---
title: "Working Software Prototype, $7,500 in 3 Weeks | Heartwood"
description: "You know it’s good and a deck can’t make anyone feel it. In about three weeks, for a fixed $7,500, we build the one slice that proves it, in code you own."
url: "https://heartwood.agency/services/prototype"
---
Starter · Before you build

# Prototype: a working first piece of your app in three weeks

You know it’s good, and you can’t make anyone else see it.

We build the first real piece, in code you own, so the people who need to believe can hold it in their hands. About three weeks.

Price:$7,500Length:About three weeks

What you walk away with

A working prototype you own outright.

[Start my Prototype →](https://heartwood.agency/services/prototype#contact)

## Is this the right Starter for you?

Check any that fit. If two are true, you’re in the right place, and your answers come with you to the form below.

* You’ve carried this vision a long time.
* A board, investors, or a co-founder need to feel it, not read about it.
* You’re self-funding this, and every dollar has to count.
* You’re afraid of paying for a demo you’ll throw away.

Not you? [See all six Starters, or tell us what’s going on →](https://heartwood.agency/services)

## What’s true now

You know it’s good. You’ve known for years. And a deck can’t make anyone feel it.

## What’s true after

The people you needed to convince stop asking you to explain it, because they have held it in their hands.

The first small piece of the thing, set right, so the people who need to believe can.

## Your timeline, start to finish

1. 01We pick the one slice that proves it.
2. 02We build it as the first increment of production, in code you own from day one.
3. 03We hand it over working.

What you walk away with

## A working prototype you own outright.

The source is the start of your real app. You never pay twice for it.

* You stop explaining the idea and start handing it to people.
* The code is the beginning of the real thing, so nothing is paid for twice.
* You own the repo from the first commit, whoever builds the rest.

The honest exception: if you don’t yet know what’s reusable, we say so, and build a lighter clickable model instead, one we tell you up front is meant to be thrown away.

Length

About three weeks

Price

$7,500

## Questions you’re probably asking

How much does a working prototype cost?+

A Prototype is a fixed $7,500\. Nothing moves that price: one price, three weeks. You get a working prototype you own outright.

How long does it take?+

About three weeks.

Do I own what you build?+

Yes, outright. The source is the start of your real app, in code you own from day one, and you never pay twice for it.

Is this a throwaway demo?+

No. We build the one slice that proves it as the first increment of production, not a mockup to be binned. The honest exception: if you don’t yet know what’s reusable, we say so and build a lighter clickable model instead, one we tell you up front is meant to be thrown away.

[Start my Prototype →](https://heartwood.agency/services/prototype#contact)

## You finished a Starter. What now?

When you’re ready, it grows into a **Partnership**. It takes one of two shapes.

* Most Prototypes lead here  
Custom Build  
We build it with you.  
From $20,000  
The Prototype is the first real piece of your product, and it’s yours. A Custom Build picks up exactly where it left off: same code, same team, the rest of the app. You never pay twice for the slice.  
[Learn about Custom Build →](https://heartwood.agency/services/custom-build)
* Embedded Team  
We join your team.  
From $6,500/month  
[Learn about Embedded Team →](https://heartwood.agency/services/embedded-team)

Start here

## Start your Prototype.

$7,500 · about three weeks · fixed price, agreed before we start

You’ll walk away with

* A working first piece you can put in people’s hands.
* Code you own from the first commit.
* Nothing paid for twice when you build the rest.

[Not the right fit? See all six Starters →](https://heartwood.agency/services)

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "ProfessionalService",
  "@id": "https://heartwood.agency/#organization",
  "name": "Heartwood",
  "legalName": "Heartwood Agency",
  "url": "https://heartwood.agency",
  "logo": "https://heartwood.agency/images/logo.png",
  "description": "Custom software agency for mission-driven teams. Mobile apps, web platforms, embedded engineering partnerships, and engineering leadership.",
  "slogan": "We care more than it makes sense on paper",
  "foundingDate": "2024",
  "founder": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "@id": "https://heartwood.agency/about#michael-martin",
    "name": "Michael Martin"
  },
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "addressLocality": "Oklahoma City",
    "addressRegion": "OK",
    "addressCountry": "US"
  },
  "areaServed": [
    {
      "@type": "City",
      "name": "Oklahoma City",
      "containedInPlace": {
        "@type": "State",
        "name": "Oklahoma"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Country",
      "name": "United States"
    },
    "Worldwide"
  ],
  "serviceType": [
    "Custom Software Development",
    "Mobile App Development",
    "Web Application Development",
    "Software Discovery & Strategy",
    "Embedded Engineering Partnership",
    "Engineering Leadership"
  ],
  "knowsAbout": [
    "React",
    "React Native",
    "Kotlin",
    "TypeScript",
    "Mobile App Development",
    "Web Application Development",
    "SDK Development",
    "API Development",
    "Software Architecture",
    "Engineering Leadership"
  ],
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.linkedin.com/company/heartwood-agency",
    "https://www.youtube.com/@heartwoodagency"
  ],
  "contactPoint": {
    "@type": "ContactPoint",
    "email": "hello@heartwood.agency",
    "contactType": "sales",
    "availableLanguage": "English"
  },
  "priceRange": "$2,500 - $50,000+"
}
```

```json
[
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Product",
    "@id": "https://heartwood.agency/services/prototype#product",
    "name": "Prototype",
    "url": "https://heartwood.agency/services/prototype",
    "description": "You know it’s good and a deck can’t make anyone feel it. In about three weeks, for a fixed $7,500, we build the one slice that proves it, in code you own.",
    "category": "Software engineering services",
    "brand": {
      "@id": "https://heartwood.agency/#organization"
    },
    "offers": {
      "@type": "Offer",
      "priceCurrency": "USD",
      "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock",
      "url": "https://heartwood.agency/services/prototype",
      "seller": {
        "@id": "https://heartwood.agency/#organization"
      },
      "price": "7500"
    },
    "additionalProperty": [
      {
        "@type": "PropertyValue",
        "name": "Length",
        "value": "About three weeks"
      },
      {
        "@type": "PropertyValue",
        "name": "What moves the price",
        "value": "Nothing. One price, three weeks."
      },
      {
        "@type": "PropertyValue",
        "name": "Deliverable",
        "value": "A working prototype you own outright."
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 1,
        "name": "Home",
        "item": "https://heartwood.agency/"
      },
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 2,
        "name": "Services",
        "item": "https://heartwood.agency/services"
      },
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 3,
        "name": "Prototype",
        "item": "https://heartwood.agency/services/prototype"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "mainEntity": [
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "How much does a working prototype cost?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "A Prototype is a fixed $7,500. Nothing moves that price: one price, three weeks. You get a working prototype you own outright."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "How long does it take?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "About three weeks."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Do I own what you build?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Yes, outright. The source is the start of your real app, in code you own from day one, and you never pay twice for it."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Is this a throwaway demo?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "No. We build the one slice that proves it as the first increment of production, not a mockup to be binned. The honest exception: if you don’t yet know what’s reusable, we say so and build a lighter clickable model instead, one we tell you up front is meant to be thrown away."
        }
      }
    ]
  }
]
```