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We solve business problems fast. AI, software, or whatever the problem actually needs.

You get a working prototype, a technical plan, real-world costs, and clarity to decide your next step.

Talk to us 30 min. No commitment.
Common questions

How It Works

Phase 1

Quick Diagnostic (1-2 weeks)

We start from the problem you bring, understand the current workflow and constraints around it, compare possible approaches, and define the best path to prototype. You walk away with a clear diagnostic.

You walk away with

  • Current workflow analysis
  • Approach comparison
  • Impact estimate (time/cost)
Phase 2

Working Prototype (2-4 weeks)

We deliver a working prototype (e.g., support automation, internal tool, data integration). We share progress as we go, and you see it running, not on slides.

You walk away with

  • 1 tested functional solution
  • Initial performance metrics
  • Live demo with real data
Phase 3

Technical Plan for Decision (1 week)

A complete plan based on what we tested: technologies, real-world costs, and next steps. Everything you need to make the decision.

You walk away with

  • Suggested technical architecture
  • Implementation roadmap
  • Effort and investment estimate

One price, three phases. You walk away with a working prototype and a clear picture of what comes next. If you want to continue from there, we can talk about what a separate implementation phase would look like.

Step 01 — Kickoff
  • 30-minute kickoff call to understand the problem and the workflow around it.
  • We send the contract after the call. Once it's signed, we start mapping.
  • We map your current process with you in a shared document. You own the link.
  • We agree on the comms channel and how often we send updates. Questions get answered while the work is happening, not batched for a wrap-up meeting.
From you
Someone who knows the workflow, 1–2 hours across the week
Step 02 — Research
  • Every approach we try gets written up in the shared Doc with enough technical detail that you can actually evaluate it.
  • Libraries, APIs, and stack choices compared side by side, with tradeoffs.
  • You have comment access the whole time, so you can push back while we're still deciding.
  • The step ends with a recommended direction. You approve it before we write any code.
From you
~30 min to review the tradeoffs and pick a direction
Step 03 — Experiment
  • We work in a GitHub repo (ours by default, or yours if you'd rather give us access).
  • Real data when you can share it. Mocked data that matches the same fields and structure when you can't.
  • Progress updates on the cadence you picked (weekly email is the default).
From you
Data access (or shape description) and quick replies when blockers come up
Step 04 — Deliver
  • Code handed off through the GitHub repo, with a README your team can follow.
  • A technical write-up in Google Docs covering what we tried and what worked.
  • Production cost breakdown: hosting, APIs, operations, with real numbers.
  • We stay available for questions after handoff. If you want to keep going, we scope the next phase separately.
From you
Someone technical to receive the repo and docs

Why A1 Lab?

We start by understanding the problem, then move fast to a working prototype using your real data. You see it running, evaluate the result, and decide the next step — no pressure.

Book a 30-min call

Our differentiators

  • Working prototype before any long-term decision
  • No lock-in: you keep all code and documentation
  • Projects start in days, not weeks

How we build

  • We use existing APIs and systems before proposing new architecture
  • We prioritize simple solutions before scaling
  • We avoid lock-in to specific tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Technology research. You bring us a business problem or idea, we investigate, test it for real, and deliver a working prototype with a technical plan so you can decide what comes next.

We're a technology lab. AI is what we reach for most often, but we also build software, set up integrations, and automate processes. We recommend whatever actually solves the problem.

Companies that have a technology question but don't have the team or time to figure it out themselves.

Both. Startups want to validate fast, bigger companies want to test without pulling their teams off other work. What matters is having a real problem.

No. We're your lab. We do the research and deliver results any manager can understand.

Every project includes three phases: diagnostic, prototyping, and technical plan. The outcome is a working prototype and a clear recommendation for what to do next.

The diagnostic takes 1 to 2 weeks. The prototype takes 2 to 4 weeks. The technical plan takes 1 week. Most full projects take 4 to 7 weeks total depending on complexity.

A working prototype, a technical plan with technologies and costs, and a presentation so you can make the decision.

Not much. A few meetings to understand the problem, review progress, and align on direction. We keep you updated, but we do the heavy lifting.

Depends on the scope. We talk, understand the challenge, and send a proposal with a fixed price, timeline, and scope.

Payment is split into two parts: 50% upfront to start the project and 50% before final delivery. One price for the whole three-phase project.

The engagement is one fixed-scope project with three phases: diagnostic, prototype, and technical plan. We define the price, timeline, and scope upfront. After that, you decide only whether a separate implementation project makes sense.

Then you found out in weeks, not months. That's the whole point: test before you spend.

The main engagement is research, prototype, and technical plan. If the result looks right, we can scope a separate project to build the final product.

Yes. We sign NDAs when needed and treat everything confidentially.

Let's talk about your case

Talk to the Lab

Describe the challenge in a few lines. We'll get back to you to discuss next steps.

What happens next

  • 30-min call, no commitment
  • Diagnostic in 1-2 weeks
  • Working prototype in 2-4 weeks, technical plan in 1 week
First response Same business day

Start here

Tell us the challenge and where experimentation can help