Frequently Asked
Questions

Those are fragmented freelance marketplaces that force talent into silos, creating IP risks and destroying institutional memory when short-term contracts end. First Epic is infrastructure. We provide dedicated, embedded talent working from our highly secure, managed 24/7 physical studio. We handle the HR, IT, and cross-border compliance so you just manage the day-to-day work.

First Epic contracts entirely through our US-based LLC, but our talent operates from our flagship physical studio in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Pakistan. This allows us to bypass the saturated nearshore markets - avoiding severe wage inflation, unreliable middleman agencies, and hidden Employer-of-Record (EOR) taxes - while delivering elite, 100% dedicated talent at a fraction of the cost.

Every team member we place is trained on the latest AI tools relevant to their role - Cursor, Copilot, Claude, Midjourney, ComfyUI, and more. But the tools are commoditized; everyone has access to them. The difference is the person behind them. An AI-enabled Software Engineer or Creative Technologist with deep product context can cover ground that used to require a small team. We test for their judgment, their process, and their ability to ship under real constraints.

AI makes portfolios unreliable - that's the trap. The traditional resume screen is dead. We put every engineer, designer, and filmmaker through rigorous, live technical challenges. We test for process: how they handle revisions, manage version control across dozens of assets, recover when tools break mid-project, and ship under real deadlines. We vet for actual workflow speed and competence, not just presentation.

Our core model is Embedded Talent. Your team works exclusively for you, integrated directly into your Slack and Asana/Jira. Crucially, we use Client-Provisioned Tooling - you provision and own the software seats. This guarantees you retain 100% ownership of your proprietary code and brand assets, with zero risk of 'Shadow AI' bleeding your IP into public models.

Free replacements. If someone isn't the perfect fit, we replace them immediately with zero additional fees. We offer month-to-month flexibility with no long-term lock-in.

Typically 2-4 weeks for a new client, but as fast as a few days for straightforward roles. We ask for your JD, we source, we screen via technical challenge, you interview, and we handle the onboarding. The timeline depends on role specificity and your availability for interviews.

We fill roles across three core sectors. For Tech: AI-Enabled Software Engineers, Full-Stack, and Backend/DevOps. For Agencies: AI Production Designers, Digital/Social Video Editors, and Automation PMs. For Studios: AI Filmmakers, Narrative Video Editors, and VFX/Motion Graphics. If it requires AI fluency and strategic execution, our bench runs deep.

No. We are not a SaaS platform and we don't charge recruiting fees. There is zero cost to open a search or interview candidates. You only pay a flat, all-inclusive monthly rate per team member that you actually hire and embed into your team.

We operate 24 hours a day. We can accommodate a 100% US business hours overlap for real-time collaboration, a partial overlap for daily standups, or a 'follow-the-sun' async overnight schedule where tasks are completed while you sleep. You dictate the operational rhythm.

Mid-Market Agencies moving to decoupled production to expand margins, Production Studios scaling high-volume AI-native content pipelines, and Tech Companies looking to accelerate engineering roadmaps without the bloated overhead of nearshore EORs.

We charge a flat, all-inclusive monthly rate per dedicated team member based on their role and experience level. Because you contract through our US LLC, there are no hidden cross-border compliance fees or EOR taxes. It is significantly more affordable than local hiring, allowing you to scale your bench and expand your gross margins. Get in touch with Davis for specifics.

Yes, though most clients don't need to. We handle the physical infrastructure - highly secure workspace, enterprise-grade internet, HR, and operational oversight. You manage the work remotely like any other embedded team.