MAKING IDEAS REAL
Non-Technical Business Owner? Get Custom Software Built Right.
Apps, Automations & AI Agents. Plus government funding to help pay for it.
Full ownership. Zero lock-in. No surprises.
No pressure, just smart advice, even if you don't hire us.
Calgary-based. Serving North America.
New Idea Machine is a custom software development company based in Calgary, Canada. We build apps, MVPs, automations, and AI agents for business, serving non-technical business owners and growing businesses across Canada and the US. You own every line of code from day one, you pay for time and materials only, and you can leave anytime and take everything with you. We built the company that way because it's how we'd want to be treated.
3 Ways We Help You Save Money & Launch Sooner
Prioritize must-have features so you earn revenue as soon as you launch.
For Canadian companies: access government funding to pay for development costs.
Save thousands by connecting with security and compliance experts at the right time.
Every project includes CTO-level guidance from Al Del Degan, our CTO with 30+ years of software experience. It's built in, at no extra charge.
14 Proven Questions To Hiring the Right Developer
We created this checklist to help business owners avoid the mistakes that quietly cost the most, and choose the right development partner from the very beginning.
This checklist helps you understand:
- The questions that reveal whether a developer is the right fit for your project
- How to spot restrictive contracts and hidden lock-ins before you sign
- What to ask to prevent unnecessary features and inflated scope
- How to confirm you'll own your code and documentation
- How developers handle changes, risk, and long-term support
- What separates experienced teams from those learning on your project
Save Your Budget. Avoid These 4 Mistakes
Each one has cost a business owner real money. Here's how to avoid them.
Paying twice for the same app
Many business owners end up paying for their app twice. Once to build it and once to build it right. There are two reasons this happens. The first is that the developer failed to understand the technical functions required. The second is that the development team fails to notify you as to when to bring in critical third parties such as security and compliance experts.
Our approach: we created the App Cost Calculator to expertly gather the technical features your app needs, which then allows us to give you a realistic estimate.
Being locked into proprietary software
Some developers build in proprietary systems that make it expensive, or impossible, to leave. This can mean paying licensing fees for as long as you use your own app.
Our approach: when you hire New Idea Machine, you own every line of code from day one, only pay for time and materials, never pay licensing fees, and can move your software to any provider at any time, for any reason.
Missing out on government funding
For Canadian companies, building overseas disqualifies your project from government grants and non-dilutive funding programs. Many business owners don't realize this until it's too late.
Our approach: every developer at New Idea Machine is located in Canada, so Canadian clients' projects remain eligible for government funding. All things considered, building in Canada is actually more affordable than building overseas.
Developers who only take orders
The majority of developers are order-takers. They build whatever you ask for, even if it doesn't make business sense or creates friction for users. This leads to wasted features and poor return on investment.
Our approach: we act as strategic advisors, helping you focus on must-have features for your Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This keeps your budget under control while prioritizing validation and revenue first.
The App Cost Calculator
You want to build an app. Before you talk to a single developer, you need a real number, not a guess.
Any estimate without formal requirements gathering is simply a wild guess. Our calculator asks the right questions and gives you developer-ready specs and a realistic cost estimate in about 20 minutes.
Testimonials
"We've really gone from a small startup with a couple people to 15 people and a $10 million business."
"They really understood exactly what I was looking to do and accomplish, and they have delivered. I'm super happy."
"That lowered the risk. It allowed us to get started tomorrow. We didn't have to commit to a 12-month contract, all those big things that really scared us off from working with other teams."
"[Rea] asked us a bunch of questions that made us think through what we actually wanted. This is really smart advice instead of just jumping into creating our own app."
"The biggest change is not having the over $2,500 a year bill for software I owned nothing [of]. Now I just pay minimal hosting costs."