AI Agencies in Sydney: From Startups to Enterprise
Sydney's AI agency market serves two very different worlds: fast-moving startups racing to product-market fit, and enterprises navigating compliance and scale.
The mistake both make is choosing an agency built for the other.
Here's how to find an AI agency in Sydney that fits your reality.
The Startup vs Enterprise Divide
The needs are genuinely different:
Startups Need
- Speed: Weeks to MVP, not months to discovery
- Flexibility: Pivot-ready, not locked into waterfall plans
- Efficiency: Budget-conscious, every dollar counts
- Expertise: Senior people doing the work, not graduates
- Partnership: Invested in your success, not just billing hours
Enterprises Need
- Process: Governance, documentation, compliance
- Scale: Architecture that handles enterprise load
- Integration: Connect with legacy systems and existing workflows
- Security: Meet regulatory requirements (APRA, ASIC, industry-specific)
- Support: SLAs, incident response, long-term maintenance
An agency built for startups will frustrate enterprises with lack of process. An agency built for enterprises will frustrate startups with overhead and cost.
Finding Startup-Fit Agencies
If you're a startup looking for AI agency support:
Green Flags
They've worked with startups before: Ask for references. Talk to those founders. Did it work?
Senior people do the work: In small agencies, the person you meet is often the person doing the work. In larger ones, ask explicitly.
Fixed-scope or value-based pricing: Hourly billing with uncertain scope burns through startup budgets fast.
They push back: A good agency tells you when your idea needs refinement. Yes-men are dangerous.
Speed matters to them: If their first available slot is 8 weeks out, they're not startup-paced.
Red Flags
Heavy discovery process: Startups often can't afford 6 weeks of paid discovery before building anything.
Rigid methodology: Agile is good. "Our proprietary 47-step process" is concerning.
Enterprise case studies only: They might not know how to work lean.
Can't explain what they'll deliver: Vague proposals are vague projects.
What to Expect (Startup Pricing)
Sydney startup-focused AI work:
MVP/Proof of Concept: $20,000-$60,000 for something real in 4-8 weeks Production Version 1: $50,000-$150,000 for launchable product Ongoing Support: $3,000-$10,000/month depending on complexity
If you're funded, these numbers are accessible. If you're bootstrapped, you might need to start smaller (perhaps a technical co-founder or part-time contractor).
Finding Enterprise-Fit Agencies
If you're an enterprise:
Green Flags
They understand your regulatory environment: APRA, ASIC, Privacy Act—they should speak your language.
Documented methodology: Not bureaucracy for its own sake, but appropriate governance.
Reference clients in your industry: They've navigated similar constraints.
Long-term thinking: They plan for maintenance, not just launch.
Security credentials: ISO 27001, SOC 2, or equivalent. They take security seriously.
Red Flags
Startup hustle culture: "Move fast and break things" isn't acceptable when you're handling customer data.
Can't articulate compliance approach: Vague answers about security and compliance are unacceptable.
No enterprise references: They might not survive procurement.
Unclear about ongoing support: What happens after launch? Who supports it?
What to Expect (Enterprise Pricing)
Sydney enterprise AI work:
Discovery/Assessment: $40,000-$120,000 for thorough scoping Proof of Concept: $80,000-$200,000 depending on complexity Production System: $200,000-$1,000,000+ for enterprise-grade deployment Ongoing Operations: $10,000-$50,000/month depending on scope
These numbers reflect enterprise requirements: security reviews, compliance documentation, integration complexity, and ongoing support.
The In-Between: Scale-Ups
Some Sydney companies don't fit neatly into either category. You've found product-market fit, you're scaling, but you're not an enterprise.
Look for agencies that can:
- Start lean but plan for scale
- Add governance as you grow
- Grow with you over time
- Flex between startup speed and enterprise discipline
This is actually the hardest match to find. Many agencies are good at one mode but struggle to shift.
Types of Sydney AI Agencies
Boutique Specialists
Small teams (5-20 people) focused specifically on AI.
Good for: Specialised AI work, direct access to experts Watch for: Capacity constraints, may lack broader integration skills Typical clients: Startups to mid-market
Software Development Companies with AI Capability
Traditional dev shops that have added AI expertise.
Good for: Projects needing AI + significant custom software Watch for: Depth of AI expertise varies widely Typical clients: Mid-market to enterprise
This is us. We started in mobile development, evolved into AI as our clients' needs changed. We understand both sides.
Big Consulting AI Practices
Deloitte, Accenture, PwC, etc.
Good for: Large enterprise programs, strategy, governance Watch for: Cost, may subcontract actual building Typical clients: Large enterprise
Platform/Vendor Consultants
Specialists in specific platforms (Microsoft, Google, AWS AI services).
Good for: When you're committed to a platform Watch for: Platform lock-in, may push platform solutions to non-platform problems Typical clients: Enterprises on those platforms
Making the Choice
For Startups
- Get 2-3 proposals
- Meet the people who'll do the work
- Check startup references
- Push for fixed scope/price where possible
- Start small, expand if it works
For Enterprises
- Issue RFP to 3-5 qualified agencies
- Evaluate methodology and approach, not just price
- Deep-dive reference checks
- Security and compliance review
- Start with discovery, then decide on implementation partner
For Scale-Ups
- Be clear about where you are and where you're going
- Look for agencies that have made similar transitions with clients
- Build relationship over time—start with one project, expand
- Evaluate ability to adapt as you grow
Our Position
Team 400 is a mid-size Sydney-based agency. We work with:
- Funded startups building AI-powered products
- Mid-market companies adding AI to operations
- Enterprises with contained, well-scoped AI projects
We're not the right fit for:
- Pre-seed startups with no budget
- Massive enterprise transformation programs
- Deep research AI (we're applied, not research)
Our sweet spot: companies that need AI that works in production, integrated with real systems, built by people who understand both AI and software engineering.
We've built AI agents, document processing systems, and intelligent automation for Sydney businesses.
Talk to us about your project.