About FirmSideAI
What is FirmSideAI?
FirmSideAI is an AI consulting firm in Newark, Delaware that finds the operational bottlenecks slowing down small teams and builds practical AI systems to clear them. It is run by a former small-business operator, not a technologist selling from the outside, so every tool is judged by whether it would survive a real working day.
Who runs FirmSideAI?
FirmSideAI is run by its founder, Mark Sanders, who spent thirteen years running his own business before starting the firm. That operator's background is the lens on every project: if a tool would not hold up on a busy day with the phone ringing, it does not ship.
Where is FirmSideAI located?
FirmSideAI is based in Newark, Delaware, at the University of Delaware FinTech Innovation Hub, 591 Collaboration Way. The firm works from the GrowthStage Incubator on the University of Delaware STAR Campus and serves clients across Delaware and the wider region.
Is FirmSideAI part of a startup incubator?
Yes. FirmSideAI is a member of the GrowthStage Incubator, located on the sixth floor of the University of Delaware FinTech Innovation Hub on the STAR Campus in Newark, Delaware. Building alongside other Delaware founders keeps the firm close to the state's startup and research community.
What makes FirmSideAI different from other AI consultants?
FirmSideAI is run by someone who actually ran a business for thirteen years, so the advice is grounded in operations rather than hype. The firm sells finished, working tools instead of billable hours, and it prices its work so that nonprofits and small teams can afford it, not only large budgets.
What we build
What does FirmSideAI actually build?
FirmSideAI builds practical AI systems that remove repetitive busywork, along with its own products. These include BidIQ+ for government contractors, Cortex as a single AI assistant for non-technical users, and First State Lens, a free public-data project. Client work is scoped as a finished tool, not an open-ended retainer.
What is BidIQ+?
BidIQ+ is a live tool from FirmSideAI that helps small government contractors decide which bids are worth chasing. It reads each new solicitation, scores how well it fits a contractor's capabilities, and can draft a first-pass proposal when the score clears the contractor's own threshold. It is live at bidiqplus.com.
What is Cortex?
Cortex is an AI assistant built by FirmSideAI for people who would rather talk to one tool than juggle ten apps. It is designed for users who are not technical and have no wish to become technical, giving them a single place to get real work done.
What is First State Lens, and is it really free?
First State Lens is a free public project from FirmSideAI that turns Delaware government data into plain, sourced dashboards anyone can read. It is free and always will be, because FirmSideAI believes practical AI should reach the people and organizations usually left behind, not only those with the biggest budgets.
Who does FirmSideAI work with?
FirmSideAI works with three main groups: government contractors bidding against much larger shops, nonprofits running lean on small teams, and local small businesses where the owner has become the bottleneck. The approach is tailored to each, but the goal is always to give time back without adding headcount.
Working with us
How much does FirmSideAI cost?
FirmSideAI sells productized tools with clear scope and price rather than open-ended hourly work, and it prices deliberately so that nonprofits and small teams can afford it. The best first step is a free look, where the firm tells you plainly what AI could and could not help with, at no cost.
How do I get started with FirmSideAI?
You can get started by requesting a free look on firmsideai.com. FirmSideAI reviews where your team's time actually goes and tells you straight what AI could and could not help with, with no cost and no pitch.
Does FirmSideAI only work with businesses in Delaware?
FirmSideAI is based in Delaware at the University of Delaware FinTech Innovation Hub, and it is rooted in the local community, but its work is not limited to Delaware. The firm's tools and consulting serve clients across the region and online.
What AI does FirmSideAI use?
FirmSideAI builds on leading large language models, primarily the Claude family from Anthropic, and matches the model to the job. Lighter models handle routine processing while stronger models handle complex reasoning, which keeps the tools both capable and affordable.
Does FirmSideAI support neurodivergent founders and teams?
Yes. FirmSideAI is founded by a neurodivergent entrepreneur and builds tools that lower the friction of running a business, which often helps neurodivergent operators most. The firm treats AI as practical scaffolding for the work that gets in the way of the work that matters.
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