Here is something most founders figure out too late. Not every development company that says it works with startups actually understands what working with a startup requires. The word startup gets used loosely in agency marketing because it sounds dynamic and innovative and forward-thinking. But slapping it on a website does not mean the company's internal process, pricing structure, communication style, or delivery model is actually built around the reality of how early-stage businesses operate. The gap between a company that markets to startups and a company that is genuinely built for them is enormous - and it shows up in ways that are not obvious during the sales conversation. It shows up three weeks into the engagement when your timeline slips. It shows up when a small change to the scope triggers a contract amendment. It shows up when you realize the person you speak to every week has never actually built a product themselves and cannot tell you why the build is slower than expected.…