For startups
Most startups don't need an agency. They need the right people in their corner, people who understand the product, move through uncertainty, and can do the work across whatever is needed that month.
We work on a retainer basis, fully embedded, covering everything from user research and product strategy to design, prototyping, development, and pitch materials.
We embed directly into your team as a dedicated product function. Strategy, design, and engineering, on tap, without the overhead of hiring a full team.
Whether you're figuring out what to build or figuring out what to build next, we're built for that stage. Most startup engagements start with a sprint to get things moving, then evolve into an ongoing retainer as the product grows.
You get director-level operators from day one, not juniors who need managing. And what we ship looks and behaves like a real product from the first version, not a developer prototype dressed up for a demo. That matters when you're putting it in front of users, investors, or your first customers.
Discovery & Strategy
Problem mapping and validation User research Architecture planning Concept development
Design, Prototype & Build
Product design and interfaces Working prototypes Frontend and backend development Shipped features at every stage
Brand & Communication
Pitch decks and investor materials Visual identity Website and messaging Launch materials
How we work with startups
We've worked with startups at every stage, from pre-seed teams with a napkin idea to growth-stage companies scaling their product. The common thread is that every startup we work with needs to move quickly, make good decisions with limited information, and ship something real.
We don't operate like a typical agency engagement where you brief us and wait for a delivery. We embed into your team and work as your product function. That means we're in your Slack, we join your standups when it helps, and we're making decisions alongside you, not presenting options from a distance.
Starting from scratch
If you're at the beginning, we help you figure out what to build. That sounds simple, but it's the part most startups get wrong. We run discovery sessions, talk to your potential users if they exist, map out the product architecture, and identify the smallest thing we can build that will test your core assumption.
From there we design and prototype it. Not wireframes, but a working prototype that looks and feels like a real product. Something you can put in front of users, investors, or your board and get meaningful feedback.
Building the product
Once the direction is validated, we build it. Production-ready software, deployed and running. We work in sprints, so you see progress every week or two. The stack depends on the project: usually Next.js, Supabase, and Stripe, but we'll use whatever makes the most sense for what you're building.
We handle design and development together, same team, which means there's no gap between what gets designed and what gets built. The prototype evolves into the product without a handoff phase.
Pitch support and brand
Startups also need to look credible. Whether you're pitching to investors, applying for funding, or launching to your first users, how you present yourself matters. We build pitch decks, design your initial visual identity, create your website, and produce whatever materials you need to show up with confidence.
This isn't a side service. It's part of what we do because we understand that a startup's product and its communication are inseparable, especially in the early stages.
Business Finland Innovation Voucher
Px8 Studio is an eligible service provider for the Business Finland Innovation Voucher. This means early-stage startups can use the voucher to fund our work together. We've helped several companies through this process and can guide you through the application if needed.
The long-term relationship
Most startup engagements start with a sprint and evolve into an ongoing retainer. As the product grows, we grow with it. Some clients eventually build their own team and we help with that transition. Others keep us on as a long-term product partner. Either way, we're not trying to make ourselves permanent. We're trying to set you up to succeed.
