Rapid Prototype Development
Prototypes that actually work.
Not Figma. Not a slide deck. Real, clickable, deployable software you can put in front of users this week — and learn from before you commit to building the full MVP.
Fixed-fee · 1–3 week sprints · You own the code · Deployed and shareable
Three different deliverables. Don't pay for the wrong one.
“Prototype” gets used to mean a Figma file, a half-built MVP, and everything between. We're more precise.
| Mockup | Prototype | MVP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Visual design with click-through | Working software on real infra | Launchable product users pay for |
| Where it lives | Figma, InVision | A deployed URL | A real product with auth, billing |
| Typical timeline | 1–2 weeks | 1–3 weeks | 4–8 weeks |
| Typical cost | $3K–$15K | $9.5K–$32K | $24K–$84K |
| Best for | Validating a visual direction | Validating an idea in use | Validating revenue |
| Code reuse | None | Some — carries to MVP | All — built to scale |
Pick the prototype scope that matches your question.
Spark
1 week
from $9,500
- One user flow, fully clickable
- Up to 5–7 screens
- Frontend + mocked backend, deployed
Sprint
2 weeks
from $18,000
- 2–3 connected flows, 12–15 screens
- Frontend + light backend with real endpoints
- Realistic seeded data + login mock
Stretch
3 weeks
from $28,000
- 3–5 flows, 20+ screens
- Working backend with real persistence
- Mock auth + custom branding
Three valid outcomes from a prototype sprint.
→
Validate, then build the MVP
The prototype confirms the idea works. Some code carries forward. The MVP build is faster because the unknowns are gone.
→
Kill the idea, save the budget
The prototype reveals the idea doesn't work as you thought. You spent $9.5K–$28K instead of $50K+ on the wrong MVP. A good outcome.
→
Pivot the scope, new prototype
The direction validates but the specifics don't. We re-scope and run a second short prototype.
Common questions.
Is a prototype the same as an MVP?
No. A prototype answers 'would this work?' — an MVP answers 'will people pay for this?' Prototypes are throwaway-tolerant; MVPs are built to scale.
Will I get the code?
Yes — full source in a repository you own, with day-one access.
Can the prototype scale?
No, by design. A prototype prioritizes speed of iteration over scale. If you need scale, you need an MVP.
How is this different from a Figma mockup?
A Figma mockup is a visual; a prototype is functional software. Users can click through, fill forms, see realistic data flow, and interact with the product.
Is the code throwaway?
Not necessarily. Sprint and Stretch packages often produce code that carries into the MVP build. Spark is more throwaway by design.
Can I show it to investors?
Yes. The Stretch package is built for that — custom branding, mock auth that survives sessions, realistic data.
Got an idea? Let's make it clickable.
A 20-minute call to scope the prototype. We'll tell you which package fits, what we'd build, and what you'd learn from the test.