Startups need capital-efficient AI — low burn, fast iteration, no lock-in as they grow. dgm is an AI consultancy for UK startups, building lean AI with osFoundry. (dgm is an independent integration partner; osFoundry is a separate company’s product.)
What we do for startups
We help UK startups build AI capital-efficiently:
- scope a lean MVP;
- build it cheaply;
- iterate fast; and
- avoid lock-in as you grow.
We scope deliberately small so you prove traction before scaling costs.
Keep early burn low
Three levers keep startup AI costs down:
- usage pricing, no per-seat fees — cost tracks use;
- bring-your-own-key — pay model providers directly, no markup; and
- local inference — run models on your own hardware.
A lean MVP can be built and tested without large up-front spend. (See AI grants for startups for funding too.)
Build in-house or with us?
For genuinely differentiating product AI, you may build (on existing models); for everything else, a consultancy or platform is faster and cheaper. dgm can build with you and upskill your team — speed now, capability later — and you’re never locked in, since osFoundry is source-available and model-agnostic. (See build vs buy and avoid vendor lock-in.)
Funding routes
Genuine R&D may qualify for R&D tax relief (including ERIS), Innovate UK competitions, Start Up Loans, and devolved support (Techscaler, SMARTCymru, Invest NI). (See AI grants for startups.) dgm scopes the project; the application is your or a specialist’s job.
Engagement and pricing
A fixed-fee assessment and roadmap, then a monthly engagement, with no per-seat fees and bring-your-own-key keeping platform costs low — scope kept lean. Contact us for a quote.
dgm is an independent integration partner with zero integrations so far. To scope capital-efficient startup AI, book a consultation with dgm. General information; scope and pricing per project.