Custom platforms
Registries, portals and workflow systems modelled on how your organisation actually works, with the right access for every role.
RegistriesApprovalsReportingAudit trails
Software studio · Kitwe, Zambia · Serving Zambia & SADC
Software built around how you actually work
Off-the-shelf tools force you to change how you operate. We do the opposite. BackSpaceStudios designs and builds custom web platforms, mobile apps and business systems that fit the way your organisation already runs — then hosts, supports and grows them with you.
Trusted by FOSHE · football federations · universities · agribusinesses
3Platforms designed, built and operated by us
4Sectors served: sport, agriculture, education, industry
End-to-endStrategy, design, engineering, hosting and support
In-houseDelivered by our own team in Kitwe, Zambia
We build for
Sport federations Agriculture Higher education Health & safety Mining & industry SMEs & NGOsWhat we can build for you
Whether you need one website or a system that runs your entire operation, it's the same team, the same standard and the same promise: you see working software, not slide decks.
Web & mobile applications
React web apps and React Native mobile apps sharing one codebase, so your product works everywhere your users are.
Web appsiOS & AndroidAPIsIntegrations
Websites that win business
Professional websites, domains, business email and search visibility for firms, NGOs and institutions that need to be found and trusted.
Website designDomainsBusiness emailSEO
Hosting, DevOps & care
AWS and managed hosting, automated deployment, backups, monitoring and a monthly care plan so your system keeps running.
AWSBackupsMonitoringMaintenance
Our work
We're judged by what we ship. Here's a recent client build, and what it changed for them.
Case study · Website & digital presence
FOSHE: Foundation for Health, Safety & Environment
FOSHE is a Kitwe-based training and consultancy firm working in occupational health, safety, environmental management and quality systems across Zambia. They had deep expertise and a strong track record — but nothing online to show for it.
We designed and built foshe.org.zm as their main online presence: a full service catalogue, industry-specific solutions, project case studies and expert profiles, with a clear path for prospective clients to request a consultation.
- Service catalogue covering HSE management, environmental management, training and certification
- Industry pages for mining, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, chemicals and energy
- Success stories, including environmental assessments, urban forestry and feasibility studies
- Expert profiles and a contact path for free consultations
More visibleGreater online presence and market visibility
CredibleTrack record and team presented professionally
Lead-readyClear contact and consultation path
Have something similar in mind?
Tell us what you need. We'll come back with an honest view of scope, cost and timeline — no obligation.
Platforms we've built
We don't just write code for other people. We design, ship and operate our own products — which is why we understand what it takes to run software long after launch. These platforms are also available to license for your organisation.
Live
Sport · Flagship
Flame
National football administration platform
One registry and one set of workflows for associations, leagues, clubs, players and referees, across national, provincial, competition and club level. Flame replaces scattered spreadsheets with role-based tools for the whole football season.
- Leagues & competitions: seasons, fixtures, standings
- Clubs & players: registry, contracts, scouting
- Match day: lineups, match reports, referee appointments
- Compliance & commerce: policy checks and a marketplace
Built forFootball associations, provincial bodies, leagues and clubs
React 19 · Expo mobile · Java 21 / Spring Boot · PostgreSQL · AWS
Live
Education
Student Portal
University student management system
A secure portal where institutions manage their academic catalogue, calendars, enrolment and results, and students sign in to see published results and print their statement of results.
- Academic catalogue: schools, programmes, courses and curriculum mapping
- Flexible calendars: semesters, terms, trimesters or custom periods
- Enrolment & results: CSV import, grading, bulk publishing
- Governance: role-based access, audit log, automated backups
Built forUniversities, colleges and training institutions
PHP 8 · MySQL · automated test suite · CI/CD deploys
Agriculture
UniAgric
Three paths. One platform.
UniAgric connects Zambian agriculture students, farmers and agribusinesses. It links university chapters, a verified marketplace and expert knowledge — from university plots to provincial markets.
- Marketplace: verified sellers, produce, inputs and services
- Livestock auctions: timed bidding, health and vaccination records
- Student chapters: farm projects with milestones and sponsorship
- Knowledge library: guides from verified experts across 10 subject areas
Built forStudents, farmers, co-ops, vets, agribusinesses and sponsors
React 19 · Java 21 / Spring Boot · PostgreSQL · AWS Cape Town
For the technically curious: how we architect, deliver and run these systems
Architecture
- Domain-driven design: Flame is organised into eleven business domains
- Modular backends that can split into separate services as they scale
- Shared TypeScript packages across web and mobile
- Records keep their history even when the catalogue changes
Delivery
- GitHub Actions CI/CD that signs in to AWS without stored keys
- Automated test suites run before every deploy
- Backups taken and migrations run before each release
- Infrastructure as code with Terraform
Operations
- AWS ECS Fargate, RDS, S3 and CloudFront
- Hosting in AWS Cape Town (af-south-1) for low regional latency
- Health checks, CloudWatch logs and budget alerts
- Runbooks, architecture decision records and user manuals
How we work with you
No black boxes and no surprise invoices. You'll know what we're building, why, and what it costs before we start — and you'll see it working every few weeks.
Step 01
Free consultation
We listen. A short call or meeting to understand your organisation, your pain points and what success looks like.
Step 02
Written scope & fixed quote
You get a clear document covering what we'll build, what it costs and how long it takes. No jargon, no hidden extras.
Step 03
Design & agree
We agree screens, workflows and permissions up front, so there are no surprises halfway through the build.
Step 04
Build with regular demos
We build in phases and show you working software every few weeks. You steer it while it's still cheap to change.
Step 05
Launch & train your team
Automated deployment, a go-live checklist, user manuals and admin training so your staff are confident from day one.
Step 06
Support & grow
Hosting, backups, monitoring and a monthly care plan — plus new modules as your organisation changes.
Why organisations choose us
There's no shortage of developers. Here's what makes working with BackSpaceStudios different.
Built for Zambian conditions
Low bandwidth, mobile-first users, intermittent power. We design for the reality your staff and customers actually work in — not a Silicon Valley demo.
One team, start to finish
Strategy, design, engineering, deployment and support all happen in-house in Kitwe. No handoffs to a subcontractor you've never met.
You own everything
The code, the data, the domain and the cloud accounts are yours. Full documentation and handover at the end. No lock-in, ever.
We run our own products
We've shipped and still operate live platforms. That means we know what it takes to keep software running years after launch — not just to demo it.
Support that answers the phone
Based in Kitwe, hosting in AWS Cape Town. Your users get fast load times and you get a team you can actually reach.
Honest scoping
If a rebuild isn't worth it, we'll say so. If a cheaper approach gets you 80% of the value, we'll recommend it.
Meet the development team
The engineers and designers who build, ship and support your software, all working together in Kitwe.
Team Member
Lead EngineerLeads architecture and delivery across our client projects and in-house platforms.
Team Member
Frontend DeveloperBuilds fast, accessible interfaces that work well on low-bandwidth mobile connections.
Team Member
Mobile DeveloperShips Android and iOS apps built for intermittent connectivity and offline-first use.
Team Member
UI/UX DesignerTurns real user research into clear, simple workflows your staff and customers enjoy using.
Technology
A proven, practical stack chosen for security, maintainability and delivery across web and mobile.
Frontend & mobile
Backend
Data
Cloud & DevOps
Security by default
Questions we get asked
Straight answers, before you pick up the phone.
What kind of organisations do you work with?
Federations and sports bodies, universities and colleges, agribusinesses and co-operatives, HSE and consultancy firms, NGOs, and small and medium businesses. If your organisation runs on spreadsheets, paper registers or WhatsApp groups, we can almost certainly help.
How much does a project cost?
Every project is scoped individually, so we don't publish fixed prices — a one-page website and a national sports registry are very different jobs.
What we do promise: after a free consultation you get a written scope and a fixed quote before any work starts, and we deliver in phases so you stay in control of spend.
How long does a project take?
A professional website typically takes a few weeks. A custom business system or application is delivered in phases over a longer period, with working demos at the end of each phase so you see progress continuously rather than waiting months for a reveal.
Do you work with clients outside Zambia?
Yes. We're based in Kitwe, Zambia and work remotely with clients across the SADC region and beyond. Our systems are hosted in AWS Cape Town (af-south-1) for low latency across Southern Africa.
Who owns the software you build for us?
You do. The code, the data, the domain and the infrastructure accounts are yours. We hand over full documentation, runbooks and admin training at the end of the project, so you are never locked in to us.
Can you take over or improve an existing system?
Yes. We regularly take on existing codebases, audit them, stabilise them and then extend them. We'll tell you honestly whether improving what you have or rebuilding from scratch is the better value for your money.
What happens after launch?
We offer monthly care plans covering hosting, backups, monitoring, security updates and a set amount of development time for changes. You can also take the system fully in-house — we'll train your team either way.
Investors & partners
Backing a Zambian software company with live products
Flame and the Student Portal are in production, UniAgric is deploying, and paid client work funds the roadmap. We're open to equity investment, grants, pilot customers and distribution partnerships across the region.
Let's build something
Tell us what you're trying to achieve. Whether it's a website, a system or something you're not sure how to describe yet — we'll help you work out the right next step. No obligation.
Start a conversation
Fill in the form below. It opens your email app with the message ready to send.
What happens next
- We reply within one working day.
- A free 30-minute call to understand your needs.
- You receive a written scope and a fixed quote.
- Email tintin@backspacestudios.com
- Phone / WhatsApp +260 975 214 498
- Location Kitwe, Copperbelt, Zambia
- Registered entity TINTIN solutions limited (PACRA)
- Products app.backspacestudios.com studentportal.backspacestudios.com