Work With DFL
There are four ways to work with DFL. They are different on purpose: one is free, one funds an exploration, one is a formal engagement, and one is a paid diagnostic.
DFL Challenge
Free. Bring us an interesting problem or question.
You do not pay to be heard. If a problem is genuinely interesting, DFL may choose to explore it because it matters, regardless of whether anyone funds it.
After you submit, DFL reviews it internally and responds with one of three answers:
- Accept — DFL explores it.
- Redirect — we point you to a better-fitting path.
- Decline — we explain why.
Submitting a challenge does not guarantee DFL will explore it.
Sponsor an Exploration
A person, company or organization can propose supporting an independent DFL exploration around a problem, technology, capability or opportunity within DFL's field of work.
You are supporting an exploration, not purchasing a predetermined result.
How it works:
- Exploration proposal — you describe what you would like DFL to look into, and why it matters.
- DFL review — we accept, redirect, or decline.
- Exploration brief — if accepted, we write down the question, the boundaries, and what outputs to expect.
- Sponsorship — the amount is discussed and agreed before work begins.
- Exploration — DFL does the work.
- Exploration findings — you receive what we actually found.
What could you sponsor?
Could AI agents control this part of my business? Possible exploration: DFL examines the process, experiments with possible agentic approaches, and identifies what appears automatable, what should stay under human control, and the risks. Possible findings: a documented assessment, evidence from experiments, and recommendations about what appears viable and what does not.
Could these two systems be connected so information stops getting lost between them? Possible exploration: DFL examines the information flow, integration paths, constraints and operational implications. Possible findings: a clearer picture of feasible integration options, limitations and potential next steps.
I want DFL to go deeper into this technology and tell me what they find. Possible exploration: research, experimentation, and prototyping where appropriate. Possible findings: what was tested, what was learned, limitations, opportunities and potential applications.
I saw a DFL capability and would like to support its further development. Possible exploration: DFL may deepen or extend the capability. Possible findings: new evidence, experiments, improvements, discoveries or potential directions.
These are examples of what an exploration can look like. They are not guarantees.
Before you sponsor
This is not a charitable donation. DFL is a for-profit laboratory, not a nonprofit organization, and sponsorship payments are not tax-deductible. DFL does not provide tax advice.
Explorations are delivered as findings, as-is, with no warranty. DFL makes no guarantee of a specific outcome, a working product, commercial viability, technical feasibility, or a fixed timeline.
Underlying methods, software and reusable capabilities created during an exploration remain DFL's. You keep whatever you brought with you. For negotiated IP, exclusivity or confidentiality, see Partner with DFL.
Partner with DFL
For formal commercial engagements: structured research, development, prototypes and builds, defined milestones, confidentiality, negotiated IP and contractual deliverables.
This is the path when the relationship needs a contract rather than an exploration.
How it works: inquire, discovery conversation, proposal with scope and terms, signed agreement, execution against milestones.
Connection Diagnostic
A bounded, qualification-gated look at what is not working together in your systems today.
It is not unlimited free work and it is not guaranteed. The clock starts only after eligibility, scope and the required inputs are confirmed.
Where to start
If you are not sure which one fits, start with a DFL Challenge or use the Contact page. We will point you to the right path.