Path to Product
Four phases from MVP to platform.
Phase 1 is bootstrappable. Phase 4 is a platform that no competitor has built. Here's the roadmap and what it takes to get there.
The Roadmap
Single-City MVP
- Permit form database for City of Austin (residential)
- AI pre-check engine — top 15 rejection triggers
- Basic contractor dashboard
- Per-permit homeowner flow
- Contractor onboarding (license number, billing)
3-City Expansion
- Add Dallas and Houston permit databases
- Add Phoenix permit database
- Multi-city contractor accounts
- Improve AI check accuracy to 90%+ first-submission rate
- Referral program launch
Per-Permit Scale
- Homeowner-specific onboarding flow (plain language)
- Inspection prep checklist feature
- Status tracking email alerts
- SEO content for "how to get a building permit in [city]"
- Integration with city portals for electronic submission (where available)
Accela Partnership
- Accela API integration (covers ~700 agencies)
- Electronic submission in all Accela-connected cities
- Real-time status sync from city portal
- Begin TradeBooks AI integration discussions (Idea #4 bundle)
- Series A prep: metrics package, investor deck
Capital Ask
$35,000
| Use of funds | Amount |
|---|---|
| Engineering — 3-city permit data + AI integration | $12,000 |
| Accela API partnership / data acquisition | $5,000 |
| Marketing & contractor acquisition (city 1) | $10,000 |
| Legal — licensing review, 3 states | $5,000 |
| Operating reserve | $3,000 |
Timeline: 12 months to $20K MRR and 25+ cities live.
Note: Phase 1 is bootstrappable without outside capital. The full $35K accelerates to 4 cities and Accela partnership in year one.
What We Need
We're looking for an operator with construction industry relationships — ideally someone who has run a trade business or worked closely with GCs and knows the permit pain firsthand. We have the AI, the product thesis, and the engineering. We need: intro access to 50 contractors in one metro for the initial beta, and the credibility to say "this was built for how you actually work."
- ✓ Looking for Experience with or relationships in residential construction / trades
- ✓ Looking for Connections to small GCs, electricians, or plumbers in a major metro
- ✓ Looking for Operational credibility — someone who has run a field operation
- ✗ Not looking for Pure financial capital with no industry network
- ✗ Not looking for Big agency or consultant — we move fast, we need a builder
Current Status
Honest. No spin.
- ✅ Market validated — PE score 6.7/10, FUND verdict
- ✅ POC site built and live
- ✅ Competitive research complete — SMB segment confirmed unserved
- ⬜ Austin permit database built
- ⬜ AI pre-check engine developed
- ⬜ Contractor beta — 20 users in Austin
- ⬜ Accela API partnership initiated
- ⬜ $20K MRR
Interested? Let's talk.
Tell us about your background and what you bring. We'll respond within 24 hours.
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