ABOUT US
Meet the team behind your success.
We're a small but highly specialised and experienced team of app design and growth marketing specialists.
Think big,
Jarrah Robertson
Chief Strategist & Founder, 44Degrees
Welcome
From our base in Wanaka, New Zealand, we've spent over 15 years in the trenches helping app teams rank #1 in their categories, scale to millions of users, and transform from small ideas into category-leading platforms.
We understand that in order for you to build a successful app, you need more than just a great idea. You need market validation before going "all-in", exceptional UI/UX design that users love, effective user onboarding and proven growth marketing.
But orchestrating all of this isn't always that easy to do, especially when most agencies promise the world but simply don't do what's 'actually' required to help you succeed.
So, here at 44Degrees, when we first meet you, we properly invest the time to understand your project, your goals, your target market, and then provide the guidance you need at each stage in your journey.
Whether you're just starting out, or you're already an international success, we'll work hard to give you the insight you need to reach the next level.
If you're after a team who genuinely understands what's required to build a successful app company, we're here to execute for you, so you can focus on other more important things - like managing all your new users (we can help with that too!).
WHY WORK WITH US
Apps are hard. We've stayed in this industry for 15+ years because we care about the craft - and about the founders and teams we work with. Here's what that looks like in practice.
We love this work
Most of our team has been doing this for years because we genuinely enjoy it. We care about the details, the founder relationship, and seeing a product go from idea to real users and revenue. Clients describe us as meticulously thoughtful, thorough, and super supportive. That matters more to us than sounding impressive.
We reduce your risk
We validate before you go all-in. That means honest market research, competitor and UX analysis, and clear scope before big build spend. We'll tell you honestly when an idea needs more work, or shouldn't be built yet. Some of the wins we're proudest of include helping founders avoid terminal mistakes, not just hitting the Top Charts.
We're a specialist team
We're a small but highly experienced team based in Wanaka. When you book a strategy call, Jarrah personally reviews your application. You work directly with strategists, designers, and growth specialists who've been in the trenches, not juniors learning on your project.
Strategy, design, and growth connected
Many projects fail when validation, UX, and growth live in separate silos. We bridge all three under one roof so your product, first-session experience, and marketing tell the same story and move toward the outcomes you're looking for.
Transparent and honest
We're proactive, transparent with data, and don't beat around the bush when it comes to what's important (and what's not) while on your journey. You'll always know where things stand and what the most important next step is.
Our Story
44Degrees was founded with a simple observation: the app industry is littered with failed apps, not because they had bad ideas, but because they skipped proper design validation, launched with poor UX, or had no real business or growth strategy.
Even today, there's still a fundamental disconnect between what app companies think they need and what actually drives success. Most agencies treat apps like websites. Developers focus on code, not user experience. Marketing teams run generic campaigns without understanding app-specific growth mechanics.
This led our founder, Jarrah Robertson, to create 44Degrees - an agency that bridges strategy, design, and growth marketing for the app industry.
Our mission is simple; help app companies do what's actually required to succeed by providing strategic market validation, world-class UI/UX design, data-driven marketing, and retention strategy that actually moves the needle.
Our Expertise
44Degrees has 15+ years of expertise in:
Strategic App Idea Validation to ensure you're solving real problems before you build.
End-to-End MVP Design that turns your vision into high-fidelity prototypes ready for development.
UI/UX Optimisation that eliminates friction and dramatically improves conversion rates and retention.
App Growth Marketing including proven user acquisition campaigns, App Store Optimisation, viral video strategies, and retention marketing.
AI Integration & Orchestration to future-proof your app with cutting-edge AI tools and automation.
Developer Sourcing & Project Management to ensure smooth, timely launches.
And most importantly, delivering results on time, every time with clear processes, transparent communication, and a genuine commitment to your success.
Who We Are
We're a small but highly experienced team of app specialists.
Jarrah Robertson
Chief Strategist & Founder
Zinnia O'Brien
Chief UI/UX Designer & App Strategist
Andrea Tomic
Senior UI/UX Designer
Illia Romanenko
Lead iOS/Android Engineer
Gideon Foster
Lead AI Engineer & App Developer
Abidoon Nadeem
Lead Web Developer
Chelsea Sutherland
Chief Content Strategist
Plus our network of over 57 hand-selected and proven freelance creative professionals, graphic designers, animators, influencers, developers, and award-winning content creators working to produce the best App Design & Growth Marketing results possible for your app.
Want Us On Your Team?
If you've got an app you'd like to discuss, book a call. We'd love to chat about it.
No obligation. 30-min Strategy Session. 100% free.