TEL101

Working with Telos

Introduces Telos as a fully managed, AI-powered custom software service for business leaders. Use this skill whenever you need to explain what Telos is, how it works, its pricing model, service modes (BUILD and BAU), core principles, the role of App Directors, or the customer onboarding journey. Trigger this skill when the conversation involves Telos sales, proposals, customer questions, onboarding, terms and conditions, pricing, credits, the Telos platform, or any discussion about how Telos delivers software. Also use when comparing Telos to low-code platforms, traditional dev shops, or freelancers.

Working with Telos

What is Telos?

Telos is a fully managed, AI-powered custom software service for ambitious CEOs and founders who want purpose-built software for their business — without the headache of running a software project.

Telos does not use low-code platforms, website builders, or drag-and-drop tools. Every application is custom-built to SaaS-grade quality using modern full-stack development practices, then hosted, operated, and evolved by Telos on an ongoing basis. The customer owns everything — code, data, designs, blueprint — with zero vendor lock-in.

Think of Telos as your software department on a subscription. You tell us what your business needs. We build it, run it, support it, and improve it. You focus on your business.

Telos is operated by Telos NZ Limited, based at Level 4, 40 Taranaki St, Wellington, New Zealand.

Website: https://www.telosready.com Contact: hello@telosready.com | +64 21 511 906 Support: support@telosready.com | +64 27 415 0717

Core Principles

Fully Managed

Telos handles everything: architecture, development, hosting, infrastructure, security scanning, monitoring, third-party subscriptions, and ongoing support. The customer never has to chase vendors, manage servers, or worry about SSL renewals. A 10% management fee is applied to third-party service costs with full transparency — no hidden charges, no surprise bills.

Fully Yours

The customer retains complete ownership of all intellectual property — ideas, designs, source code, data, and the application blueprint. There is no vendor lock-in. If a customer ever wants to leave, Telos will transfer all assets and service accounts within 10 working days.

Fully AI

Telos leverages AI agents throughout the entire lifecycle — from planning and development through to support and operations. Every interaction is captured as a ticket, and every ticket builds the AI's knowledge of the customer's business through the application blueprint. AI handles routine operations, prioritises requests, analyses technical issues, and optimises processes. This is not AI-washing — it's the core of how Telos operates at speed and at lower cost than traditional development.

Fully Autonomous

Telos operates as an autonomous software department. Customers don't need to project-manage, attend standups, or decode technical jargon. The system runs. When something needs attention, Telos handles it. When something needs a decision, the App Director brings it to the customer clearly.

The App Director

While Telos is a full-stack AI solution, every customer works with a human partner called an App Director. The App Director is the customer's single point of contact and the strategic bridge between the customer's business goals and the AI-powered delivery engine.

The App Director:

  • Leads discovery, onboarding, and ongoing relationship management
  • Translates business needs into technical direction
  • Reviews and validates AI-generated outputs before they reach the customer
  • Manages the backlog, priorities, and development roadmap
  • Ensures the customer gets value without needing to understand the technical details

The App Director is not a project manager waiting for instructions — they are a proactive partner who understands the customer's business and drives outcomes.

Service Modes: BUILD and BAU

BUILD Mode

BUILD mode is the initial intensive development phase where the customer's application is designed, built, and launched. This phase runs for a defined number of months (agreed during the proposal stage) and includes:

  • Application architecture and blueprint creation
  • UI/UX design
  • Full-stack development of the custom application
  • Integration with existing systems and data sources
  • Testing, deployment, and launch
  • 100 development credits per month included
  • Development credits accumulate and carry forward
  • Work is priced in credits via fixed-price quotes based on story points (a unit of business value)
  • Unused development credits roll over and can be used at any time

BUILD mode is where the heavy lifting happens. The customer's vision becomes working software.

BAU Mode (Business as Usual)

Once the application is live, the customer transitions to BAU mode — the ongoing operational phase. BAU mode is a monthly subscription that includes:

  • Use of the Telos platform, including the digital blueprint and AI-enabled service desk
  • Management of all application resources, services, and infrastructure
  • Security scanning, availability monitoring, and error monitoring
  • Design, planning, and testing of upcoming development work (within a 60-day horizon)
  • 20 support credits per month (reset monthly, do not carry forward)
  • A support credit covers a standard support request, which may include troubleshooting, maintenance, bug fixes, answering questions, and small code changes
  • Additional support or development credits can be purchased as needs evolve

BAU mode is low-friction. The customer raises requests through the Telos platform, the AI triages and learns, and the App Director ensures everything stays on track.

The customer can switch between service modes with 7 days' notice.

Next Steps: How to Get Started

1. Discovery Call

An initial conversation with an App Director to understand the customer's business, goals, pain points, and software needs. This is about listening — not selling. The aim is to determine whether Telos is the right fit and to scope the opportunity.

2. Proposal

Based on the discovery call, Telos prepares a clear proposal outlining the recommended approach, scope of the BUILD phase, estimated timeline, pricing, and what BAU mode will look like once the application is live.

3. Onboarding

Once the proposal is accepted, the customer is onboarded to the Telos platform. The App Director is assigned, access is configured, and the blueprint process begins — mapping the customer's business into a structured model that the AI agents will use throughout the engagement.

4. BUILD Mode (for X months)

The intensive development phase. The application is designed, built, tested, and launched. Duration varies based on scope and complexity, as agreed in the proposal.

The weekly cadence is the heartbeat of the BUILD phase. Each week, the App Director and the customer meet to review what has been built, demo working software, and align on the next priorities. The customer should expect to allocate meaningful time around each session — not just the meeting itself, but time to review, provide feedback, and make decisions. The faster the customer can make decisions, the faster Telos can move.

5. BAU Mode (ongoing)

The application transitions to ongoing managed operations. Support, monitoring, maintenance, and continued development happen on a monthly subscription basis, indefinitely.

Reference Documents

For detailed terms, pricing, and definitions, read the following reference files bundled with this skill:

  • TEL103 — Terms and Conditions — Full terms and conditions covering service modes, credits, IP ownership, liability, confidentiality, termination, and payment terms.
  • TEL102 — Pricing — Pricing model, credit system, subscription details, and consumption charges.