Red Ant

What Red Ant does

Red Ant is a Sydney-based technical agency that designs and builds custom digital platforms for startups, established brands, large enterprises and government clients. Its work spans websites, mobile and web applications, e-commerce solutions, headless CMS implementations and bespoke internal tools, with a publicly listed customer base that includes Bank of Queensland, Kimberley Clark, Huggies, Ray White, Sydney Trains (Transport NSW), NPS Medicinewise, Michelle Bridges 12WBT and Managed. The firm also runs a dedicated cyber security and privacy practice differentiated by a developer-perspective assessment of team, process and technology, and operates Projectt, an Agile project management tool with Jira and Harvest integrations that was commercialised as a SaaS product in 2017 after originating as an internal utility. A set of free online assessment tools (tech stack quiz, Stripe payment flow tester, cyber security review, privacy maturity, payments maturity) functions as a top-of-funnel lead generation layer.

The technology stack is centred on Ruby on Rails and React, with React Native used to share code across iOS and Android. Supporting infrastructure includes Heroku and AWS for hosting, Docker for containerisation, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, and integrations with Stripe Payments, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, and the Scrivito headless CMS. The firm holds Certified Stripe Architect and Certified Stripe Developer credentials, is positioned as a Heroku and AWS integration expert, and has won recognitions including a 2001 London International Award. Notable project outcomes include the Huggies parent and baby community (described as reaching close to half of Australian mums), the NPS Medicinewise platform (13 million visits in FY2016-17) and a Sydney Trains data visualisation tool for transport network planning.

Revenue is generated primarily through project-based professional services engagements scoped per client and billed under multi-year contracts, supplemented by subscription revenue from Projectt. Distribution is direct, driven by inbound via website contact form and phone, technical blog content marketing, case-study portfolio work and a small number of vendor partner ecosystems (Stripe, Heroku, AWS, React, Docker). The legal entity is Red Ant Design Pty Ltd (ABN 87 081 223 252), domiciled in New South Wales, Australia, privately held and founder-owned with no disclosed external investors, funding rounds or M&A activity. Headcount is reported at approximately 35, comprising developers, designers and project managers.

Name

Red Ant

Legal name

Red Ant Design Pty Ltd

Website

https://redant.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Red Ant is a Sydney-based technical agency that builds custom Ruby on Rails and React digital platforms for startups, brands, enterprises and government, and also operates Projectt, a SaaS project management tool, and a developer-perspective cyber security practice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Software Development Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Enterprise Application UX, Portals & Low-Code Extensions (BPAEAGAM)

Keywords

• Custom software development
• Ruby on Rails agency
• Digital platform development
• Cyber security consulting
• Project management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Development Services: Design and build custom digital platforms including websites, apps, and e-commerce solutions. Project-based engagements with scope defined per client requirements.
2. Projectt SaaS Product: Agile project management tool sold as a SaaS subscription. Originally internal tool that was commercialized after client interest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Red Ant is a Sydney-based technical agency that designs and builds custom digital platforms including websites, apps, and e-commerce solutions for startups, brands, and large enterprises. The company also delivers cyber security and privacy consulting from a developer perspective, and sells Projectt, an Agile project management tracking tool originally built internally and now offered as a commercial SaaS product.

Product overview

Red Ant is a Sydney-based technical agency offering custom digital platform development and cyber security services from a development perspective. Their core offerings include Custom Development (websites, apps, and e-commerce solutions) and Cyber Security & Privacy Services. They also offer Projectt, an Agile project management tracking tool that originated as an internal tool and is now sold as a SaaS product. The company provides several free online assessment tools including the Tech Stack Upgrade Path Quiz, Stripe Payment Flow Testing tool, Cyber Security Review, Privacy Maturity Assessment, and Payments Maturity Assessment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Projectt: An Agile project management tracking tool originally created for internal use that is now sold as a SaaS product. It brings clarity and confidence to project progress by integrating with Jira and Harvest.

Products and services

• Custom Development Design and build of custom digital platforms including websites, apps, and e-commerce solutions, scoped per client requirements for startups, brands, and large companies.
• Cyber Security & Privacy Services Security and privacy consulting delivered from a developer perspective, examining systems, team processes, and technology rather than traditional system integrator or security analyst approaches.
• Projectt Agile project management tracking SaaS tool with client/product/project setup, budget tracking, customisable sprint settings, live dashboards, stakeholder sharing, and integrations with Jira and Harvest.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly half of Australian mums are members of the Huggies platform
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationRed Ant is a Stripe consulting partner with Certified Stripe Architects and Certified Stripe Developers. They provide advice, implementation, deployment, and managed services for Stripe payment solutions.
• HerokucoreTechnology or IntegrationHeroku integration experts who have worked with hundreds of companies and startups to integrate apps with Heroku platform. Offer new builds, existing app takeovers, and DevOps support.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS integration experts with experience across hundreds of companies and startups. Capabilities include new builds, existing app migrations, and cloud infrastructure management.
• React (Facebook)coreTechnology or IntegrationReact development specialists using JavaScript framework maintained by Facebook. Deploy same code to web and ReactNative for iOS and Android.
• DockercoreTechnology or IntegrationDocker development and containerisation experts for Ruby on Rails applications.
• UTS Design SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor design awards at University of Technology Sydney including Web Design Award and Creative Award. Engages with design students through studio visits and professional practice talks.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Accenture Song (formerly Accenture Interactive): Accenture Song is the digital experience and marketing services arm of Accenture, delivering custom digital platforms at global scale. It is a broad incumbent that competes for the largest enterprise digital transformation RFPs that Red Ant occasionally contests.
• Fueled: Fueled is a US-headquartered digital product agency building mobile apps, web platforms, and custom software for enterprises and startups. It is a broad incumbent serving the same custom digital product category as Red Ant but at significantly greater scale.
• Slalom: Slalom is a global consulting firm with a sizable digital product and engineering practice. It competes for enterprise digital transformation and custom development mandates that Red Ant also targets, though Slalom operates at a far larger scale across multiple geographies.
• AKQA: AKQA is a global design and innovation agency building digital products, services, and platforms for major brands. It is a broad incumbent in the digital product agency category, competing for enterprise clients that Red Ant also targets such as Ray White and Kimberley Clark.
• Code and Theory: Code and Theory is a larger digital-first creative and technology agency building custom platforms for enterprise clients. It is a broad incumbent in the same custom digital product category, typically serving Fortune 500 brands.

Direct peers

• Icelab: Icelab is an Australia-based digital agency building custom web and mobile products for enterprises. It directly competes with Red Ant in the same niche of custom Rails/React development for Australian brands and large organizations.
• DockYard: DockYard is a US-based digital product consultancy specializing in custom web and mobile application development with deep Elixir and Ruby on Rails expertise. It is a direct peer given the shared focus on custom digital product engineering and Rails/React-adjacent stacks.
• Thinkmill: Thinkmill is a Sydney-based digital product studio specializing in custom web and mobile application development. It is the closest direct peer given the overlapping Sydney location, custom development focus, and similar team size.
• Leonardo.AI / Hatchd (Australian custom dev agencies): Hatchd is an Australia-based custom software and digital product agency. It is a direct peer given the same ANZ geography, custom development focus, and similar SMB-to-mid-market enterprise client mix.

Regional players

• Squiz: Squiz is a larger Australian digital agency and enterprise CMS implementation specialist. It is a relevant regional peer because it competes for the same ANZ enterprise digital platform work that Red Ant targets, though at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/r_e_d_a_n_t
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/76862

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Red Ant