← BidFast NLT Labs

Path to Product

4 phases. 12 months. $27,500.

The full build roadmap for BidFast — from MVP to 200 paying operators.

Summary

Phase Timeline Cost Go signal
Phase 1 MVP Month 1–3 $8,500 Voice → proposal working for painting, cleaning, and pest control. 10 beta operators using it.
Phase 2 Pricing Engine Month 4–6 $7,000 Crowdsourced pricing data active in 5 metro areas. Operators reporting price confidence improvement.
Phase 3 Compliance Scale Month 7–9 $9,000 35-state compliance library live. $4,500 MRR. First 100 paying operators.
Phase 4 Platform Prep Month 10–12 $3,000 200 paying operators. $7,800 MRR. Trades OS cross-sell active.
Total $27,500 12 months to 200 operators + $7,800 MRR

Phase Detail

Phase 1

MVP — Month 1–3

$8,500

Tasks

  • Voice capture pipeline (Whisper API)
  • Scope-to-line-item AI engine (trade-specific prompts)
  • Branded proposal PDF generation
  • E-signature integration
  • Onboarding pricing calibration flow
  • 10-state compliance template library

Go signal

Voice → proposal working for painting, cleaning, and pest control. 10 beta operators using it.

Phase 2

Pricing Engine — Month 4–6

$7,000

Tasks

  • Local market pricing database (by zip code + trade)
  • Crowdsourced flywheel — win/loss pricing data collection
  • Pricing suggestion overlay on proposals
  • Jobber + Housecall Pro integration
  • Mobile-first UX polish
  • Expand to 20 states in compliance library

Go signal

Crowdsourced pricing data active in 5 metro areas. Operators reporting price confidence improvement.

Phase 3

Compliance Scale — Month 7–9

$9,000

Tasks

  • Full 35-state compliance template library (legal review)
  • Compliance auto-detection by operator location
  • Team accounts (up to 10 users)
  • Open tracking + follow-up reminders
  • QuickBooks integration
  • Conversion analytics dashboard

Go signal

35-state compliance library live. $4,500 MRR. First 100 paying operators.

Phase 4

Platform Prep — Month 10–12

$3,000

Tasks

  • Trades OS cross-sell integration hooks
  • Referral program (operator → operator)
  • Custom proposal template builder
  • Advanced analytics (close rate by proposal type)
  • API for integration partners
  • Seed raise collateral

Go signal

200 paying operators. $7,800 MRR. Trades OS cross-sell active.

Capital Ask

$27,500

Use of funds Amount
AI/engineering — voice pipeline + proposal engine $12,000
Compliance library — 35 states, legal review $8,000
Marketing & operator acquisition $5,000
Reserve $2,500

This is bootstrappable without external funding. The minimum viable business needs $27.5K — achievable from savings, revenue-based financing, or a single operator-investor.