Choosing the right AI development agency is one of the most critical decisions for your product's success. This guide helps you evaluate agencies, ask the right questions, and avoid common pitfalls.
Understanding Your Needs. Before evaluating agencies, clearly define: What type of AI product are you building? What's your timeline and budget? Do you need ongoing support or just MVP development? What level of AI expertise is required?
Key Evaluation Criteria. Portfolio Quality: Review past AI projects, check if they've built similar products, assess technical complexity of their work. Team Expertise: Verify AI/ML experience, check technical certifications, assess team size and structure. Process and Methodology: Understand their development process, check for agile practices, verify quality assurance processes. Communication: Assess responsiveness, clarity of communication, project management approach.
Questions to Ask Agencies. How many AI products have you built? Can you share case studies of similar projects? What's your typical timeline for an AI MVP? How do you handle AI model training and optimization? What's included in your fixed price? How do you handle scope changes? What's your post-launch support model?
Red Flags to Watch For. Vague answers to technical questions, no portfolio or case studies, unwillingness to provide references, pressure to sign immediately, extremely low pricing (often indicates inexperience), no clear process or methodology.
Understanding Pricing Models. Fixed Price: Predictable cost, scope locked upfront, best for well-defined MVPs. Time and Materials: Flexible but unpredictable, risk of scope creep, better for evolving requirements. Hybrid: Fixed price for core, T&M for extras.
The SpeedMVPs Difference. We specialize in AI MVP development with a proven 2-3 week delivery model. Our fixed pricing eliminates surprises, and our portfolio demonstrates consistent quality across diverse AI products.
Making the Decision. Compare 3-5 agencies, check references from past clients, review contracts carefully, start with a small project if uncertain, trust your instincts about team fit and communication.
What You'll Get
Agency Evaluation Checklist
Comprehensive criteria for selecting agencies
Question Bank
Essential questions to ask potential agencies
Contract Review Guide
What to look for in agency contracts
