About Eight Bit Studios
Your Quest. Our Story.
Building got cheaper. Choosing got harder. That's been true since we started in 2009, and it's more true now than ever.
Every founder hits the same wall. The gap between having an idea and launching something real. AI tools made prototyping fast. But performance, architecture, scalability, investor expectations. Those haven't gotten easier. And they're only half the problem. When you can build anything, knowing what's worth building is the real challenge.
We're Don Bora and Steve Polacek. Two people, no layers. We use AI agents and systems to deliver what used to require a team. But the judgment calls, the hard conversations about what to cut and when to ship, those are still human. That's the work we do.
The Founders
Steve Polacek
Co-Founder
Product and design lead. Steve helps founders cut through the noise and focus on what matters. He brings judgment to the build—making sure strategy aligns with execution and you're building something worth shipping.
LinkedInProgress over process.
Functional Beats Fictional
We start with code, not concepts—because real in your hands beats pretty on a slide. You'll have working software to react to, not decks.
Ship Early, Learn Fast
The only feedback that matters comes from real users. We optimize for getting you to market, not building the perfect product.
No Lock-In
You own your code. We use standard technologies and document everything. You can take it anywhere—or we can keep building together.
Two > Twenty
Most studios add headcount. We add systems. AI agents handle the repeatable work. We handle the decisions that matter. The result: founder-level attention at every stage, with the output of a much larger team.
What Makes Us Different
Most agencies sell process. We build things that work.
Where We Work
We're headquartered in Chicago with a presence in Dallas. But we work with founders everywhere—our process is built for remote collaboration.
Ready to Build Something Real?
Tell us what you're working on. We'll help you figure out what's worth building—and ship it.
Get Started