--- title: "How We Work | New Discovery Agency" description: "NDA goes deep with every client. Learn our phased engagement model — discovery, build, operate." url: https://newdiscovery.agency/how-we-work/ language: en --- How We Work # Rigorous by design. _Selective by necessity._ Simple premise: to be accountable for outcomes, you have to control the system that produces them. So we built a different engagement model — and we're selective about who we run it with. [See how each unit works →](#tab-bar) Growth ## Long-term retainer. _Compounding returns._ Growth engagements are structured as ongoing operating relationships. NDA builds the full-stack acquisition system, then operates it — month over month, with shared data, shared accountability, and a mandate to compound. There is no defined end date. The engagement continues as long as the system is producing returns worth operating. [Explore AI-ONE — our performance intelligence layer →](https://newdiscovery.agency/growth/ai-one/) Structure Monthly retainer, set at engagement start based on system scope Duration Minimum 12 months — meaningful compounding requires time Reporting Digital delivery · AI-narrated monthly video · Async by default Operator Dedicated NDA operator — one point of accountability, not a team rotation How reporting works 1 Live AI-ONE dashboard Real-time performance data, always accessible — no waiting for a monthly call to know where things stand. 2 Monthly AI-narrated video report A concise video walkthrough of the month's performance, analysis, and next-period priorities — delivered to your inbox, reviewed on your schedule. 3 Async review and response Questions, decisions, and approvals handled asynchronously through a shared workspace — no recurring meetings required. + **Strategic consulting sessions available as an add-on.** Clients who want dedicated one-on-one time with their NDA operator beyond the standard reporting layer can elect a consulting tier — structured sessions for strategic decisions, planning cycles, or quarterly reviews. What NDA Expects · Growth The retainer only works _when the client operates alongside it._ 01 Access, not approval. NDA requires direct access to ad accounts, analytics, CRM data, and a working relationship with the decision-maker. Engagements filtered through procurement layers or information gatekeepers cannot be operated with the accountability NDA commits to. If the data isn't accessible, the system can't be built to use it. 02 Commitment to the system. NDA operates the acquisition system — but it only compounds if the client acts on the intelligence it surfaces. That means responding to async updates, making decisions within agreed timelines, and treating the engagement as an operating relationship rather than a service subscription. 03 Patience for infrastructure. NDA sets 90-day milestones and measures progress rigorously. But the organizations that produce the highest returns are those that measure in years. The system is designed to compound over time — not to produce results before it has had time to learn. Pricing · Growth ## We charge for systems that work. _Not time._ Monthly retainer · Fixed at engagement start Aligned to outcomes, not activity. Growth fees are set at the start of the engagement and reflect the scope of the system NDA operates — not the hours required to operate it. The retainer model aligns NDA's incentives directly with the client's outcomes: the system only justifies its cost if it's producing compounding returns. Fees do not increase with activity. They reflect the architecture of the engagement. Innovation ## Project-based. _Built to deploy._ Innovation engagements are scoped from discovery through to full deployment. Every phase is gated — nothing moves forward until the prior phase is validated. After deployment, clients can elect an ongoing support and operations tier. NDA does not run pilots. Every engagement is contracted with a deployment outcome as the defined objective. Structure Fixed-scope project · Optional post-deployment operations tier Duration Discovery through deployment — typically 14–22 weeks depending on scope Milestones Gated phases — each stage signed off before the next begins Post-launch Operations, monitoring, and scale support available on retainer What NDA Expects · Innovation Deployment succeeds _when the organization is ready for it._ 01 Infrastructure access from day one. NDA requires direct access to your IT environment, existing systems documentation, and a technical point of contact with authority to make decisions. Discovery cannot be completed — and deployment cannot be scoped — without it. 02 A deployment mandate, not a pilot budget. NDA does not run proof-of-concept engagements. Every Innovation engagement is contracted with a production deployment as the stated objective. Clients who come in looking to test feasibility are better served elsewhere — NDA works with organizations that have already answered that question internally. 03 Staged commitment across phases. Each phase of a Innovation engagement requires a formal sign-off before work proceeds. This isn't bureaucracy — it's how NDA prevents deployment failure. Clients who cannot commit to phase reviews within agreed timelines create risk for the entire project architecture. Pricing · Innovation ## Fixed scope. _No drift. No surprises._ Fixed-scope project · Optional operations tier Priced per deployment. Not per hour. Innovation engagements are priced per scope — from discovery through to deployment. The project fee covers the full build, integration, and go-live process. After deployment, clients who elect the ongoing support and operations tier move to a separate retainer covering monitoring, updates, and scale. NDA does not bill by the hour, the sprint, or the revision. It charges for systems that are delivered and deployed. Innovation · AI Training ## AI capability training — _built for real outcomes._ AI training engagements are structured as cohort programs. NDA designs and delivers the full curriculum — from AI fundamentals through to hands-on project development — then guides teams to build and present working solutions for real community or organizational challenges. Every program runs under a CONOCER-certified methodology, recognized by Mexico's national competency framework. Engagement type Cohort program · Fixed duration · Optional follow-on advanced cohort Who participates Students, teachers, and organizational teams — programs scaled from 25 to 175+ participants Certification CONOCER EC0217.01 — Mexico's national competency framework, recognized by SEP Delivery format On-site workshops at partner institutions + guided project development + demo day Partners Educational institutions, government agencies, and economic development organizations (e.g. Frente Norte, SIDE, CECyTECH) Program Structure · AI Training ### From AI basics _to a working solution._ 01 AI Foundations Participants learn what AI (Artificial Intelligence) is, how it works, and where it is already shaping their world — no technical background required. Practical literacy before tool use. 02 Tool Fluency Hands-on sessions with real AI tools. Participants move from user to practitioner — learning to prompt, evaluate outputs, and integrate AI into practical workflows. 03 Problem Identification Teams identify real challenges in their school, organization, or community. NDA facilitators guide the problem-framing process — ensuring projects are grounded in genuine need. 04 Build & Present Teams build working AI-assisted solutions and pitch them at a Demo Day to educators, community leaders, and partner organizations. Real accountability. Real outcomes. What NDA Expects · AI Training ### Programs work when _institutions commit._ → Institutional partnership The program requires a host institution — school, government body, or organization — with the mandate and logistical capacity to support on-site workshops. → Teacher participation NDA's most effective programs train teachers alongside students. Educators who go through the program carry AI fluency into the classroom long after the cohort ends. → Project ownership Teams must be willing to own their projects — not just complete exercises. NDA facilitates and guides; the participants build and present. That distinction matters for outcomes. → Full cohort attendance The program is designed as a progression. Partial participation degrades team outcomes. NDA requires institutional commitment to attendance and completion. Pricing · AI Training ### Program-based. _Scope-defined._ AI training programs are priced by cohort scope — participant count, duration, number of facilitated sessions, and post-program support. NDA works with institutions, government agencies, and corporate training divisions. Grant-eligible formats available for qualifying public education and community development engagements. How Engagements Start ## What happens after the _first conversation._ 01 Initial Conversation Reach out with your goals, context, and scope. NDA responds directly and uses that first exchange to understand readiness, constraints, and what needs to happen next. 02 Alignment Call A focused 30-minute conversation — not a sales call. A mutual assessment of fit, organizational readiness, and whether NDA is the right operator for your objectives. 03 Discovery A structured intake process. Growth: stack audit, data access, ICP mapping. Innovation: infrastructure assessment, use case definition, deployment feasibility. 04 Proposal & Scope NDA presents a scoped engagement — objectives, system architecture, timeline, and fee structure. Every proposal is built from discovery. None are generic. 05 Engagement Begins System design and build commences. For Growth, the retainer activates. For Innovation, the project clock starts. The work is structured from day one. How Engagements Start ## Every engagement starts _with a conversation._ One direct conversation about alignment, scope, and what it takes to do the work right. That's the whole first step. [Start an Engagement](https://newdiscovery.agency/contact/) We respond directly. Timeline varies.