FAQ
Questions we hear before — and after — you know us.
Straight answers on data platforms, AI governance and how an engagement with Inoviq runs. Prefer a conversation? Book a consultation.
Before you choose a partner
Data, AI and foundations
What does a data engineering consultancy typically cost?
Cost depends on scope: a fixed project is priced against deliverables and timeline; fractional architecture is priced per agreed days each month; advisory is a retained review cadence. Most Seed to Series C engagements start with a short discovery so the quote matches real risk, not a generic day rate.
Do I need a data platform or just a warehouse?
A warehouse stores and serves modelled data. A data platform also covers ingestion, quality tests, orchestration, access control and the operating practices around them. If feeds break and nobody owns freshness, a warehouse licence alone will not fix it — you need the platform pieces that make the warehouse trustworthy.
How do I prepare for the EU AI Act as a scale-up?
Inventory your AI use cases, classify them by risk and role, and close gaps in lineage, access control, evaluation records and human oversight. Readiness is mostly engineering evidence you can show a buyer or auditor — not a binder of unread policies. Start with the systems that touch customers or regulated decisions.
What is a fractional data architect?
A fractional data architect is a senior practitioner embedded with your team for a set number of days each month. They own design decisions, write architecture decision records and review critical work — design authority without a full-time principal hire.
Why do so many AI projects fail on data foundations?
Models demos well on clean extracts, then fail when production data is incomplete, untested or unowned. Without clear source ownership, replayable pipelines and basic quality checks, every AI feature becomes a custom integration. Fix the path first, then the model has something solid to stand on.
When should a scale-up hire in-house versus use a partner?
Hire when data is a continuous, multi-team product surface and you need someone in leadership full-time. Use a partner for a defined build, fractional design authority, or to stand up foundations before headcount catches up. Many teams do both: partner for the first platform slice, hire once the workload is steady.
Working with Inoviq
How engagements run
How quickly can you start?
We can usually begin the discovery phase within one to two weeks of a signed agreement. Implementation timelines depend on our current capacity and the project scope, which we will define during discovery.
Do you work with our existing team?
Yes. In our Fractional and Advisory models, we embed directly with your engineers. Even in fixed-scope project builds, we collaborate closely with your team to ensure the handover is smooth and they can maintain what we build.
What size of company do you usually work with?
We primarily work with start-ups and scale-ups from Seed to Series C. These are typically fast-moving companies that have outgrown their initial data setup but don't yet need a massive in-house data engineering department.
Do you sign NDAs and DPAs?
Yes, standard non-disclosure agreements and data processing agreements are part of our standard onboarding for every client engagement.
What happens to the code and IP?
You own everything. We build directly into your source control repositories and deploy to your cloud environments. There are no proprietary lock-ins or black-box platforms.
Do you work remotely or on site?
We are a remote-first team, but we can arrange on-site workshops and discovery sessions depending on your location and project needs.