App and software development · Canberra

Thoughtful web and mobile apps. We design and build. You see every step.

Before anything is built, we work out what your users really need. Every feature then sits on a live project board, so you always know where things stand, from first idea to launch.

The Pitch app on two phonesPitch · sports club app →
Who we help

Three ways we can help

Founders

Got an idea, but no tech team?

We’ll help you test it cheaply with a clickable prototype, then build it properly when you’re ready. For the right idea, we’ll come on board as your technical co-founder at a heavily discounted rate.

Businesses

Need a custom product or system?

Been burned by a project that went quiet and blew its budget? We plan in plain language, build in small tested steps, and you watch progress live on your project board. You approve each stage before the next one starts.

Busy teams

Drowning in admin?

Re-typing orders, answering the same emails, missing calls? We connect the tools you already use and automate the repetitive work, so your team gets hours back each week.

AI and automation

Less admin and back-and-forth. More time for the customers who matter.

We connect the tools your business already uses and let AI handle the repetitive steps in between, with a person in the loop wherever it matters.

  • Orders and bookings flow into your spreadsheets and become tasks on your staff’s phones.
  • Email replies to common questions, drafted in your voice.
  • Voice agents that answer calls, book appointments and take messages, day and night.

From $4,000 + GST, as a fixed quote.

Why TheThinkLab

One team. One contact. No hand-offs.

At big agencies, you meet the senior team at the pitch and someone new on the project. With us, the person who plans your project stays with it from the first call to launch day, and the same team designs, builds and supports it.

  • One dedicated contact who knows your business and your goals.
  • 17+ years of experience across the private and public sectors, in every part of building and running a product: strategy, design, development, testing, delivery management and support.
  • Research, design, engineering and delivery under one roof, so nothing falls through the cracks.
About us
How we work

Five stages. You approve each one.

See the full method →

  1. 1

    Start-up

    We agree what success looks like, who does what, and how we’ll work together.

  2. 2

    Discovery

    We get to know your users and your problem before anything is designed.

  3. 3

    Alpha

    We test ideas cheaply with prototypes and real users, and define the first usable release.

  4. 4

    Beta

    We build in sprints of two to four weeks. Each one ends with tested software you can try.

  5. 5

    Live

    We launch and hand over to you, or stay on to support and keep improving it.

  • Fixed-price quotes You know the full cost before we start, and if the scope changes, we agree it with you first.
  • No lock-in contracts Ongoing support is month to month.
  • You own everything Code, designs, domain and accounts, in your name.
  • Reply within one business day Every enquiry gets a real answer, fast.
FAQ

Questions we get asked

Can’t see your question? Ask us directly.

How much does a project cost?

Every project gets a fixed-price quote before any work starts, so there are no hourly surprises. As a guide, user research starts from $2,900, clickable prototypes from $2,000, AI automation from $4,000 and websites from $2,000, all plus GST. Most apps start with a prototype, so you can test the idea before committing to the full build. Answer a few quick questions and we’ll send your quote within one business day.

Get a fixed quote
How long will it take?

As a guide, a basic website takes a few weeks, a polished clickable prototype from two to four weeks, and a full web or mobile app two to three months. The biggest factors are how clear you are on your users’ needs and how quickly we get the inputs and decisions we need from you. Your quote includes a timeline broken into clear milestones, and we keep you updated at each one. If you have a hard deadline, such as a launch or an event, tell us up front and we’ll plan around it.

Tell us your timeline
How will I know how my project is going?

You get a live project board with the roadmap, the backlog, who the product is for and the status of every item, from Planned through Designing, Ready for build, Building, Testing and Signed off to Live. No chasing for updates, and nothing goes live until you’ve seen it working and approved it.

See how we work
Who will I actually be working with?

You’ll have one dedicated contact who leads your project from the first conversation to launch and beyond, backed by our team of strategists, designers, developers and marketers. No hand-offs, and no being passed around.

About us
Who owns the website, app and designs?

You do. Your domain, hosting accounts, code, brand files and designs are yours, set up in your name. If you ever want to take it in-house or move on, you can.

Do you help after launch?

Yes. We offer ongoing support covering hosting, updates, backups, changes and marketing, month to month with no lock-in contract. Or we hand everything over and train your team.

Ask about support
Do you only work with Canberra businesses?

We’re based in Canberra and love working with local businesses, but we work with clients right across Australia. Most of our work happens over video calls, with in-person workshops where they help.

Send us a message
What technology do you use?

Whatever suits your business, budget and team, from easy-to-edit website builders to fully custom code. We’ll recommend an approach and explain the trade-offs in plain English.

Get a recommendation
What does AI and automation cost?

Most automation projects start from $4,000 plus GST, as a fixed-price quote before work starts. We usually begin by automating the one step that wastes the most time, so you see the benefit quickly before deciding what to automate next. Running costs for any AI or software services are set out up front, and the accounts are in your name.

Get a fixed quote
Is our data safe if we use AI?

Yes. Your data stays in your own accounts and systems, and we use business-grade AI services set up so your information isn’t used to train their models. We agree up front what the AI can see and do, keep a record of what it does, and make sure a person approves anything sensitive. We also design around your privacy obligations, such as the Australian Privacy Principles.

Will automation replace our staff?

That’s not the aim. We automate the repetitive work, like re-typing orders, chasing tasks and answering the same questions, so your team can spend their time on customers and the work that needs a person. Your staff stay in control: they see what’s been automated and can step in at any point.

See AI automation

Tell us what you need. We’ll reply within a day.

Answer a few quick questions and we’ll come back with a fixed quote, or a few questions to firm it up, within one business day. No obligation, no jargon.