Ugly Baby Labs
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Partner With Us, Build-to-Own

Your vision.
Our technology.
Shared ownership.

Some of the best business ideas come from people who know their industries inside and out but do not have the technical resources to build the software behind them. We partner with qualified founders and businesses to turn those opportunities into operating companies.

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How we work

Technology, for a stake

Instead of charging a large upfront development fee, we may contribute the technology in exchange for equity. Every venture is different, so terms are negotiated case by case after diligence on both sides, and nothing is promised in advance.

We are not a venture capital firm and we generally do not provide investment capital. You bring your own.

The objective is to combine complementary strengths, not to provide discounted development services.

Looking for software without a shared stake? Build With Us

Businesses worth building

We’re not simply looking for interesting software ideas. We’re looking for businesses worth building.

An illustrative ownership structure

One example of how a partnership could be structured. It is not an offer.

Illustrative example only. This is not a fixed offer, a promised arrangement or a historical average. Actual ownership may be larger or smaller depending on capital, commercial opportunity, technical responsibilities, partner contributions, existing intellectual property and risk. Some ventures may be structured as true 50/50 cofounder partnerships.

What each side brings

The business partner

  • The business opportunity and commercial vision.
  • Industry knowledge and operating experience.
  • Access to customers and distribution.
  • Operating capital.
  • Sales and customer acquisition.
  • Business leadership and day-to-day management.

Ugly Baby Labs

  • Software architecture and product engineering.
  • AI systems and automation.
  • Application design and development.
  • Technical strategy and leadership.
  • Agreed maintenance and platform operations.
  • Ongoing product evolution under defined terms.

How the money works

  1. 01

    Development

    A qualifying venture may have no upfront software development fee. We earn a negotiated ownership position for an agreed development contribution, with scope and milestones set out in the contract. This is not unlimited free development.

  2. 02

    Operating expenses

    The venture pays for its own business and technical running costs: hosting and infrastructure, databases and storage, AI usage, third-party services, customer acquisition and marketing, administration and operating personnel. We do not ordinarily provide operating capital, make further capital contributions or guarantee venture debt. The exact obligations and protections of each party depend on the agreements signed.

  3. 03

    Technical operations

    As the venture gains traction, we may receive separately agreed compensation for ongoing technical leadership, engineering, maintenance and support. Its scope and terms are defined independently of the initial ownership.

  4. 04

    Profit participation

    Owners may share in distributions of available cash according to their ownership rights and the venture’s governing agreements. Distributions depend on financial performance, legal requirements, approved reserves and available cash.

  5. 05

    Long-term value

    Owners may also share in value created by a future acquisition, buyout or other liquidity event. No financial outcome is guaranteed.

Is this the right fit?

What we look for

  • Real or demonstrable customer demand.
  • Relevant industry knowledge.
  • Strong distribution potential.
  • A viable revenue model.
  • Adequate business funding or operating resources.
  • A committed operating partner.
  • An opportunity where software and AI create a meaningful competitive advantage.

Not the right fit

  • You want software built for a fee with no shared stake (that is Build With Us).
  • You are looking for investment capital.
  • No one is identified who would buy what you are building.
  • You do not plan to stay involved day to day.

Our model is selective. Submitting an idea does not guarantee qualification, development services, an investment or an equity partnership. How Pitch Us works

How a partnership forms

Not every conversation leads to a partnership, and we say so plainly.

  1. 1

    Talk

    We talk about you, the industry and the venture.

  2. 2

    Diligence

    We look hard at the venture, and you look hard at us.

  3. 3

    Terms

    Negotiated case by case. Nothing is standard.

  4. 4

    Approval

    Ugly Baby Labs decides whether to proceed.

  5. 5

    Build

    We build and run the technology with you.

Have a venture in mind?

Tell us who you are, the industry you know and what you want to build.

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