Tequity

History and Founding

Tequity was founded in 2020 in Bengaluru by Ajay Kumar, Rahul Nair, and Balaji V, who had previously built and sold multiple startups. The trio recognized a persistent gap: many AI ideas never made it past the prototype stage due to a lack of production engineering. They built Tequity to bridge that gap, focusing on end-to-end AI systems rather than just consulting or staffing. The company gained significant traction after the ChatGPT explosion in late 2022, rapidly shipping over 50 production AI systems.

Business Model

Tequity positions itself as a long-term product partner, not a project-based vendor. It offers three engagement models: - Build Your MVP: a 4-week, fixed-fee engagement ($10,000–15,000) for founders to validate an AI idea. - Iterate to PMF: a monthly retainer (from $12,000/month) providing a dedicated team of PMs, designers, engineers, and QA to iterate toward product-market fit. - Scale Your Team: contract staffing (from $3,000/month per hire) for companies that have achieved PMF and need to scale rapidly.

Revenue comes primarily from retainers and contract hires, with average client engagements exceeding two years. The company claims US-quality output at 30–40% lower cost due to senior Indian talent with US timezone overlap.

Products and Platforms

Tequity does not license its own software products. Instead, it builds custom AI systems for clients using its proprietary delivery processes. Key technology areas include LLM application development, computer vision, document intelligence, object detection, and voice AI. The studio has built systems for biomedical software, enterprise SaaS, and AI-native applications. Notable clients include a biopharma startup whose software is now used by leading American pharmaceutical companies.

Market Position

Tequity competes with traditional development agencies and offshore outsourcing firms, but differentiates through its AI-native expertise and partnership model. It targets VC-backed startups from pre-seed to Series B, claiming to help them secure funding rounds. The company has no presence in the iGaming or gambling sector; its primary verticals are healthcare, enterprise SaaS, and AI-native applications. Competitors likely include other AI-focused studios like Tractable or Dataiku, though Tequity’s model is more akin to a product studio than a platform provider.

Leadership and Team

Tequity has a flat structure with five co-founders holding functional roles: Ajay Kumar (Director), Rahul Nair (Head of Engineering, often called CTO by clients), Balaji V (Director), Ishiyetaa Sani (Head of Design, joined via Beyond Design merger), and Deepak Bhagya (Head of Delivery, joined via WebSoham merger). The team exceeds 100 people, including product managers, designers, engineers, and QA specialists, with core ML engineers on staff. The founders remain actively involved in client engagements.

Mergers and Expansion

In 2023, Tequity merged with Beyond Design (a product strategy and design firm founded by Ishiyetaa Sani) and WebSoham (a delivery-focused agency founded by Deepak Bhagya). These mergers added design and delivery capabilities, strengthening the end-to-end offering. The company now operates offices in Bengaluru (headquarters), Mumbai (Design Centre), and Jodhpur (Technology Centre).

Recent Developments

Tequity continues to grow its client base and headcount. The company does not appear in major media coverage but relies on client testimonials and its website for marketing. Its rapid turnaround times (one day for critical bug fixes, six weeks for MVPs) are highlighted as key differentiators. The studio is not publicly traded and does not disclose financials.