Big Lemon
Big Lemon is a UK-based, fully remote app development and web design consultancy that builds bespoke digital products for tech for good organizations, including non-profits, social enterprises, and public sector clients, using a co-production methodology. Founded in 2014, the 1-10 person team serves purpose-driven clients across health, climate, social care, and accessibility verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersCaerphilly, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Big Lemon does
Big Lemon is a UK-based custom app development and web design consultancy founded in 2014 and headquartered remotely from Caerphilly, Wales. The firm specializes in "tech for good" projects, building bespoke digital products for non-profits, social enterprises, public sector bodies, and purpose-driven founders. Engagements follow a co-production methodology in which end users participate in design and development, and services span native iOS/Android apps, progressive web apps, hybrid applications, and accessible websites. The company operates as a fully remote team of 1-10, co-founded by Owen Richards (Chief Product Nerd) and Sam (Admiral of Ops), supported by freelance designers.
The technology stack centers on AWS infrastructure (Lambda, CDK, EventBridge) with MongoDB, React, TypeScript, Next.js, and Node.js at the application layer, and Webflow for marketing sites. Notable technical work includes a microservices-based PWA (Stella) for FABRIC's care-sector case management, a proprietary energy-consumption normalization algorithm for Amber Energy that processed 160,000 data points, and AI-driven pose estimation (computer vision) integrated into the MobilityHub healthtech app piloted with NHS Health Boards. The portfolio spans healthtech, climate/energy, social care, accessibility, and circular economy verticals, with credentialed clients including Hubbub, NIHR, CAFOD, Thrive, and the Co-Production Collective.
The business model is project-based professional services with custom quote-based pricing (example app builds priced at £24k-£41k), engaged via a "Get Your Quote" website form and direct contact. GTM is sales-led and consultative, targeting founders with big ideas, businesses seeking transparent tech partners, and non-profits showcasing impact. Marketing relies on content (Medium developer blog, co-production and tech for good guides) and organic social channels. The firm holds credentials including Living Wage Employer, Four Day Week, Disability Confident, and Escape the City Top 100, with client work recognized by ORCHA for digital health excellence. No external funding, parent company, or acquisition activity is disclosed.
Big Lemon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Lemon
- Legal name
- Big Lemon
- Website
- https://biglemon.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Big Lemon is a UK-based, fully remote app development and web design consultancy that builds bespoke digital products for tech for good organizations, including non-profits, social enterprises, and public sector clients, using a co-production methodology. Founded in 2014, the 1-10 person team serves purpose-driven clients across health, climate, social care, and accessibility verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Big Lemon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Caerphilly
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Big Lemon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- App Development and Web Design Services: Project-based professional services delivering custom app development and web design projects with social impact focus. Services include native iOS/Android apps, progressive web apps, hybrid apps, and internal web applications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing based on scope |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Big Lemon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Lemon is a UK-based app development and web design consultancy that builds bespoke digital products for purpose-driven organisations. Services span custom mobile app development (iOS, Android, progressive web apps, and hybrid apps) and web design and development, delivered end-to-end from concept and UX through to launch.
Product overview
Big Lemon is a custom app development and web design consultancy specializing in tech for good projects. Rather than offering a standardized product platform, they provide bespoke digital product development services including native app development (iOS/Android), progressive web apps (PWA), and accessible web design. Their portfolio includes client-built products such as MobilityHub (healthtech recovery monitoring with AI pose estimation), The Student Energy Project (climate app for energy tracking), and Stella (FABRIC's internal care sector database). They supplement their services with educational content through their developer blog and guides on tech-for-good and co-production methodology. The company operates as a fully remote UK-wide team and focuses on projects delivering social impact.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Big Lemon Devs: Company's developer blog on Medium sharing tech insights and journey
Products and services
- Custom App Development
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,000 students helped save energy and claim rewards in 10 months
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Big Lemon
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Big Lemon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature3 records
Big Lemon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Studio HicksminorDesign studio that provided new branding for the Co-Production Collective project delivered by Big Lemon.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreCloud infrastructure provider used for hosting FABRIC's internal web application and other projects. Built using microservices architecture on AWS.
- Amber EnergycoreEnergy company partnered with Big Lemon to develop The Student Energy Project - a climate change app helping students track and reduce energy consumption.
- Co-Production Network for Wales / Rhwydwaith Cydgynhyrchu CymruminorCollaborated with on co-production principles; contributed to educational content about co-production in tech.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Big Lemon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ustwo: Global digital product studio known for consumer apps and purpose-led work, including NHS digital health projects. Comparable in delivering bespoke mobile and web products with a social impact lens.
- Made by Many: London-based digital product studio building bespoke apps and platforms for purpose-driven and enterprise clients. Comparable bespoke app/PWA delivery model and tech-for-good positioning.
- Clearleft: Brighton-based UX and digital product consultancy serving purpose-driven and enterprise clients with a similar design-led, smaller-team ethos. Directly comparable in bespoke product delivery and UK agency model.
- Snook: UK service design agency focused on public sector and social impact. Comparable in mission and co-design methodology, and shares a similar UK public/non-profit client mix with Big Lemon.
- Paper (Paperthin): UK digital agency serving charities, non-profits, and purpose-driven organizations with bespoke digital products. Directly comparable client base and delivery model.
Broad incumbents
- Thoughtworks: Global technology consultancy with a purpose-led practice serving public sector and non-profits. Comparable in custom digital product delivery but operates at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
- TPXimpact (formerly FutureGov): UK digital transformation consultancy serving local/central government, health, and non-profit clients. Comparable customer base (NHS, non-profits, government) but operates at significantly greater scale.
Regional players
- Co-op Digital: In-house digital team of the Co-operative Group focused on ethical products and services. Comparable purpose-driven mission but operates as an internal team rather than an agency.
Emerging players
- Beam: UK tech-for-good organization operating in social impact. Comparable in tech-for-good mission and UK ecosystem overlap; ecosystem peer rather than direct service competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Big Lemon social profiles
Digital presenceBig Lemon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Lemon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Big Lemon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Lemon M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Lemon
What does Big Lemon do?
Big Lemon is a UK-based app development and web design consultancy that builds bespoke digital products for purpose-driven organisations. Services span custom mobile app development (iOS, Android, progressive web apps, and hybrid apps) and web design and development, delivered end-to-end from concept and UX through to launch.
Is Big Lemon a public or private company?
Big Lemon is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Big Lemon founded?
Big Lemon was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Big Lemon based?
Big Lemon is headquartered in Caerphilly, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Big Lemon make money?
One revenue line is on record: app Development and Web Design Services.
Who are Big Lemon's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ustwo, Made by Many, Clearleft, Snook and Paper (Paperthin). Broad incumbents are Thoughtworks and TPXimpact (formerly FutureGov). Co-op Digital is listed as a regional player. Beam is listed as an emerging player.
Does Big Lemon have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Lemon.