Kia ora, I’m Karl. I help Bay businesses use AI well.
I’ve spent more than 15 years building software for businesses. Now I help teams across the Bay of Plenty use AI to clear away the busywork, so their people can do more of the work they’re great at.
Why Bay of Plenty AI
Humans first. AI is the tool.
I use AI every day, mostly Claude and ChatGPT. It’s made me faster and better at my job. But I kept seeing two stories about it, and neither felt right.
One story says AI will take everyone’s job. The other says just buy the latest tool and everything gets easy. In real businesses, it’s neither. AI is a tool, like a good ute or a good spreadsheet. In the right hands, it saves hours. Set up badly, it causes headaches.
So I started Bay of Plenty AI with a simple idea: humans, empowered. AI should make your people better at their jobs, not replace them. And nobody on the team should get left behind.
- Your people stay in charge. AI drafts, a person checks.
- Start small. One job at a time, proven before we move on.
- Plain English. No jargon, no hype, no pressure.
My background
15 years of building software for real businesses
Before AI was in the news, I was designing and building software that busy people use every day.
I co-founded and led Friendly Manager, software that helps clubs and organisations run their day-to-day. We grew it to 700 clients, more than a million users, a team of 17 and $1.5 million in yearly recurring revenue. Along the way I helped raise $2 million in funding.
That taught me what a small team really deals with. Too many emails. Too much admin. Not enough hours. I’ve been the person answering support tickets at night and the person signing off the payroll.
Today I also build PupManager, software for dog trainers. I use AI to design, write and build it every day. That’s where I learned what AI is genuinely good at, and where it still needs a human watching closely.
Why local matters
Someone you can sit down with
AI help is easy to find online. Help that understands your business, your team and your town is harder.
- I come to you. From Katikati to Whakatāne and Rotorua, at your place or on Zoom.
- I know the Bay. The port, the orchards, the trades, the cafés on the Mount. I live here too.
- I stick around. When something’s not working, you call me. No overseas help desk.
- Your data stays safe. Set up to follow the NZ Privacy Act, and written down in plain English.
Life in the Bay
Family, cricket and community
Tauranga is home. I live here with my wife Brooke and our daughter Adelina.
A few years ago Adelina needed open-heart surgery as a newborn. I stepped back from day-to-day CEO work while she recovered. That season changed how I think about work. Time with the people you love matters more than another late night at the laptop. It’s a big part of why I care about helping teams get their evenings back.
Outside work you’ll find me playing cricket, and volunteering with a local youth group.
What clients say
“Working with Karl has been an absolute pleasure. Not only did he save me hours, his work was far superior to ours. We love the working relationship we have with Karl.”
Richard Smith — CEO, Infoodle
Let’s make AI work for your team
Book a free 30-minute AI chat. No jargon, no pressure, just a friendly look at where AI could help your people do their best work.