A staged operator model
A conventional agency is usually asked to build. A studio often wants to create and own a venture. Startup as a Service sits between those models: it starts by testing whether the idea, team, technology and route to market justify the next commitment.
The first useful output is not code. It is a clearer decision about what should be built, what should be tested and what should be stopped.
When it works best
The model fits founders with a serious idea, MVP teams with fragile product foundations, portfolio companies exploring a new digital venture and boards that need evidence before approving budget.
It is less useful when the scope is already fixed and the buyer only needs low-cost development capacity.
Use the Startup Readiness Review to decide which model fits your venture.