Development for equity in products that already earn
Many founders look for a team that will build their product for a share of the company. We work differently. We take equity in products that already earn, and always alongside payment rather than instead of it. The payment covers the work; the stake is for long-term technical responsibility.
Who this format is for
It suits founders whose product already has revenue or paying users and who want the technical team to share the upside. It is not a way to get an idea built for free.
- Your product is live and earns: revenue, subscriptions or paying users you can show
- You pay for development today and want the team to be invested in growth
- The next stage needs years of technical work, not one contract
- You are strong in sales, marketing or the niche and want a technical partner of the same weight
- You are ready to share ownership in exchange for long-term responsibility
What each side contributes
Our paid work
Development, releases, infrastructure and support for the product, paid at an agreed rate and planned by milestones.
Our responsibility
We own the technical side: architecture, reliability and the technical roadmap, and we take part in product decisions. This is what the stake is for.
Your market work
You own sales, customers, marketing and fundraising. The product grows in value, for both of us, when you bring it to more customers.
What we do not take on
- An idea without a product and without money, looking for a free build in exchange for a stake
- Equity instead of payment, at any percentage
- A product that has not earned anything yet, or whose numbers you cannot show
- A founder who works on the project part time with no plan to change that
- You want to keep 100% of the company: a fixed-scope contract is better
How the stake is set
There is no fixed percentage. The work itself is paid; the stake reflects the responsibility we take on and the risk we share. It is agreed after a paid technical audit and depends on factors both sides can see. A product with steady revenue and a clear roadmap carries less risk for us than one that has only just started to earn.
- Revenue, users and the growth trend of the product
- The size of the cash payment for the work
- The scope of technical responsibility we take on
- Stage and valuation of the company, and existing investors
- How long we commit to stay with the product
Vesting, milestones and legal form
Our stake is earned over time, not granted upfront. It is tied to milestones and to time, with vesting and sometimes a cliff, so that neither side ends up owning something it has not earned. Depending on the jurisdiction and your plans, the stake can take the form of shares, a SAFE or a similar convertible instrument, or options. The structure is proposed by both sides’ lawyers and fixed in a written agreement.
- Milestones with clear acceptance criteria for each stage
- Equity that vests as milestones are delivered
- A legal form that fits your company and future rounds
- No surprises for investors in due diligence
IP, and what happens if the project stops
All code, designs, accounts and documentation belong to your company from the start. We receive equity for our work, not ownership of the product. If the company pivots, pauses or closes, the agreement defines what happens: unvested equity is not earned, work already delivered stays with the company, and there is a clear procedure for handing over the repository, infrastructure and documentation.
- IP assigned to the company in the agreement
- Repository, cloud and store accounts in the company's name
- Defined exit rules for both sides
- A documented handover if a new team takes over
How development for equity works
Application and call
You share the product, its revenue or users and the team. We discuss whether equity is the right format or whether a regular contract fits better.
Paid technical audit
We review the code, infrastructure and the numbers behind the product under NDA. You get a written report and see how we work before anyone talks about equity.
Terms and agreement
We propose the payment for the work, the stake, milestones and vesting. Both sides’ lawyers review, and terms are fixed in a written agreement.
Paid work by milestones
We develop and run the product in regular cycles, paid as agreed. Our stake vests as milestones are accepted and time passes.
Review and next steps
At agreed points we review the partnership together: what was delivered, how the product grows and whether the terms still fit.
Ways to structure the deal
Payment plus equity
The standard setup: the work is paid at an agreed rate, and a stake is added for long-term technical responsibility.
Paid audit first
A paid technical audit shows both sides what we would be responsible for. Equity is discussed only after it, with numbers in hand.
Stake after a paid period
We start as a paid team, and a stake is added after a few months, once both sides know the product and each other.
Reviews
We treat each client and his project with love.
Revol team continues to streamline the client’s development capabilities through their high-quality work and reliable support. They communicate effectively and exhibit a strong understanding of the client’s needs and business.
Tomas
The work from Revol, have fully met expectations and satisfied the client. Their fresh approach and ability to remain available for support have been valuable assets. Customers can bring them on for a communicative, client-oriented team to achieve their goals with.
Andrey
Frequently asked questions
Will you build my app for free in exchange for equity?
No. We take equity in products that already earn, and always alongside payment rather than instead of it. If you have an idea without a product or funding, the honest options are a small fixed-scope first release or raising money first. We are glad to help scope either.
What percentage of equity do you usually take?
It depends on the product’s revenue and stage, the size of the cash payment and the responsibility we take. We propose a figure after the paid audit and explain how we arrived at it.
Will investors be put off by an agency on the cap table?
Investors care that the stake is proportionate, vested against real work and documented properly. A technical partner with skin in the game is often seen as a plus, especially when the founders are non-technical.
Can we buy back the equity later?
A buyback option can be included in the agreement, for example after a funding round. The conditions and valuation method are agreed upfront so that nobody negotiates under pressure later.
Who decides what gets built?
You own the product vision and priorities. We own the technical approach and give an honest opinion on scope. Disagreements are resolved by the process fixed in the agreement.
What if the product stops growing?
Then our stake is worth less, and that is the risk we accept for it. The work itself has been paid, so the partnership can be closed in an orderly way, and the code and everything built stay with the company.
Tell us about your project
Describe the task in a few lines. Within one working day we reply with questions or a first view on scope and cost.
Prefer email or a call?
welcome@revolsource.com
+38 097 662 23 20
Revol Software OÜ, Tallinn, Estonia. Our team is distributed around the world.
Join our team
Send your CV to career@revolsource.com