Idea-stage startup incubator

We help founders find product market fit.

Entrepreneurs are brilliant, hardworking, crazy people trying to change the world. Our job is to help you find product-market fit — without losing your motivation along the way.

Process > guesswork
Frameworks that reduce risk.
PMF is the magic
We optimize for traction.
Marathon mindset
Stay focused long enough to win.

Our Mission

Help founders succeed — and only win when they win.

We're not here to “sell services.”

Our goal is not to make money off entrepreneurs.
Our goal is to make money with entrepreneurs.
We're aligned with outcomes, not billable hours, packages, advisors or any other gimmick that takes before it gives.

You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.

— Zig Ziglar
Founders collaborating around a table

The 3-Step Ladder

Clarity → Proof → Permission to build.

1

Idea Reality Check

Goal: Decide if the idea is worth pursuing — before you burn months.

  • Problem statement (no features)
  • ICP + urgency + willingness-to-pay signals
  • Assumption “kill list” + go/no-go recommendation
Best for: brand new ideas or “I need a sanity check.”
2

Market Validation Sprint

Goal: Prove the pain is real and people will pay — without building an MVP.

  • 10–20 conversation plan + scripts
  • Pattern analysis: what's consistent vs. noise
  • Proceed / pivot / kill decision
Best for: founders serious about finding PMF.
3

Earned MVP Sprint

Goal: Build only what the market has already asked for.

  • MVP scope contract (in/out) + non-goals
  • Feature→assumption map + exit criteria
  • Prototype or thin build that supports selling
Best for: validated ideas ready for momentum.
Important: We don't rush step 3. If step 1 or 2 says “not yet,” we treat that as a win. The cheapest MVP is the one you never built.

AI Is Changing the World (and the startup game)

The speed bumps are disappearing. The idea + the execution path matter more than ever.

The obstacles are getting removed

AI is rapidly turning what used to be major barriers into small inconveniences — or eliminating them entirely. Things like programming languages, graphic creation, software engineering, and even solution architecture are becoming less of a gate and more of a set of accelerators.

  • Code: prototypes and features can be generated faster than ever
  • Design: brand assets, UI concepts, and content can be created in minutes
  • Architecture: patterns and best practices are more accessible than ever
  • Iteration: “build → test → learn” cycles are dramatically shorter

What matters now: idea → execution → learning

When the cost of building drops, the advantage shifts to founders who can:

Choose the right problem. Build something people genuinely need — not something that merely sounds clever.
Follow a framework. Execute with discipline so momentum doesn't get replaced by random activity.
Avoid the “false progress” trap. Shipping features feels productive — but it's often just expensive procrastination.
Stay motivated long enough to reach PMF. The tools are faster, but the journey still takes grit.
Bottom line: AI removes friction. It doesn't remove the need for clarity, customer truth, and endurance. That's where we help founders win.

The Founder Framework

Nine truths we reinforce — because motivation is finite and mistakes are expensive.

1) Respect the founder

Entrepreneurs are smart, hardworking people trying to make the world better. We treat the mission seriously.

2) Alignment over invoices

We're not here to build a $100M services business. We help you succeed — and we win when you win.

3) Framework beats “vibes”

Great ideas fail without a process. We give you a repeatable path from idea → demand → PMF.

4) “What not to do” is leverage

Knowing what to avoid is often more valuable than knowing what to do next.

5) Learn from wins and scars

Founders can learn from others' successes — and skip years of pain by learning from mistakes.

6) Motivation is a dependency

Staying focused is often harder than the work. We help you keep momentum when the novelty fades.

7) PMF is where the magic happens

Everything changes when customers pull the product out of your hands. We optimize for that moment.

8) People quit right before it works

Many startups fail inches from success. We help you separate “keep going” from “pivot now.”

9) Most ideas are marathons

The sprint is the pitch. The marathon is the business. We help you train for the real race.

Product-Market Fit (PMF)

PMF isn't a feeling — it's measurable pull: repeated demand, clear willingness to pay, and a repeatable way to acquire customers. That's the scoreboard we care about.

Let's find your PMF

Meet the 3cStudios AI Team

We've developed a team of specialized AI agents to help us, help you find product market fit.

Alfie — Vision & Strategy

Alfie

Vision & Strategy

Sets direction, aligns outcomes to business goals, and ensures every decision ladders up to measurable impact.

Evern — Requirements & Prompt Engineering

Evern

Requirements & Prompt Engineering

Transforms ambiguous ideas into clear requirements and high-leverage prompts that drive consistent execution.

Atlas — Solution & Enterprise Architecture

Atlas

Solution & Enterprise Architecture

Designs scalable, secure system architectures that balance speed today with flexibility tomorrow.

Mike — Infrastructure & IaC

Mike

Infrastructure & IaC

Builds and maintains cloud infrastructure using repeatable, auditable Infrastructure-as-Code patterns.

Delta — CI/CD & Release Engineering

Delta

CI/CD & Release

Automates build, test, and deployment pipelines to keep releases predictable, fast, and low-risk.

Bob — Coding & Co-Pilot

Bob

Coding & Co-Pilot

Implements features efficiently, pairing with developers to accelerate delivery without sacrificing quality.

Echo — Frontend & UX

Echo

Frontend & UX

Turns requirements into accessible, responsive interfaces with a focus on clarity, usability, and consistency.

Tango — QA Engineering

Tango

QA Engineering

Validates functionality through structured testing to ensure reliability before anything reaches production.

Scribe — Documentation

Scribe

Documentation

Captures decisions, workflows, and technical details so knowledge stays clear, current, and shareable.

Quill — Content Strategist

Quill

Content Strategist

Crafts clear, consistent content that supports the brand, improves SEO, and turns expertise into trust.

IDA — Finance & CFO

IDA

Finance & CFO

Keeps the numbers honest—pricing, margins, forecasts, and unit economics to guide smart decisions.

Wren — Marketing & Customer Acquisition

Wren

Marketing & Customer Acquisition

Owns positioning, messaging, and conversion strategy to turn interest into qualified demand.

And yes, you are likely to hear us anthropomorphize them from time to time. It makes collaboration more fun!

Jeffery C. Dannel — Founder of 3cStudios

A note from the founder

If you've made it this far down the page, I hope it means you're an entrepreneur with a great idea—and the kind of passion that makes you unstoppable. That hard work doesn't scare you, and that you're determined to help change the world.

I have a form that helps us determine whether we're a good fit to work together. We're definitely not a one-size-fits-all organization, and we're clear about where we can help the most. If we're not able to work with you, I'll personally email you with my direct phone number, explain why, and—if possible—help you find the right people to work with.

The journey from idea to product-market fit (PMF) is rarely quick or easy. But my promise to you is this: you will never outwork us, and we will do everything possible to help you succeed.

— Jeffery C. Dannel
Founder

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