Most of the industry builds for the hype cycle — chasing the model of the month, raising on momentum, burning toward a story. We do the inverse. We start with a durable problem someone will still pay to solve in five years, then build the smallest profitable thing that solves it.
"We avoid hype cycles and focus on fundamentals — companies that pay for themselves and keep paying."
Four convictions that shape every decision.
Permanence
over momentumWe optimize for businesses that are still here, and still paying, long after the trend that birthed them has passed.
Operators
over absentee foundersEvery venture gets a dedicated CEO who owns the P&L and the execution. We support strategy; they run the company.
Cashflow
over funding roundsA path to profitability that doesn't depend on the next raise. Capital is optional fuel, never life support.
Simple systems
over clever chaosRepeatable, boring, durable. We build the operating system once and let it compound across ventures.
The person behind the studio.
Cody McLain
Founder & CEO
Cody McLain is a repeat founder based in Austin. He built a $30M outsourcing company, ranked on the Inc. 5000. He hosts the MindHack podcast and wrote From Foster Care to Millionaire.
Cody started Inverse Collective to build calm, durable software companies that solve real problems and last.
Three ways to build with us.
Founders
Have a durable idea or an existing codebase with real payers? Pitch it. We originate, validate, and resource the ones that fit.
Pitch a venture →Operators
Want to run a company without starting from zero? We install you as CEO of a validated venture, with systems and optional capital behind you.
Become an operator →Sellers
Built something durable you're ready to step back from? We acquire profitable software businesses and give them a long, well-operated life.
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