Trusted by these app companies and more.
WHY SPECIALIST MATTERS
Your app deserves more than a general digital agency in Queenstown or Wanaka.
Most agencies in the Wanaka and Queenstown region are web designers who also "do apps". The reality? Building a successful app requires completely different strategy and expertise.
General Digital Agency
- ✕Builds a bit of everything: websites, apps, social
- ✕Generic UX lifted from cookie-cutter design templates
- ✕No ASO or user acquisition experience to actually drive downloads
- ✕No subscription, in-app purchase, or unit economics expertise
- ✕Builds to a brief, with no grasp of your business model, audience, funnels, or what your MVP actually needs to succeed
- ✕No real app case studies or hard results
44Degrees - App Specialists
- 100% focused on mobile apps and SaaS apps
- Specialises in custom UI/UX tailored to your industry, audience and business model
- Proven ASO and user acquisition campaigns that drive #1 rankings and real growth
- Experts in subscription strategy, in-app purchases, and app unit economics
- Takes the time to understand your app so we build what is actually required to maximise success and growth
- 250+ app projects with countless Top Chart rankings
LOCALLY BASED, GLOBALLY EXPERIENCED
Proudly based in Wanaka, New Zealand.
While our client base spans Australia, New Zealand, the US, and the UK, we call Wanaka home. That means you get the benefit of a globally experienced app agency with the advantage of being in the same timezone and truly understanding the ANZ market.
Unlike remote agencies or general web design firms in the region, we live and breathe apps. We understand the unique challenges New Zealand businesses face when launching digital products - from smaller initial markets to the path towards global scale.
Jarrah Robertson
Founder & Chief Strategist
OUR SERVICES
Everything your app needs to succeed.
App Idea Validation
App Design & Development
App Growth Marketing
UI/UX Optimisation
AI Visibility Optimisation
No obligation. 30-min Strategy Session. 100% free.
What Clients Say
Trusted by App Founders & Teams Globally.
From app idea validation through to design, prototyping, and launch, we've proudly served over 250 App Teams across Australia & New Zealand.
"44Degrees didn't just optimise our app; they helped transform our entire business. Going from just a handful of subscribers to over 74,450+ recurring active subscriptions, their holistic expertise, growth marketing and ongoing advice over the years has been second to none. They are true partners in our growth."
Heatley Gilmore
CEO, Camps Australia Wide Pty Ltd
"After years of testing different marketing approaches to cost-effectively grow Vampr's paying subscriber base, we knew our conversion performance could be materially better. 44Degrees challenged every assumption, rebuilt our subscription strategy, and delivered results beyond expectations. Their experience and evidence-based approach provided exactly the support the business needed"
Josh Simons
CEO at Vampr and Vinyl Group Pty Ltd
"Above and beyond. I just checked on iTunes and our app has hit Number 1 in Education and Number 7 in the Top 100 apps in iTunes!!! Awesome result and extremely happy."
Adam Bridle
Director, Platinum Driving Tuition
"What you did for us was truly amazing! Thank you so much for making the time and effort for us, we really appreciate it."
Dr Nikhil Povia
Founder and CEO, CancerAid
"Jarrah and the 44Degrees team have been a valuable partner for Kmart's app growth across Australia and New Zealand. Their ASO work delivered measurable keyword ranking improvements across the board - we had a 35% improvement in keyword ranking volume within the first 59 days, with gains on high-competition shopping keywords, and over time achieved strong rankings across more than 590 relevant keywords. The Apple Ads campaigns were set up and managed with real attention to detail too, ensuring we were acquiring genuinely new users within our target CPI - not just reinstallers or assisted installs. Jarrah is proactive, transparent with data, and always thoughtful about what to optimise and when. We highly recommend."
Karlien McLeod
Digital & Growth Leader, Kmart Australia Limited
"We brought 44Degrees in to help grow PainChek Infant's consumer user base, but what we got went well beyond campaign management. Jarrah and the team quickly identified critical gaps in our app's onboarding and subscription flow, and their UI/UX recommendations led to an 11x improvement in our install-to-trial conversion rate.
On the paid acquisition side, their Meta and Apple Search Ads campaigns delivered the strongest in-app subscription conversion activity we'd seen to date - significantly outperforming previous agency efforts.
But more importantly, they brought genuine strategic thinking to every conversation. From product positioning to messaging to understanding the nuances of marketing a sensitive health-tech app to parents, they challenged our assumptions constructively and backed everything with data.
I'd recommend 44Degrees to any app company looking for a partner that goes deeper than just running ads."
Sasha Grant
Head of Growth, PainChek Limited
"Jarrah & Zinnia's strategy for Parpera was impressive. They met our targets in a competitive business finance category and achieved a 480% increase in our recurring subscription revenue during our first 3-month campaign - a testament to their comprehensive product strategy, ASO and acquisition expertise."
Daniel Cannizzaro
CEO, Parpera
"We honestly wouldn't be here without you. 44Degrees has significantly reduced our CPI and impressively increased our subscription conversion rates by over 500%. Thank you for all the great work. Can't wait to see our new AI-first version of the app! :)"
Vicki Kouvendaris
Founder, PetPawtal
"44Degrees's work on Old Macdonald Sing & Play was incredible. We saw a 366% increase in organic downloads and an incredible 709% boost in in-app purchase conversions, achieving a Top 10 'Kids under 5' ranking in Australia and the UK, plus a No.3 'Highest grossing apps' rank for Kids apps under 5yrs, and No.5 Highest grossing 'Entertainment' app. Thank you!"
Paul Kuske
Founder, ChocChipApps
"44Degrees worked hard to meet our deadlines and targets, plus we saw a significant 291% uplift in our in-app subscription conversion rates within just two months. Their strategic approach and advice at every stage was immensely valuable."
Baz P & Stuart B.
Co-Founders at Weyo
"44Degrees has been our trusted growth partner for many years. Their ASA campaigns have consistently been top-performing in the competitive Australian sports betting market and have driven sustained organic growth plus significant FTT volume (first-time-deposits) within our target cost per FTT. We have no hesitation in recommending them."
Conor McCown-Butt
Head of Performance Media, Picklebet Pty Ltd
"44Degrees has consistently kept us in the top 10 Medical apps in Australia and executed top-performing Apple Search & Google Ad user acquisition campaigns. Their performance in this specialised sector has been outstanding."
Sarah McIntyre
Head of Marketing, MedAdvisor International Pty Ltd.
"Jarrah & Zinnia's product strategy and UI/UX optimisation experience shows immediately. Their advice has been spot on. We would highly recommend them for both UX design and growth marketing."
Taf C. & Sean D.
Co-Founders at Secondz
"I speak for everyone in saying how grateful we all are for the work, knowledge and support you and your team have provided. Michael Goodhew, our GM of brand was very impressed with the work done by yourself & Zinnia, so again thank you."
Donald Farquhar
Head of Innovation, Compare the Market
"Jarrah and his team have done an outstanding job building our site and mobile web app. Unlike many developers, Jarrah is a marketing expert and ensures that everything is done to help drive traffic."
Robyn Foyster
Publisher, Foyster Media, TheCarousel.com
"A massive THANK YOU. I know I'll be coming back to you again and again!"
Ashley Brown
Fitmind, #1 Ranked Meditation App (CNET)
"44Degrees was instrumental in bringing SmartTasker from concept to a thriving platform in just a few months from launch. Their end-to-end expertise in app design, onboarding optimisation, targeted user acquisition campaigns and overall go-to-market strategy has been excellent."
Ahmad Dabboussi
Founder & CEO, SmartTasker
"Thank you very much for your work and support throughout this process. It has been truly helpful!"
Markus Ahlber
Founder & CEO, Feelmo Mental Health Companion
"As an App Developer, working with 44Degrees has been an amazing experience. I highly recommend them as a marketing and PR company. Their incredible advice, reliability and professionalism has greatly helped me."
Danielle Gerber
Founder, Spellwick
"Sorry if this wakes u but, Yeeeewww! Well done and thank u!"
Brad Fraser
Founder, Fish Assist
"44Degrees say what they mean and do what they say. They are highly trustworthy and always provide outstanding advice and service. We have no hesitation in recommending them."
Paul M. and Joel B.
Founder and CEO, Hitch a Ride
"We came to 44degrees with an app that wasn't ready for launch. While we had a solid understanding of marketing, apps were a completely different world for us.
They helped us optimise our signup flow, onboarding, and paywall, and guided us through the app-specific strategy we were missing, particularly ASO and paid acquisition for apps. Their support helped us understand how growth actually works in the app ecosystem, not just what to do.
When we launched, a combination of our organic momentum and their ASO and ad support took us to #3 in Sports on Google Play and #21 on the App Store in Australia in the first month. We reached profitability (return on ad spend) within 20 days, which was a huge milestone for us.
What made the biggest difference wasn't just the results; it was the guidance. At every stage, we knew what to focus on, what actually mattered, and how to move forward without constantly second-guessing ourselves. Their approach has been thoughtful, thorough, and genuinely supportive. We are so grateful to have found them!"
Em & Josh
Founders, Hooked Up Pty Ltd
Want us on your team?
In 30-minutes get industry specific insights, clear actionable recommendations for your App and have a no pressure discussion with our Wanaka-based team.
No obligation. 30-min Strategy Session. 100% free.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
App Development in Wanaka FAQs
Being based in Wanaka means we're in your timezone, speak your language, and understand the NZ and Australian market inside-out. Unlike general web agencies, we specialise exclusively in mobile apps and SaaS products - it's all we do. We've delivered 250+ app projects globally and bring genuine specialist expertise that generalist digital agencies simply can't match.
Absolutely. While we're proudly based in Wanaka, the majority of our clients are across Australia, New Zealand, the US, and the UK. We work remotely with teams worldwide via video calls, Slack, and our structured project process. Location has never been a barrier - our results speak for themselves regardless of where our clients are based.
Our 4-phase, validation-first process typically takes 3-5 months from idea to successful MVP launch - and protects your investment with GO/PIVOT/NO-GO decision gates at every stage:
- Phase 1 - Market Intelligence & Validation: 2 weeks
- Phase 2 - Landing Page Validation Campaign: 2-4 weeks
- Phase 3 - End-to-end MVP Design: 2 weeks
- Phase 4 - Rapid MVP Development: 6-8 weeks
Traditional "build first" agencies typically take 6-12+ months of blind development. Because we validate first, you're not wasting months building something that's doomed to fail.
We work across the full spectrum: B2B, consumer apps (iOS & Android), SaaS platforms, marketplace apps, subscription-based products, and enterprise mobile solutions. Our sweet spot is apps with a business model - whether that's subscriptions, transactions, or user growth. We've helped apps across fitness, education, social networking, travel, healthcare, and more.