Think Slow. Move Fast.
Build Things That Last.
Build Things That Last.
Bitcoin Studios partners with disciplined entrepreneurs to build early-revenue Bitcoin businesses through a validation-first, founder-aligned studio model – across payments, lending, and practical Bitcoin applications.
We're equity-efficient, execution-focused, and built for global reach.
Who We Help & What We Build
If you're solving real problems in the Bitcoin ecosystem, we want to co-found with you.
Bitcoin Studios exists to turn high-value use-cases into early revenue businesses. We're not interested in generic wallets or hype projects. We are interested in unsexy, monetizable niches where Bitcoin shines, such as:.
Remittance Solutions
Cross-border corridors that cut fees by 90% using Lightning rails
Payroll & Contractor Payments
Instant global payroll settlement for remote teams via Lightning
BTC-Backed Lending
Loans secured by Bitcoin for a global borrower base
Merchant Infrastructure
Payment solutions enabling businesses to accept and settle in BTC
Treasury Tools
Corporate custody and compliance solutions for Bitcoin holdings
Supply Chain Finance
Bitcoin-backed trade finance and invoice factoring for cross-border commerce
Structured Products (Emerging)
Programmable financial instruments with automated execution on Bitcoin
AI & Agent Payments (Emerging)
Decentralized, autonomous agent-to-agent economies powered by Bitcoin rails
If your idea leverages Bitcoin as sound or programmable money to solve a real customer pain, apply now.
What We Do
Services-First Studio Model
We co-build your startup from day zero. Bitcoin Studios is a startup studio where our founders act as your co-founders—not consultants or advisors. We dive in and build alongside you, investing our time and expertise for equity. When your venture is ready, we help you incorporate, raise funding, and spin out as an independent company.
01
Idea Rapid-Validation
Once we confirm problem-founder fit, we kick off with a time-boxed sprint (4–6 weeks) to test your core hypothesis. Market research, quant surveys, landing page tests – whatever scrappy methods get signal. The Goal: Prove there's a real customer problem and willingness to pay before building heavy tech.
02
MVP & Early Traction
Assuming we see signal, our team (product, dev, growth marketers) works with you to design an MVP or prototype. We'll get a basic offering in front of users within weeks. The Goal: Acquire your first users or first revenue ASAP – often while still pre-incorporation.
03
Co-Founder Execution
We operate as true co-founders, not consultants. We invest our time and skills for sweat equity (a small equity stake). We handle company-building grunt work: product design, coding features, analytics setup, growth experiments, back-office setup. You focus on vision and domain expertise.
04
Spin-Out & Scale
We help incorporate a new company when the venture needs to accept payments or generate revenue. When it hits our success criteria, we then line up initial funding and spin it out as an independent business with you as CEO. Post-spin-out, we stick around as needed – on your board, with optional ongoing support.
No fees, no catch. We don't charge founders for this program. We earn equity in the new venture (typically in the teens percentage-wise, negotiated transparently). We're shoulder-to-shoulder, building from scratch with a focus on getting to revenue fast.
Our Stage-Gate System
We "Think Slow. Move Fast. Build Things That Last." – which means we ruthlessly validate at each step. Our Stage-Gate model guides every venture from zero to spin-out, ensuring we invest time and resources only in ideas with proven potential.
Gate 1: Problem–Founder Fit
Goal: Confirm a real customer problem and that you have a unique edge tackling it.
Evidence: 50+ customer interviews plus quant survey pinpointing top pain point; early adopter enthusiasm.
Timebox: 2–3 weeks with 1–2 team members.
Kill criteria: Can't clearly articulate the problem or targeting non-urgent need.
Gate 2: Solution Signal Test
Goal: Validate that your proposed solution resonates with target customers.
Evidence: 50–100 sign-ups on smoke-test landing page, or LOIs/MOUs from potential customers; individuals ready to pre-pay or pilot.
Timebox: 4-6 weeks with UX designer and marketer.
Kill criteria: No meaningful sign-ups or customer interest; solution doesn't resonate.
Gate 3: MVP & First Launch
Goal: Develop functional MVP and get it in hands of real users, aiming for first revenue.
Evidence: Working product and at least 1–3 paying customers or validated willingness to pay.
Timebox: 8–10 weeks for MVP build and initial launch with 1-2 engineers and product manager.
Kill criteria: Can't ship working product or zero revenue after build cycle.
Gate 4: Traction & Repeatability
Goal: Prove initial success wasn't a fluke – show repeatable usage or sales and path to scale.
Evidence: Reach agreed MRR or equivalent revenue within 3–4 months of launch, OR consistent user growth (e.g., 3+ consecutive months of 20% MoM growth).
Timebox: 3–6 months post-spin-out with dedicated core team.
Kill criteria: Flat or declining growth; can't reach agreed MRR threshold or show repeatable customer acquisition.
Gate 5: Spin-Out & Full Independence
Decision Point: The venture is ready for full independence and external funding. (Note: Legal incorporation may occur earlier, around Gate 3, to accept revenue).
Goal: Secure initial external funding and establish the venture as a fully independent company with its own CEO.
Kill criteria: No clear path to profitability or sustainable unit economics; inability to attract external seed funding.
If pass: The venture formally spins out. Bitcoin Studios remains a supportive equity partner, and our team members transition to new projects, leaving the fully independent company to scale.
"By enforcing short cycles measured in weeks, coupled with clear kill criteria, we ensure we're always working on ideas with solid proof behind them." — Robbie Maltby, CEO
Our Venture Thesis
What We Invest Our Time In
We are laser-focused on Bitcoin-native opportunities that make business sense today. That means real businesses with real revenue models, not speculation plays or token schemes.
In-Scope
Hot & Ready:
- Remittances & cross-border payments – Massive pain, proven demand, Lightning solves it today
- Global payroll solutions – Huge remote work market, clear ROI for businesses
- Bitcoin-backed lending – Established demand, clear business model, strong unit economics
Strong & Growing:
- Merchant infrastructure – Proven need, competitive but viable with right positioning
- Treasury & custody tools – Growing corporate adoption, regulatory clarity improving
- Supply chain finance – Massive market, Bitcoin reduces friction and settlement times
Emerging (with revenue validation):
- Structured products – Sophisticated market, smaller but high-value initial customers
- AI agent payments – Future-facing, early but accelerating with autonomous economies
These are areas where customers have proven willingness to pay and where Bitcoin gives a competitive edge.
Out-of-Scope
Generic wallets or purely speculative plays.
- Generic crypto wallets without differentiation
- New blockchains or alternative cryptocurrencies
- Meme coins or token speculation projects
- Non-Bitcoin plays (no ETH/Solana/Web3 dApps)
- Ideas requiring billions of users to adopt Bitcoin overnight
- Concepts dependent purely on number-go-up
If your idea's success depends on speculation rather than cash flow, it's not for us. We're Bitcoin maximal-ish in focus, concentrating on Bitcoin and its layers (Lightning, Ark, sidechains).
Founder-Market Fit is a must: We look for founders who know their market's pain intimately. Maybe you ran a remittance business in Africa, or you're a developer deep in Lightning for years. Strong conviction plus openness to iterate is the combo we love.
Global Reach, Strategic Base
Operating Model & Location
Bitcoin Studios acts as a brand wrapper for our co-founding work, not a separate corporate entity. Our founders operate from Dubai, leveraging its dynamic environment. However, each venture we co-found will be spun out as its own LLC or similar legal structure when it needs to accept payments or operate formally.
We, as co-founders, work directly with each business. We incorporate these ventures wherever it makes sense for their domain – be it a Delaware C-Corp, a UAE entity leveraging Dubai's progressive regulations, BVI, or elsewhere. We figure out the optimal structure case-by-case, always prioritizing the venture's specific needs.
Founders of these ventures do not have to relocate to Dubai, though you're welcome to join us here. It's fast becoming a hub for Bitcoin innovation, offering a supportive ecosystem, 0% tax benefits, and a central timezone for global operations.
VARA: Progressive Regulation
Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) offers a clear regulatory framework for Bitcoin ventures.
0% Tax Advantages
New ventures incorporated in Dubai's free zones can benefit from 0% corporate and income tax.
Global Connectivity
Dubai's central timezone efficiently connects East and West, facilitating global business operations for our ventures.
Funding Strategy
Early Profitability is the New Traction
Our ventures are built to be fundable. By focusing on early revenue and proven traction, we position each spin-out to attract smart capital when the time is right.
Why Our Ventures Raise Easily
- Proven traction: By the time of spin-out, you'll have customers, revenue, and data
- Polished pitch: Professional deck with metrics that matter
- Strong signal: Studio validation means rigorous vetting
- Network access: Direct intros to Bitcoin-focused VCs and angels
- Unit economics: Clear path to profitability attracts smart capital
Bitcoin Studios Fund I (Launching 2027)
By 2027, we plan to establish Bitcoin Studios Fund I to co-invest alongside angels and VCs in our spin-outs – providing further validation and skin in the game.
This micro-fund will enable us to write checks into each venture, complementing the sweat equity we've already invested through our studio services. Until then, our founders act as direct co-founders, building each venture to profitability.
The ventures we co-found aim to break even early or have clear unit economics, making them attractive to investors tired of 'growth at all costs'. Each venture will be incorporated as its own LLC or similar legal structure when it needs to accept payments or generate its first revenue. The full 'spin-out' to operate fully independently happens later, once the venture is ready.
Timeline & Milestones
Doors Opening Soon – Our 1-Year Roadmap
Q4 2025 – Soft Launch
Official debut at Bitcoin MENA conference in Dubai. Start sourcing first founder(s).
Milestone: Initial community launch – recruit first Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) and roster of Bitcoin engineers/designers.
Q1 2026 – First Venture Sprint
Kick off first venture (tentatively Bit Mortgage – enabling Bitcoin holders to access home loans). Find right CEO co-founder and run full validation sprint.
Milestone: Pilot launch for Venture #1 with early users by end of Q1. Form Bitcoin Builders community (meetups/online group).
Q2 2026 – Scale the Studio Team
With one venture underway, hire COO for Bitcoin Studios to systematize operations. Start second venture with new founder or from idea backlog.
Milestone: 2 ventures active; Studio operating playbook documented; first revenue from corporate contract.
Q3 2026 – Laying Fund Groundwork
Design blueprint for Bitcoin Studios Fund I. Begin LP discussions and legal setup for fund launch in Q4 or early 2027. Hire CFO or Fund Manager profile.
Milestone: Fund blueprint ready; 3 ventures in pipeline at different gates; first external seed raise for Venture #1.
Q4 2026 – Expand & Network
Formally establish Fund I. Host inaugural Bitcoin Studios Summit – IRL gathering of Bitcoin founders, engineers, and investors in Dubai.
Milestone: Fund I launched (~$10M starter fund), studio's first exit or acquisition offer, strong brand established in Bitcoin startup community.
We reserve the right to adjust these plans on the fly – as any startup should! But this is our current trajectory.
Founding Team 👥
Co-Founder & CEO
Robbie is a full-stack marketer and venture builder responsible for studio operations, go-to-market strategy, and early revenue generation. He previously helped scale several fintech startups from inception to thousands of users, focusing on positioning, acquisition efficiency, and sustainable unit economics. In his spare time, he organises Bitcoin Works — a growing community of Bitcoin builders, contributors, and enthusiasts.
Davide Falcone
Co-Founder & CTO
Davide is a backend engineer who cares about building payment and trading systems that don’t fall over. He handles architecture, backend design, and getting our products from an idea to something real and running in production.
He’s worked across DeFi trading engines, credential systems, and high-throughput backend services, and has a bias toward simple, reliable solutions that ship fast.
We will be adding awesome team members and advisors: We have a network of Bitcoin developers, compliance experts, and venture mentors we'll announce soon. (Advisory board TBA – expect some familiar names in Bitcoin and in the MENA startup scene.)
If you're interested in working with Bitcoin Studios – whether as an Entrepreneur in Residence, an engineer on our build team, or an intern – get in touch!
Our Network
Trusted by visionary founders, engineers, and investors dedicated to building the future of Bitcoin.
We're actively cultivating a robust ecosystem of collaborators who are accelerating innovation and driving impact within the Bitcoin space. Our partners are at the forefront of this new digital economy, shaping its evolution.
Become a Founding Partner
Join an exclusive network of early adopters and strategic allies. Collaborate with Bitcoin Studios to define, build, and scale groundbreaking ventures.
Apply Now 🚀
Join Our Startup Studio
Ready to build? Bitcoin Studios works with a limited number of founders each year. We evaluate applications on a rolling basis. If you're a builder (or soon-to-be builder) with a compelling Bitcoin business idea, we'd love to hear from you.
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🔒 Note: Everything you share is confidential and will be used solely to assess fit. This is not a form to solicit investments – it's to join our studio program.
After you submit: We'll review internally and reach out within 2 weeks if there's a potential match. We might invite you to a quick call or ask for more info. Our selection criteria prioritize founder domain expertise, problem clarity, and early evidence over fancy pitch decks.
FAQ – We commonly get asked
Do I have to give up a huge chunk of equity?
No. Our model is to earn a minority stake in your company as co-founders, typically 15–20% range (exact number depends on how much heavy lifting we do, finalized when we incorporate (which happens when we hit first revenue)). You, as CEO/founding entrepreneur, will always have the largest stake and control.
We take just enough to make our effort worthwhile and signal to future investors that we're meaningfully involved. Remember, we're not charging cash – our equity share is in exchange for significant development, design, and growth work (often hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of value). We also vest our shares alongside you post-spinout.
Who owns the IP and product we build?
You and the new company do. During the studio phase, we build under Bitcoin Studios' umbrella for practical reasons, but once we spin the venture out, all intellectual property (code, designs, domains, etc.) is transferred to the new company.
If a project doesn't spin out (killed in validation), ownership of any code or assets will be discussed case-by-case – usually, if you want to continue independently, we'll let you use what was built. The founder(s) and the venture will hold the IP upon successful spin-out, clearly documented in our agreements.
Do I need to be in Dubai or have a UAE company?
Nope. We welcome founders globally. Our base in Dubai is strategic – progressive crypto regulatory regime (VARA) and thriving fintech scene – but your venture can incorporate wherever is optimal (often Delaware, BVI, etc.).
Dubai is an emerging Bitcoin hub, so some teams may choose to relocate or set up here for advantages like 0% tax and access to Middle East markets. It's an option, not a requirement. We operate remote-friendly with periodic in-person offsites.
What's the time commitment? Can I keep my day job?
In the very initial stage (problem validation sprint), founders can contribute ~15-20 hours/week. However, once we move past Gate 1 or 2, we expect founders to go full-time on the venture. Building a startup is intense; being all-in is required for success.
A typical week post-validation involves daily standups, working sessions with our team, customer calls, etc. We won't waste your time with long incubator-style "curriculum" – we're building, testing, selling continuously. Be prepared to jump in full-time as soon as there's a whiff of traction (usually within a few weeks).
What if the studio decides to kill the project, but I'm still passionate about it?
If Bitcoin Studios says "the metrics aren't there, we need to halt" and you still believe in the idea, you have two options: (1) Pivot together – convince us there's a smarter angle to try (we're open-minded, show us a reasonable plan), or (2) Part ways amicably – you take the idea and whatever you built and continue on your own.
We won't hold you hostage. We might retain a small equity right if you go on to build it into a company (because of our contributions), but we're not going to block you. If you prove us wrong later by making it work solo, we'll be the first to cheer you on!
How do you help with fundraising? Will you invest money as well?
We help massively with fundraising once a venture is spin-out ready. We ensure all prep is solid: pitch deck, financial model, data room with traction results. We then introduce you to relevant investors – Bitcoin-focused VCs, regional investors in MENA, and global angels who love Bitcoin deals.
An intro from us is a strong signal: investors know the venture has been through intense vetting and has our skin in the game. At launch, Bitcoin Studios won't write a big check, but we plan to launch Studio Fund I by early 2027, which will co-invest a small amount (perhaps $100k+) into each spin-out.
What if I already have funding or an existing team?
Our program is primarily designed for pre-seed stage – often solo founders or founding teams of two with an idea and maybe minimal funding. If you already raised a substantial round or have a full team, traditional accelerator or VC might make more sense.
That said, there are cases we'd consider: you raised friends & family round but are stuck on product-market fit – we could operate like an in-house SWAT team to reboot traction (for equity or revenue share). Or if you have technical team but lack go-to-market expertise (or vice versa), we could complement that. Be upfront with what you have and need.
Is this an accelerator or incubator? How is a studio different?
We're not an accelerator (3-month cohorts of many startups with small investment and mentorship ending in demo day). We're also not a passive incubator. A venture studio actually forms new companies by pairing with founders.
We don't have yearly cohorts or standard curriculum; we start ventures on a rolling basis. We don't just mentor – we execute (our team writes your code, designs your logo, crafts marketing copy). Think of us as co-founders for hire, with a playbook. By "graduation," you've built a product and signed customers.
How do you decide which ideas to pursue? Can I pitch you my idea?
We have two pipelines: internally-generated ideas (backlog of concepts we think are promising) and founder-brought ideas. For external ideas, please pitch us via the Founder Application Form above!
We decide based on:
- Bitcoin-native: Leverages Bitcoin or solves problem in Bitcoin/Lightning ecosystem.
- Monetizable: Can make money relatively early via known business models.
- Founder fit: Do you have an edge – deep understanding of customer or unique skill?
- Our bandwidth: 2–3 ventures/year initially.
What about legal, regulatory, compliance issues – will you help?
Absolutely. Many Bitcoin businesses touch on regulated areas (payments, exchange, lending). One benefit of being in our studio is that we've got playbooks for legal entity setup, regulatory considerations, and connections to specialized law firms.
If your idea needs a VARA license in Dubai or Money Service Business registration in the US, we'll identify that early and plan accordingly. We have mentors/advisors who are compliance officers and lawyers in the crypto space. Our presence in Dubai means we're plugged into a proactive regulatory environment – VARA is the world's first dedicated virtual assets regulator.
Still have questions? Send us an email. We're happy to clarify anything else. If you've read this far, you're exactly the kind of thorough founder we'd love to work with! 🙌
Advancing Bitcoin Together.
One Profitable Business at a Time.
One Profitable Business at a Time.
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Legal
Nothing on this site is investment advice, solicitation, or an offering of securities. We're a venture studio (co-founders) – not a fund or broker.
Bitcoin is volatile; building startups is risky. Any forward-looking statements are exactly that – forward-looking.
© 2025 Bitcoin Studios is a sub-brand of Northbound Digital LTD. All rights reserved.