DabApps
DabApps is a web and mobile app development agency that partners with clients to bring digital products to life and unlock scale. Founded in 2010, Managing Director Catrina Bassett now leads a team of 30, delivering high-quality work with social and environmental impact while supporting clients across a variety of industries.
The Challenge
Leading a software business with a diverse client base and constantly evolving projects brings both variety and complexity. DabApps needed to balance adaptability with consistency – managing priorities, timelines, and teams – while avoiding the “feast or famine” cycle common in software development. They also aimed to maintain a people-first culture, supporting career growth and ensuring diverse perspectives contributed to product and business decisions.
Our Solution
Through the ScaleUp Brighton & Hove Programme, DabApps engaged in 1-1 mentoring and group workshops that encouraged reflection on leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Finance sessions, led by mentor Simon Chuter, strengthened Catrina’s strategic and operational skills – building her confidence and helping her become a more intentional leader. Peer discussions and speaker insights highlighted transferable skills, shared resilience, and approaches to navigating challenges, while fostering connections with other founders and leaders across sectors.
The Outcome
Participation in the programme helped DabApps affirm effective internal practices, such as regular check-ins and purposeful processes, while gaining fresh perspectives on scaling and strategic decision-making. Exposure to other leaders’ experiences, including navigating failures and staying true to values, reinforced the importance of authenticity, inclusive leadership, and human-centred approaches in a technical environment.
“What I valued most was the chance to connect with other founders and leaders – to have honest, open conversations about the challenges we all face. There’s something really powerful about being in a room with people from different sectors, sharing perspectives. That kind of diversity helps you think more creatively and act with more clarity.”
What’s Next?
DabApps is targeting growth with intention, hiring new talent and integrating AI responsibly to deepen their impact in sustainability and climate tech. The team aims to continue building thoughtful products with brilliant clients while maintaining a culture of learning, collaboration, and long-term value creation.
In October 2025, the company announced an exciting new project in partnership with fellow Sussex innovators Brace For Impact. With funding from Innovate UK, they will build ImpactIO, an AI-powered tool for small businesses to streamline and automate the time-consuming process of gathering and reporting on sustainability data.
Find out more about DabApps over on their website.
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