Pod Configurations

Teams shaped around your pipeline, not a template.

EtyaLab builds cross-functional nearshore pods that integrate directly into your agency workflow — structured delivery teams, not freelancer pools, available as white-label capacity under your brand.

Example growth pod

PM

Project Manager

Bilingual · U.S. time zone

Full-time

fs

Full-Stack Developer

React · Node · WordPress

Full-time

fe

Frontend Developer

Shopify · Next.js

Full-time

qa

QA Specialist

Testing · QA cycles

Optional

A structured team, not a contractor pool

A pod is a small, cross-functional nearshore team assembled specifically around your delivery needs. Every pod includes a project manager who coordinates delivery, manages communication between your team and ours, and ensures quality before anything ships. You work with a team — not a list of individuals you have to manage yourself.

This distinction matters. Staffing agencies place contractors. EtyaLab builds integrated teams that come with process, accountability, and a single point of contact — all operating silently under your agency brand.

Three ways to structure your pod

Each configuration is a starting point. Roles, time commitments, and disciplines
are adjusted based on your actual project mix during the discovery call.

Starter / Pilot Pod
Test the model before committing to a larger team

The entry point for most partnerships. A senior developer paired with fractional project management gives your agency access to reliable delivery capacity for a single scoped project — without the overhead of onboarding a larger team. This configuration is designed for agencies that want to validate workflow compatibility and delivery quality before expanding.

Typical team

Best for

Growth Pod
Ongoing delivery capacity for active agency pipelines

The most common configuration for agencies managing a steady stream of projects across multiple clients. A dedicated project manager leads two to three developers matched to your tech stack — frontend, backend, full-stack, or e-commerce — with optional QA support. This pod runs alongside your internal team or serves as the primary delivery engine for specific service lines.

Typical team

Best for

Full Dedicated Pod
A complete nearshore delivery department for agencies at scale

For agencies operating at volume or those looking to white-label an entire service line. A senior project manager leads four to six developers across disciplines, supported by dedicated QA and DevOps. This team handles sprint planning, code reviews, release management, and multi-client delivery — functioning as a true department, scoped and structured during onboarding.

Typical team

Best for

How to find the right configuration

There is no universal answer to which pod fits best — it depends on your current pipeline volume, the disciplines your projects require, and how much internal project management capacity you want to retain. The goal of the Partner Discovery Call is to answer exactly this question before any commitment is made.

Most agencies start with the Starter Pod to establish workflow compatibility, then migrate to a Growth Pod as the partnership proves out. Full Dedicated Pods are typically structured after an agency has built a sustained pipeline of work they want to offload systematically.

What your pod can build

Pod developers are matched to your stack during scoping. Our team covers the
most common agency delivery platforms and frameworks.

WordPress

CMS · Themes · Plugins

Shopify

E-commerce · Liquid

React / Next.js

Frontend · Headless

React Native

iOS · Android · Cross-platform

Node.js

Backend · APIs

PHP / Laravel

Custom backends

DevOps

CI/CD · Hosting · AWS/GCP

QA & Testing

Manual · Automated · UAT

From discovery call to first sprint

Four steps from first conversation to active delivery — typically within two weeks.

Stage 1 — Discovery call

We learn your pipeline, tech stack, tools, and delivery expectations in 30 minutes

Stage 2 — Pod proposal

We propose a team structure, define roles, and confirm the scope of the engagement

Stage 3 — Onboarding

We integrate into your tools, meet your internal team, and align on delivery process

Stage 4 — Sprint begins

Your pod is active, delivering under your brand from the first day of work

The nearshore advantage

0–1 hr

Time zone difference from Eastern US

USD

Native currency — no FX complexity

EN+ES

Bilingual project management

Agile

Structured sprint delivery process

Common questions about pods

Answers to what agencies ask most before structuring their first pod.

Yes. Pod configurations are not fixed contracts. As your pipeline evolves, we can add or remove roles, adjust time commitments, or shift the team focus. Most partnerships expand gradually from a Starter Pod into a Growth Pod as workflow trust is established and project volume grows.

You work primarily through the project manager, who handles day-to-day coordination with the development team. This means you have a single point of contact rather than managing individual developers — a key difference from a staffing model. For technical discussions, direct developer contact can be arranged when needed.

Growth and Dedicated pods are specifically designed for multi-client support. The project manager coordinates workload across your active projects, ensuring each receives the appropriate attention. How projects are prioritized and sequenced is agreed upon during onboarding and reviewed as your pipeline shifts.

We take accountability for team quality. If a developer is not meeting the standards expected for your projects, we address it through retraining, reassignment, or replacement — at no additional cost or complexity to your agency. Quality is a shared commitment, not a one-time guarantee.