Think we should
work together?
Tell us what you're building. We review every application within 48 hours. If we're a fit, the next step is a 30-minute call — not a sales pitch.
- 48-hour response
- Three projects this quarter
- From a named founder
48h
Response time
5min
To apply
3
Projects this quarter
100%
Reply rate
What this is
A four-step application. About five minutes.
Step 1 is identity (your name, email, company). Step 2 is the situation you're in. Step 3 is the depth of the problem — what makes the product win, what you've tried before, what success looks like. Step 4 is open — anything you want us to know.
We read every word.
What happens next
The path from submitted to scoped.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Within 48 hours | A real reply from a founder. Not a sales rep. Not an auto-responder. |
| If yes | A 30-minute call to walk through the problem. We tell you whether we're a fit and which engagement type would fit best. |
| If no | A specific reason — what didn't fit, what we'd recommend instead, who else we'd refer you to (no fees). |
| If "let's talk" | A second exchange to clarify scope before we say yes or no. Sometimes the right shape isn't obvious from the application. |
What this isn't
What we won't do with your application.
- A sales call. The first conversation is scoping, not pitching. If we say no, we say it on the call instead of stringing you along.
- A free scoping session. Real scoping is the paid discovery sprint. The first call is a fit conversation.
- A queue you wait in for weeks. 48 hours, every time, including Fridays. If we miss it, the next email starts with an apology.
- Anonymous. The reply comes from a named founder, not “the ROT8 STUDIO team.”
What helps
What helps your application.
You don't need a deck. You don't need wireframes. You don't need a finished spec.
- Specific problem. “We need an MVP for a B2B fintech serving SME credit risk in DACH” beats “we're building a product.”
- Real timeline. “Demo Day is October 14” beats “ASAP.” If there's no real deadline, say so.
- Honest budget context. A range, a target, or “we don't know yet” — we'll scope against it.
- What you've tried. If you've worked with another studio, freelancer, or in-house team and it didn't work, tell us why.
Start a project
Tell us what you're building.
Five minutes. Tell us what you're building, your timeline, and what would make this a win. A real reply from a named founder, every time.
- 48-hour response
- We review every application
- No sales calls — just a direct conversation
Quick answers
Apply, common questions.
How fast do you respond to applications?
Within 48 hours, every time. The reply comes from a founder — not an account manager or auto-responder. If we miss the 48-hour window (it has happened twice in the last year), the email starts with an apology and an explanation. The response says yes, no, or "let's talk."What's the response rate? How many applications do you accept?
We respond to 100% of applications. We accept roughly one in three for the discovery sprint stage, and from there roughly two in three become full engagements. The constraint isn't quality of applications — most are well-shaped — it's our three-project-per-quarter cap. We turn down work that's a fit when we're full.Do I need to sign an NDA before applying?
No. Don't include sensitive technical or financial information in the application form. We can sign a mutual NDA before the first call if your conversation requires it. We sign standard mutual templates, ours or yours. Pre-application NDAs are a misuse of NDAs and we don't sign them.What if I'm not sure which engagement fits?
Pick the one that feels closest. The first conversation includes fit as part of the scoping. About 20% of applications change engagement type between submission and discovery — that's normal. The form is a starting point for the conversation, not the contract.