Guides
Practical, plain-English guides for inventors, startups and small businesses thinking about building something.
Costs
How much does it cost to build a prototype in Australia?
Price ranges from a 3D-printed part to a full hardware-plus-app product, and what drives the cost.
Read the guide → Costs · 6 min readHow much does a custom app cost for a small business in Australia?
Web tool vs phone app vs app with a backend, app store fees, and the ongoing costs to plan for.
Read the guide →Inventors
I have an invention idea. What do I do first?
Protect it, check what exists, prove it works, then prototype. The order matters more than people think.
Read the guide → Inventors · 6 min readLicensing vs manufacturing your invention
Royalties or margins, control or freedom. How to choose the right path for your invention.
Read the guide →Product development
How-to
Remote tank and pump monitoring for rural properties
Sensors, connectivity and power options for keeping an eye on water and pumps from your phone.
Read the guide → How-to · 6 min readSmart pool automation: off-the-shelf vs custom
A pool builder's guide to choosing between a brand-name automation system and a custom one.
Read the guide → How-to · 6 min readHow to finish a stalled app or Arduino project
What to gather before handing it over, and how to decide between rescuing it and rebuilding.
Read the guide →Private AI
Case studies
Case study: an award-winning leak detection kit
A product I designed, took to market through national suppliers, and won the 2021 SPASA National Gold New Product Award.
Read the guide → Case studies · 6 min readCase study: building a smart pool and spa controller in about two weeks
Custom electronics, a 3D-designed enclosure, three apps and a technician cloud link, from idea to live testing.
Read the guide → Case studies · 6 min readCase study: the Aura Discovery Booth for Luna & Myst Co
A sensor-driven photo booth with private AI readings, designed in CAD and built and fitted out in store.
Read the guide → Case studies · 6 min readCase study: launching BookForge on Google Play
A voice-dictation writing app with AI tools, cloud sync and subscriptions, built and launched by one developer.
Read the guide →