# Introducing Co-Builds by Build First *Small-batch software, built alongside you* By [Hard Mode First](https://hardmodefirst.xyz) · 2026-02-10 --- Over the past year, we’ve trained 1,000+ people in AI through [Build First](https://buildfirst.ai/) workshops and hackathons. After almost every session, the same question came up: _“This was great. But I have this_ **_specific_** _thing I’ve been wanting to build for my company or business. How do I actually build that?”_ At first, we said no, Build First isn’t an outsourced dev shop. But around the same time, I noticed something else happening. More friends (operators, founders, even educators) started opting out of full-time roles and leaning into fractional work. Not just client work, but building their own things while building alongside others. That’s when it hit me: The moment isn’t about going solo or handing work off. **What if the teaching _is_ the building?** Those friends are now becoming part of the Build First network. Senior builders from Shopify, Bloomberg, Stack Overflow, LinkedIn, Amazon, and many more startups. People who are actively shipping their own AI tools while helping others do the same. As [I’ve written about](https://hardmodefirst.xyz/the-learning-commons), the best way to learn AI is to build something real. Real-time collaborations like [pair prompting](https://hardmodefirst.xyz/pair-prompting) with a friend have helped me unblock myself in a serious way on my own builds. Maybe co-created software could be a natural extension of this learning framework. **Today, we have an answer:** [**Co-Builds**](https://buildfirst.ai/co-builds)**.** If workshops teach you _how_ to build, Co-Builds help you build _something real._ ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d24f8a0bb4b076d2fe24f80f4fce3ad30d2747a7be13e67d7b07ba407c4ba914.jpg) Learn more about Co-Builds at buildfirst.ai/co-builds * * * Who is this for? ---------------- Co-Builds are for business owners and operators who: * Have a specific problem that software could solve * Don’t need “enterprise grade” they need “exactly this” for your particular niche, network, or community * Want to understand what they own, not just hand it off to a developer You don’t need to be technical. You just need to know your business. How does it work? ----------------- The premise of a Co-Build is simple: **Let’s make something real, together. And then let’s make sure you know how to carry it forward on your own.** When you book a Co-Build, we’ll match your problem to someone who’s built something similar before. This makes it a participatory, hands-on experience. By the end, you don’t just get working software. You also get to learn how it works. You can change it and fix it on your own. Or (if you prefer), you can hand it back to us for a lightweight maintenance retainer. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/30eb400ee605393444cd0030ba463cc598bf5445b9072ac7f087c3cfe2c1a923.jpg) What can you build? ------------------- Our first Co-Builds are underway right now: A local small business owner building his first website, and an educator prototyping a math learning app for her students. Both came in knowing their problem. Neither had built software before. We’re excited to see where they take them next. Through our workshops and AI Power Hours, we’ve seen what happens when people start building: * Compensation calculators based on real data * Small business websites that unlocked real income streams * Sales dashboards, landing page generators, content remixers, personal operating systems, and more You can see some these [first builds here](https://buildfirst.ai/first-builds). ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/ccad00bbe61c53119607cce897b1ff3e12b4c5cb4c1a56789b755475a5bbc3a8.jpg) What’s Next? ------------ We believe the next generation of builders aren’t just engineers. They’re people with deep domain expertise in niche networks or communities. People like you. If you’ve got a problem you want to scope, [book a call](https://calendly.com/bethanytime/build-first-15-min-intro). We’ll define it together and match you with the right builder. And if you’re a senior builder who wants to ship alongside others while building your own work, we’re assembling Season 1 of the Build First network. Drop me a line at [bethany@buildfirst.ai](http://bethany@buildfirst.ai). * * * _Build First is an AI learning lab that teaches teams and leaders to build real AI tools quickly, even without technical backgrounds._ **_Learn more about_** [**_Co-Builds_**](https://buildfirst.ai/co-builds)**_._** --- *Originally published on [Hard Mode First](https://hardmodefirst.xyz/introducing-co-builds-by-build-first)*