When Off-the-Shelf Doesn’t Fit | The Rise of AppyKiwi.
Former software developer turned meat industry innovation manager, Ben Nally, never set out to launch a tech company. But when faced with clunky off-the-shelf systems and overpriced custom builds, he rolled up his sleeves and built his own solution, without writing a line of code. That experiment grew into AppyKiwi, a business dedicated to helping small and mid-sized companies solve everyday problems with bespoke, affordable apps. With mentoring from COIN South’s Fran, Ben is now mapping out a five-year plan to scale his impact while keeping the focus on creative problem-solving.
When Ben Nally started building his first app back in 2018, it wasn’t part of a grand plan. At the time, he was working in the meat industry as a technology and innovation manager, faced with a familiar frustration: off-the-shelf software didn’t do quite enough, while custom-built systems did everything, but at a cost and timeframe that made them unrealistic.
Instead of choosing between “too little” or “too much,” Ben dusted off his old software skills and began experimenting with a no-code platform. Six months later, he’d built a working system that was simple, fast, and powerful enough to rival traditional development. “What would take months with code, I could now prototype in days,” he explains.
That discovery planted the seed for what would eventually become AppyKiwi. After leaving his corporate role in 2022, Ben found himself fielding requests from former colleagues and contacts who’d seen what he could do. One project led to another, and before long, AppyKiwi was up and running, designing bespoke business apps for sectors like manufacturing, forestry, and irrigation.
The projects range from job management tools to health and safety trackers, stock control systems, and workflow apps that connect seamlessly with platforms like Xero, MYOB, and CRMs. The common thread is that they’re all designed around each client’s exact needs. “I sit down with them at the whiteboard, map the problem, and quickly prototype something. Once they see it, the penny drops, it’s easier to show them than tell,” Ben says.
Unlike agencies that build and walk away, Ben’s work often grows with the client. “They start with one problem, then realise how much else tech can solve. A forestry client came to me for a job management app, and now we’re exploring other areas of their operations such as invoice automation, inventory and reporting.” With seven clients on board and more in the pipeline, Ben has found steady growth without the need to chase work, he prefers to keep it bespoke, creative, and personal.
Connect on LinkedIn: Ben Nally