2 partnership spots left for Q1 2026

Get a Technical Co-Founder Without the Search

Stop spending months searching for a technical partner. I'll build your MVP for equity + a small commitment fee. You save 80-90% upfront and get a true technical partner.

Apply for Partnership See How It Works

12+

Equity Partnerships

80-90%

Cost Savings

60-90

Days to MVP

10+

Years Experience

Gaurav Sharma - Founder Crunchbase

"Hi, I'm Gaurav Sharma. I've been a technical co-founder for 12+ startups. I don't just write code — I join your team, share your risk, and build alongside you. If you're serious about your vision, let's talk."

Founder & Technical Co-Founder ★★★★★ 5.0 from 25+ clients
Apply for partnership →
Jason King

"Having Gaurav as a technical co-founder was a game-changer. He built our MVP and stayed on as CTO."

— Jason King, HealthTech Founder
🔄 How It Works

From Idea to Launch in 4 Simple Steps

A proven process that's helped 12+ startups launch without upfront development costs.

1

You Apply

Share your idea, vision, and what you bring to the table. I review for mutual fit.

2

We Agree

If aligned, we agree on equity split, roles, and sign a simple partnership agreement.

3

I Build

I become your technical co-founder, building your MVP with weekly updates and demos.

4

We Grow

Post-launch, I stay on as CTO, handling tech while you focus on business growth.

✨ What You Get

More Than Just Development

A true technical partner who's invested in your success.

🏗️

Full MVP Development

Complete product from design to deployment. Mobile apps, web apps, backend APIs - the full stack.

👨‍💻

CTO-Level Guidance

Strategic tech decisions, architecture planning, and technical leadership from day one.

💰

80-90% Cost Reduction

Pay only a small commitment fee. I invest the rest of my time for equity. You conserve cash for growth.

🤝

Long-Term Commitment

I'm not disappearing after launch. Ongoing technical support, iterations, and scaling.

📊

Investor-Ready Tech

Clean code, proper documentation, scalable architecture. Ready for due diligence.

🚀

Speed to Market

60-90 days to MVP. No hiring delays, no ramp-up time. Start building immediately.

⚖️ Compare Your Options

Why Choose Equity Partnership

See how it stacks up against traditional options.

Feature Agency Hire CTO Equity Partner
Upfront cost Full project cost High salary Save 80-90% ✓
Time to start 1-2 weeks 3-6 months 1-2 weeks ✓
Long-term commitment ✗ Project-based Yes Yes ✓
Invested in your success ✗ Paid either way Salary-focused 100% aligned ✓
Risk if it fails High — full cost lost High — salary paid Minimal risk ✓
Ongoing support ✗ Extra cost While employed Built-in ✓
🎯 Is This Right For You?

Perfect Fit Checklist

✅ Great Fit If You...

  • ✓ Have a clear vision and can articulate your idea
  • ✓ Bring business skills (sales, marketing, domain expertise)
  • ✓ Can dedicate significant time to the startup
  • ✓ Have validated the problem (talked to potential users)
  • ✓ Want a partner, not just a developer
  • ✓ Are building B2B SaaS, FinTech, HealthTech, or EdTech
  • ✓ Plan to raise funding or bootstrap to profitability

❌ Not Ideal If You...

  • ✗ Just have a vague idea with no research
  • ✗ Can't commit at least 20+ hours/week
  • ✗ Want someone to "just build it" with no input
  • ✗ Are looking for a contractor to manage
  • ✗ Have unrealistic expectations (launch in 2 weeks)
  • ✗ Aren't willing to give meaningful equity
  • ✗ Building consumer social apps (very risky)
📊 How It Works Financially

The Hybrid Model

Equity + small commitment fee. Here's why this works for both of us.

💡 The Commitment Fee

Why It Exists

  • ✓ Filters serious founders from tire-kickers
  • ✓ Ensures you have "skin in the game"
  • ✓ Covers my operating costs during build
  • ✓ Creates mutual accountability

What You Save

  • 📊 Save 80-90% of typical development costs
  • 📊 Conserve runway for marketing & growth
  • 📊 Get a CTO-level partner, not just a developer
  • 📊 No surprise invoices or scope creep costs

Think of it as a co-founder bringing capital. You bring some cash, I invest my development expertise.

Equity Based on Stage

Idea Stage

Flexible

Early concept, higher risk for me. We discuss terms on a call to find the right fit.

Validated Idea

Best Value

Problem validated with customer proof. Lower risk means better terms for you.

Post-Revenue

Custom

Revenue is flowing. Lowest risk, we tailor the partnership to your growth stage.

All partnerships include 4-year vesting with 1-year cliff. Standard accelerator terms. No surprises.

🚀 Success Stories

Equity Partnerships In Action

Real startups built through the co-founder model.

JAR
FinTech Equity

JAR Payment Platform

UK-based payment integration platform. Equity partnership, now funded.
CareAlgo
HealthTech AI

CareAlgo Healthcare AI

HIPAA-compliant AI platform for healthcare providers.
SeeMeForMe
EdTech SaaS

SeeMeForMe K-12

Holistic school management platform with multi-role access.
❓ FAQ

Common Questions

Why do you charge a commitment fee? I thought this was equity-only. +
Honest answer: I've been burned by founders who weren't serious. A small commitment fee filters out tire-kickers and ensures you have skin in the game. It also covers my operating costs during the 2-3 month build. You save 80-90% compared to hiring an agency or CTO, and you get a true partner who's invested in your success. The exact fee depends on your project scope — let's discuss on a call.
How do I know you won't just disappear after getting equity? +
All partnerships have 4-year vesting with a 1-year cliff. If I stop contributing, I don't earn the equity. Plus, I only take on 2-3 partnerships at a time - I'm genuinely invested in each one succeeding. Check my case studies - these are real, ongoing relationships.
What if my idea needs to pivot? +
Pivots are normal - I expect them. My architecture choices are designed to be flexible. As your co-founder, I'm committed to finding product-market fit with you, not just building the first idea. Many successful startups pivoted multiple times.
What happens if we need to part ways? +
Our agreement includes clear terms for separation. Unvested equity is forfeited. You retain full rights to the code and product. I provide documentation and transition support. It's structured like any standard co-founder agreement.
Can you work with an existing team? +
Yes! If you already have developers, I can come in as CTO/technical lead. I'll guide architecture, review code, and ensure we're building for scale. Many partnerships evolve this way as the company grows.
How do you choose which startups to partner with? +
I look for: (1) A founder who can articulate a clear problem and vision, (2) Complementary skills - you bring what I don't have, (3) Validated idea or strong domain expertise, (4) Founder commitment - this is your full-time focus, (5) Market opportunity in B2B/enterprise (my sweet spot).
What if I already have some funding? +
We can do a hybrid model - reduced equity plus some cash compensation. This is great for seed-stage startups who have some runway but want to conserve cash. Let's discuss what makes sense for your situation.
🚀 Apply Now

Ready to Find Your Technical Co-Founder?

I accept 2-3 new partnerships per quarter. Fill out the form and let's see if we're a good fit.

Valentin Stahl

"The equity partnership model was exactly what I needed. Gaurav became a true co-founder, not just a developer."

Valentin Stahl - FinTech Founder

🔒

100% Free Call

No obligations

📋

NDA Available

Your idea stays safe

🤝

Fair Terms

Standard vesting

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Not ready yet? Read my guide on finding technical co-founders