We take equity when we believe in what you're building.
If your project has real potential, we negotiate equity in exchange for free CTO consultancy and reduced development rates.
This isn't a discount model. It's Sparkling's conviction that your startup is worth betting on, and our willingness to prove it.
A dedicated 30-minute conversation, separate from the general discovery call. No deck required.
What you get
Three things, bundled. The equity we take is what makes all three possible.
Equity partnership
We align our success with yours from day one.
We negotiate equity instead of full fees. When your startup wins, we win. That alignment changes how we work, we're not billing hours, we're building something we own a piece of.
Free CTO advisory
The technical leadership you'd pay £120k+ for. Included.
Architecture decisions. Roadmap prioritisation. Hiring strategy. Investor technical due diligence. A named Sparkling CTO partner, not a rotating consultant, in your corner from day one.
Reduced rates
Swiss QA standards. Startup-accessible pricing.
We use the equity to close the gap between what great engineering costs and what pre-seed budgets allow. No compromise on quality, we just have different skin in the game.
Who qualifies
Pre-seed to Series A startups with a validated idea, a committed founding team, and a real path to market.
We evaluate each application individually. This isn't a programme for everyone, and that's the point.
Pre-seed to Series A stage
you're building, not scaling
Validated market demand
you have traction, early revenue, or strong signals that people want this
Committed founding team
you have the people to see it through
Product with a genuine path to scale
not just a good idea, but a business that can grow
"Sparkling didn't just build our product, they helped us decide what to build, and they had equity on the line when they did it. That's not something you get from an agency."
Fleur Cook
Web Developer, Sisyphus
How it works
Four steps from application to active partnership. No black-box evaluation, no drawn-out process.
Apply
Book a Unicorn intake call
A 30-minute conversation about where you are and what you're building. No investor deck required. We want to understand the idea, the team, and the stage, not see a polished pitch.
Evaluation
We assess fit honestly
We review market potential, team composition, and where Sparkling can genuinely add value. We give you honest feedback within one week, whether we move forward or not.
Negotiation
Equity terms, agreed together
If we believe in the project, we agree on equity terms and engagement scope together. Transparent, fair, and fully documented.
Partnership begins
CTO advisory, then build
CTO advisory starts immediately. Development follows the agreed roadmap. From this point, Sparkling has skin in the game, which is when you'll start to notice the difference.
What comes next
The Unicorn Program is the entry point to Sparkling's full ecosystem, not a standalone product.
Once accepted, you have access to everything Sparkling offers, from market analysis before the build, to CTO advisory throughout, to scale-up engineering when you're ready to grow. Every service in the ecosystem is connected. That's by design.
Market Analysis
Know what to build before you spend a single euro building it.
MVP Development
Shipped in 10—14 weeks. Built to last, not rebuilt after your Series A.
CTO for Hire
Included free with the Unicorn Program. Strategic technical leadership from day one.
Apply to the Unicorn Program
If you're building something real, let's find out if we're the right bet on it.
Book a 30-minute Unicorn intake call. Tell us about the idea, the stage, and the team. No deck, no commitment, just a direct conversation.
We respond to every application within one week. If it's not a fit, we'll tell you honestly, and point you to what might be.
