Big Lemon

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.

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Caerphilly

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Studio HicksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign studio that provided new branding for the Co-Production Collective project delivered by Big Lemon.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationCloud infrastructure provider used for hosting FABRIC's internal web application and other projects. Built using microservices architecture on AWS.
• Amber EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy 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 CymruminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with on co-production principles; contributed to educational content about co-production in tech.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/biglemoncreative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-lemon-creative
• Instagraminstagram.com/biglemonsnaps
• Xx.com/biglemontweets

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Big Lemon