one platform.

Advanced materialsHardware

Flexible and transparent sensing technologies

Engineering and product leadership where material behaviour, device architecture and manufacturability all had to work at once.

OutcomeSensor concepts engineered for the factory, not only the lab.

Have something similar on your desk?

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Principals

You work with the principals. Always.

A small senior core, with trusted specialists added only when a problem needs them. Canada and the United States.

Principal · Graduate engineering

Product, engineering & commercialisation

Has led programs from feasibility to delivery across advanced materials, nanotechnology, consumer-device sensing and digital products.

Principal · Doctoral engineering

Data, science & technical execution

Has led product, data and high-technology teams, connecting scientific judgment with architecture, analytics and operations.

Before you call

Questions worth asking.

From our field notes · 6 min readAI due diligence: what investors should examine beyond the demoRead the note →

What does it cost?

Diligence is a fixed fee agreed before we start. Product engagements typically begin around $50k, usually with a two-to-four-week discovery sprint. Builds are priced by milestone.

Who actually does the work?

The two principals, on every engagement. When a program needs extra hands or a specialist discipline, we add trusted people from our network, and we tell you who they are.

How do you handle confidentiality?

NDA before any data room or code access. Findings go only to the people you name. We never use client names or details without permission.

Are you independent?

Yes. No vendor referral fees, and we do not take build work from a company we are diligencing. Sequoia Labs is not affiliated with Sequoia Capital.

When are we not the right fit?

If you need a large team for staff augmentation, a brand or marketing agency, or a quick demo with no path to production, we will say so and point you elsewhere.

Start a project

Ready when your deal, or roadmap, is.

A principal reads every message and replies within one business day. A rough idea, a data room or a broken workflow is enough to start.