Fund a build with escrow that pays only as work ships
Shipyard on Base holds USDC in a vault nobody controls and releases it to the builder only as work ships; you alone can refund if it does not.
- 10 minutes
- 6 steps
- $5+ USDC + gas on Base
- medium
- 4 solutions use it
- 1 live demo
Every donation and payment is public, so donors can check the money themselves without an audit.
Chapter 1 · The wall
The wall you hit
Paying upfront used to mean pure trust. Escrow pays only as work ships.
Chapter 2 · The power
What changes now
Shipyard on Base holds USDC in a vault nobody controls and releases it to the builder only as work ships; you alone can refund if it does not.
Chapter 3 · Do it
Do it yourself
- Open Shipyard and browse raises or the Wanted board.
- Read the deliverables of one raise.
- Back it with a small USDC amount.
- Watch milestones release funds.
- For one-to-one work, Smart Invoice offers milestone escrow with an arbitrator.
- Contracts are unaudited; size accordingly.
- 10 min
- $5+ USDC + gas on Base
- medium
It runs right here. Try the real thing.
Wallet or sign-in will not open in here? Open Shipyard launchpad in a new tab ↗
Chapter 4 · Prove it
Prove it worked
Your backing shows in the raise and on Basescan.
Chapter 5 · Next star
Your next star
- Build · 15 min · Gas only for ready apps; refundable deposit for built-to-orderOwn a working onchain app with your name on itPick from ready apps, try the full demo, and deploy it from your own wallet so the contract is yours.Go to this star →
- Pay · 10 min · Free on testnet; small USDC gas on mainnetSend dollars across a border in secondsArc is Circle's chain where USDC itself pays the gas, so you only need the dollars you send.Go to this star →
Chapter 6 · Build
Build what is missing
A milestone template library for common small software builds, such as a landing page or a token-gated app, with suggested USDC splits per milestone.
Who could build it Clients commissioning small apps and the builders who take them.
Real problems
Solutions that use this
- A problem people bring“Fund our group with no bank account”Your group can run its own treasury today: a Safe shared by three organisers, where any spend needs two approvals, raising USDC that every donor ca...3 stops · see the route →
- A problem people bring“I need an app but can't code”You can own a working onchain app today without writing code. Deployr Shipyard offers ready apps you deploy for just gas, or built-to-order apps wi...2 stops · see the route →
- A problem people bring“Our village wants to pool for a well”Your village can hold a fund that no single person can spend, and that anyone can check on a phone. A multisig wallet needs, say, three of five eld...3 stops · see the route →
- A problem people bring“Raise $10,000 for my community”You have three real shapes. A quadratic funding round on Gitcoin or Giveth multiplies many small gifts. An escrowed raise holds pledges and refunds...3 stops · see the route →
Questions
How long does it take to fund a build with escrow that pays only as work ships?
About 10 minutes, in 6 steps. The first step is: Open Shipyard and browse raises or the Wanted board.
What does it cost?
$5+ USDC + gas on Base. Start with the free parts, and never put in more than you can afford to lose.
Do I need to be technical?
It is rated medium. Shipyard on Base holds USDC in a vault nobody controls and releases it to the builder only as work ships; you alone can refund if it does not.
How do I know it worked?
Your backing shows in the raise and on Basescan.
What real problems does this help with?
Fund our group with no bank account. I need an app but can't code. Our village wants to pool for a well. Raise $10,000 for my community.