How does a project start?

Discovery is paid because it involves substantial work: reviewing your existing systems, speaking with future users and validating requirements. This produces a reliable scope and a more accurate estimate.

For the first conversation, a detailed specification is not required. It is most helpful to describe the problem, who it affects, what has already been tried and what a successful outcome would look like.

Discovery delivers a scope with explicit inclusions and exclusions, a phased delivery plan, an estimate with its assumptions stated, and the technical approach with key trade-offs. If an off-the-shelf product or a smaller piece of work would serve you better, we will recommend it.