We do not bid on RFPs without a discovery sprint. We do not write fixed-fee proposals without one either. The reason is boring and important: most projects are mis-scoped at the brief, and a fortnight of senior time is the cheapest way to find out.
Discovery deliverables, every time:
- An architecture memo that names the systems, the data, and the integrations.
- A working prototype against real data — clickable, deployed, used.
- A phased plan with three options: minimum, recommended, ambitious.
- An honest read on what to build, what to buy, and what to defer.
Clients have spiked engagements at the end of discovery, and we have helped a handful do exactly that. It is the right thing for both sides. The work that survives discovery is the work worth shipping.