Default state
Projects begin as labs inside the umbrella. They can share tooling, operating evidence, and product support without creating premature legal or operational complexity.
Startups/Labs
Incubate first. Split only when the product needs it.
ElBato Labs keeps early product ideas close to the shared operating system until they have enough independent substance to justify clean separation.
Split rule
A product becomes a separation candidate when it has real objectives, multiple durable lanes or contributors, its own customer/evidence surface, and an explicit decision to spin out.
SiteShadow path
SiteShadow is already public-facing as a product. Its longer-term company formation can remain separate from ElBato Labs when the product is ready for that step.
Shared IP and services
Shared infrastructure, workflows, and reusable automation can remain in ElBato Labs and be assigned or licensed later when a product needs a cleaner boundary.