On December 12, we hosted what became the first ever Supabase meet up in the Isle of Man, bringing together students, developers, founders, and local technology professionals for an evening focused on how modern applications are actually built, deployed, and maintained in real business environments.
Hosted at Launchpad, done by AI & Web Solutions IOM, the event was designed to go beyond surface-level discussions by creating a shared learning space where attendees could see real systems, understand real decisions, and hear directly from people who build and support live products used by Isle of Man businesses today.
Delivered as part of Supabase’s global “Sign Your City Up” initiative in partnership with Supabase and AI & Web Solutions IOM, the session aimed to strengthen awareness of the local tech scene, encourage community connection, and give students a clearer view of what industry-ready development looks like outside formal education.
Why the First Ever Supabase Meetup in the Isle of Man Mattered
The Isle of Man has long been recognised for its strengths in finance, e-gaming, and digital services, yet opportunities for open, builder-led technical learning outside structured programmes have remained limited.
This first ever Supabase meet up in the Isle of Man was intentionally positioned as a practical community gathering rather than a corporate event, allowing students, developers, and founders to learn from a real production system rather than curated demos or theoretical examples.
By hosting the session at Launchpad, the island’s dedicated startup and innovation hub, the event reinforced the role of physical spaces in supporting knowledge sharing and collaboration across the local tech ecosystem.
A Live Isle of Man Project at the Core of the Session
At the centre of the evening was a full walk-through of a live wholesale system built by AI & Web Solutions IOM for a local client, providing a rare opportunity for attendees to see a real production application explained end to end.
Instead of simplifying the example, the team chose to walk through an active system currently in use, which allowed participants to understand how architectural decisions affect scalability, performance, and long-term maintainability.
The system demonstrated included:
- A product database with more than 3,000 items
- A website and mobile application powered by a shared backend
- Supabase managing the database, authentication, and file storage
- Real-time updates demonstrated live
This approach gave students and early-career developers practical insight into how concepts taught separately are combined into a working product.
How Modern Applications Are Built in 2025
A significant part of the first ever Supabase meet up in the Isle of Man focused on explaining modern development workflows in a way that prioritised clarity over complexity.
The stack used throughout the project included Supabase as the backend platform, React and Next.js for the web frontend, Bolt.new for accelerating development, and mobile app integration connected to the same backend services, all of which were explained through the lens of why these choices made sense for the project.
Rather than promoting tools in isolation, the discussion focused on trade-offs, constraints, and decision-making, helping attendees understand that sustainable development depends more on thoughtful architecture than on chasing trends.
What Students Gained from the Session
For computing and software development students, the learning extended well beyond code.
Students were able to see how backend services support multiple frontends, why authentication decisions matter in production systems, and how real-time updates are implemented responsibly without creating instability.
Equally important were the career-focused discussions around freelancing, side projects, and employability, which helped students connect their technical learning with real-world outcomes within the Isle of Man tech sector.
Skills Local Businesses Actually Look For
The session also addressed the skills local businesses actively look for when working with developers, helping close the gap between education and industry expectations.
The discussion highlighted the importance of understanding data flows, explaining technical decisions clearly, working collaboratively, and building systems that can evolve over time rather than short-lived solutions.
For students and junior developers, this insight offered a clearer roadmap for skill development aligned with real market demand.
Community as the Outcome
While the technical content formed the backbone of the event, the conversations between attendees proved equally valuable.
Students spoke directly with working developers, founders shared experiences with freelancers, and discussions continued well beyond the formal session, reinforcing the idea that ecosystem growth happens through consistent, small-scale interactions rather than one-off events.
This outcome aligned closely with Launchpad’s broader mission of supporting connection, learning, and collaboration across the island’s startup and technology communities.
About AI & Web Solutions IOM
The success of the first ever Supabase meet up in the Isle of Man was closely tied to the involvement of AI & Web Solutions IOM, a locally based technology company working with Isle of Man & UK businesses to design and build practical digital systems.
Their work spans web platforms, mobile applications, backend systems, automation, and applied AI, with a strong focus on reliability and long-term maintainability rather than experimental approaches.
By choosing to showcase a live wholesale system built for a local client, AI & Web Solutions IOM provided attendees with a realistic view of how modern tools like Supabase are used in production environments while aligning technical decisions with business needs.
Their participation demonstrated the important role local technology companies play in strengthening the island’s tech ecosystem through openness, mentorship, and knowledge sharing.
Why Supabase Was the Right Focus
Supabase was a natural fit because it lowers the barrier to building functional applications while remaining flexible enough for production use.
For students, it enables faster learning through real projects, while for startups and small teams it provides a solid foundation without unnecessary overhead.
Seeing Supabase used within a real Isle of Man business context helped attendees understand both its strengths and its practical limitations.
What Comes Next for the Isle of Man Tech Scene
This first ever Supabase meet up in the Isle of Man was not designed as a one-off event but as part of Launchpad’s ongoing effort to support community-led learning and collaboration.
For those who were unable to attend, the full session recording is available on Launchpad’s YouTube channel, extending access to the knowledge shared during the evening.
As Launchpad continues to host ecosystem-focused events in partnership with local technology companies, the goal remains to support builders, connect communities, and strengthen the Isle of Man tech scene through practical, experience-led learning.
