Payments Startup
2013 - 2018
We took all the money from our app agency, and started building our own app.
I found and sold the first customer, and built the first version of the product in 2013.
I sold the first customer outside of my hometown, and things really started to take off. We raised a small amount of money from Australian investors, including Startmate.
We were turning over millions of dollars in payments by 2017, and expanded to the UK.
I decided it was the right time to leave, and had a mini-exit from the startup in 2018, then traveled Europe and China for a while.
Computer Repairs
2006 - 2008
My first act of business in life was putting up a black and white A4 poster at the local shops in my hometown, Canberra, Australia.
I charged $25/hour to fix people's computers, which seemed like gold bars, at 17.
App Development Agency
2011 - 2013
During university, a couple of mates and I built an app for the bus timetable in our hometown, Canberra, Australia.
We caused a bit of drama with the local government and ended up on the TV.
Despite my 1970s mutton chops, people started asking us to build iPhone / Android apps for them, and almost accidentally, we started a business.
We graduated uni and built a bunch of iPhone and Android apps for local clients, and made six figures.
We decided we wanted to build our own app, and stopped taking on client work, to start the payments startup.
Digital Marketing Agency
2020 - ∞
It took two years to get the business working. We called the office 'the rat hole'. At one point, I was flat broke and had to borrow money from friends and family.
I was surprised to learn that despite not being a unique, defensible, technically interesting, or novel idea, this business makes a bunch of money.
Once the business took off (and with it being fully remote) I was able to travel a lot in 2023.
Hardware Product
2020 - ∞
My first proper hardare engineering product.
Scratching my own itch, I wanted be able to simply track my own work time with a hardware button.
This project has used all of my skills, and then some:
- Electronic engineering, PCB design, soldering
- Web development: frontent website and backend rails + database
- iOS App development + BLE / Bluetooth protocols.
- CAD, Mechanical engineering, manufacturing, sourcing suppliers.
Robotic Startup
2024 - ∞
Stealthily coming soon, to take a job near you.
Andrew Clapham
I'm an Australian Entrepreneur, and I live in Sydney.
Email me
I have a standing open invitation: you're welcome to email me.
(My first name) (at) (this domain)
Especially if you're ambitious, want to build things, are a young student, or have a contrarian thought to share.
I no longer do development contracting, but tell me about your interesting project.
