Five Lakes StudioServices
iPhone apps for connected devices
Five Lakes Studio builds iPhone and iPad apps that talk to hardware, along with the firmware, servers, and dashboards behind them. We're based in Southeast Michigan and happy to meet in person.
What we do
From the device to the people who rely on it
Companion apps for hardware
iPhone and iPad apps that connect to your product over Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi, or the cloud, so customers can set it up, control it, and see what it's doing.
Monitoring and alerts
Sensors and cellular controllers that watch equipment around the clock, with live dashboards, daily reports, and alerts when something looks wrong.
iPhone and iPad apps
Focused, well-built apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac, designed carefully and shipped through the App Store.
Featured project
Emelbe Pond septic monitor
For the Emelbe Pond Homeowners Association we built a complete connected system: sensors on four septic pumps, a battery-backed cellular controller, a self-hosted server, a live web dashboard, and daily email reports. It's a good example of how we handle the whole path from hardware to the people who rely on it.
Who you'll work with
Tod Cunningham
Tod has more than 30 years of experience in software development and technical leadership. His work spans embedded systems, distributed systems, and vehicle networking over CAN bus at companies including Samsara and Lippert Components, along with Autodesk and TechSmith. Since 2014 he has led Five Lakes Studio, shipping apps and games that have been downloaded more than 700,000 times.
You work directly with the person writing your code, from the first conversation through launch.
How we work
Real people, modern tools
You work with people
You talk directly with the engineer building your project. We start by learning how your team and your customers will actually use it, and we keep you updated as it comes together.
AI as an accelerator
We use AI tools to draft, review, and test faster. That keeps costs down and leaves more time for quality. People make the design decisions, review every change, and own the result.
Plan, test, write it down
Short written plans before building, testing on the bench before the field, and a clear record of what changed and why, so your project can be maintained long after launch.
Start small
- A short first project. An app review or a focused proof of concept, such as connecting your device to an iPhone, is a low-risk way to see if we're a good fit.
- The whole stack, or just the app. We can build everything from firmware to dashboard, or slot into your team for the iPhone side.
- Local and hands-on. Hardware is easier to get right in the same room, and we're glad to come to you.
Contact
Let's talk
Tell us about your device or idea and what you're hoping to build, and we'll get back to you.