speckl/docs/strategy.md

Speckl Strategy — Phased Open Standard Approach

The open standard is the root. Everything else grows from it.

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Core Thesis

Plan D (open standard + foundation) is the engine. All revenue flies by on the credibility, adoption, and ecosystem that the open standard builds.

The flow: Open standard (D) builds the language and community → hands-on consulting (C) validates the methodology → SaaS (A) scales it to more teams → compliance API (B) serves enterprise needs.

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Phase 1 — Establish the Standard (D + C)

Goal: SpeckDL is real, public, and proven in at least one real system.

Plan D Actions

• Open-source SpeckDL under Apache 2.0 or MIT
  • Publish the language spec, a minimal reference compiler, and Z3 verification example
  • README: "The spec-first language for auditable software"
• Publish the Dark Provenance whitepaper
  • Target: arxiv, dev blogs, standards-body working groups
  • Positioning: formal methods for the AI age
• Create a Speckl playground — browser-based spec editor with compiled output + provenance graph
• Register domains, set up minimal site

Plan C Actions

• Sign consulting engagements with regulated-industry companies
  • Deliverable: a functioning Speckl system + trained team + full compliance traceability
• Validate:
  • Is SpeckDL expressive enough for real specs?
  • Does the tiered agent harness reduce spec-to-ship time?
  • What do compliance auditors actually need?

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Phase 2 — Build the SaaS (A, fed by D + C)

Goal: Self-serve Speckl dev tool with paying users.

Plan A Launch

• Speckl SaaS — hosted platform where teams write Specks, the agent harness verifies them, and the platform maintains the provenance graph
• Features:
  • Speck editor with live Z3 verification
  • Agent harness: Orchestrator → Team Lead → SME tier auto-scaling
  • TillDone condition tracking
  • Provenance graph browser

How D feeds A

• Open-source SpeckDL means new users arrive already familiar with the DSL
• Community contributors find bugs, suggest features, write integrations
• The playground converts browsers → SaaS signups
• Certification program creates a pipeline of "Speckl Certified" engineers

How C feeds A

• Consulting case studies validate the product for prospects
• Consulting engagements expose real-world requirements that shape the roadmap
• Consulting clients become reference accounts and early SaaS customers

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Phase 3 — The Compliance API (B, fed by A)

Goal: Enterprise compliance product with real provenance graph data.

Plan B Launch

• Speckl Compliance API — a standalone API that plugs into existing CI/CD
  • Ingest: spec documents, requirements, code
  • Output: compliance evidence bundles, traceability matrices, audit-ready reports
  • Compliance packs for regulated domains (DO-178C, IEC 62304, SOC 2, ISO 26262)

How A feeds B

• SaaS users generate real provenance graph data at scale
• SaaS feature requests reveal what compliance officers need
• SaaS revenue funds B development during long enterprise sales cycles

How D continues feeding

• The open standard is the market's trust signal
• Standards bodies adopt Dark Provenance methodology
• Speckl certification becomes a credential, and B product becomes the tool certified teams use

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Ownership & Governance

Speckl operates as a brand/property within Greybeard Holdings, LLC. Not a separate entity.

• SpeckDL is open-source (MIT/Apache 2.0)
• Dark Provenance methodology is published freely
• Trademark "Speckl" and certification authority held by Greybeard Holdings
• Commercial products are Greybeard Holdings revenue lines under the Speckl brand

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Metrics

Phase	North Star Metric
1 (D+C)	Specks written on the open standard
2 (A)	Provenance graphs created (SaaS)
3 (B)	Compliance reports exported

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For the full strategy document including budgets and revenue projections, see the private speckl-marketing repository.