Eight Bit Studios — App Development, Fractional CTO, and Product Strategy for Startups
Beyond the Wall
Anyone can use AI to build something. Getting from "it works on my screen" to something people pay for, trust, and come back to is a different problem. That's what we do.
Don & Steve
Eight Bit is a two-person app studio. Don's a developer in Chicago. Steve's a designer in Dallas. We build our own products and help founders launch theirs. No layers, no account managers.
More about us →Ways We Work
Don acts as Fractional CTO and developer. Steve leads product and design. Most teams engage on a monthly retainer across two lanes: Advise and Build.
See engagement modes →What We Ship
AI-enabled apps, integrations, and systems like these:
Perfume Lens
AI-powered fragrance discovery with camera-based bottle recognition and personalized scent matching.
Launched HealthcareHealth.Vet
VA Community Care provider directory connecting veterans with eligible healthcare providers.
Launched B2B / HRScoutLogic
Background screening and compliance company. Building modern SaaS tooling.
In Development
M y F i r s t W e e k e n d R u n n i n g N a n o C l a w o n a M a c M i n i
I spent a weekend connecting an AI agent to our portal, repos, and Slack. By Sunday night, I had a 24/7 assistant up and running. Here's how it went down.
W h e n t h e D e m o I s t h e S p e c
Your AI prototype isn't throwaway work. It's the most detailed spec document you'll ever write.
T h e C h e a p e s t M V P I s a P h o n e C a l l
Before you build anything, call 20 people. The answers will change what you build.
B e s t A p p D e v A g e n c i e s f o r S t a r t u p s
A ranked comparison of app development agencies for startup founders. What each offers, their pricing, and how to pick the right partner.