What builders ask.
Short answers to the questions that come up most often. If yours isn't here, ask us directly in your application.
Raising capital optimizes for one bet, on one idea, with maximum personal exposure. 999 lets you build with a salary, an operating team, and the option to test multiple ideas before committing your life. You still own meaningful equity — without the years of solo financial risk.
Yes. Many of the strongest applications arrive with a thesis. We also incubate ideas internally — if yours overlaps with something we've been exploring, even better. The decision of what to build is collaborative, not assigned.
Builders receive meaningful equity in the company they build, structured to reward long-term commitment. The exact split depends on stage and contribution. We share the model openly in Discovery.
Yes — from day one. We pay competitive salaries so you can focus entirely on the work without making personal financial trade-offs to justify your time.
In the early discovery phase, yes — exploration is part of how we choose what to build. Once a venture commits, your focus becomes singular.
It spins out as its own entity, with its own cap table, capital plan and, ultimately, you as its founder. The Studio remains a long-term partner and supportive investor.
The venture entity owns its IP. Pre-Studio work you bring remains yours — we document it transparently before you start building.
Senior operators who have shipped real software to real customers. Strong product or engineering instincts, taste, and the temperament to handle ambiguity. Domain experience is welcome but not required.