Smarter Planning Starts Here – AI-Powered Automation
What makes us unique
Spero-ai is Australia's first AI-native urban planning company, backed by trusted industry experts.
A native-AI company is one that’s built from the ground up to use artificial intelligence at its core, not just add it on later. We are set up for rapid deployment of co-designed products, with a typical timeframe of between 3-6 months.Spero-ai is led by experienced planners and backed by expert advisors in government, data, and technology. We don’t offer a one-size-fits-all platform — we bring deep capability, working with governments, councils and industry to co-design solutions that directly address their specific pain points.
We Know the System—From the Inside
Led by planners who have worked in the trenches, Spero-ai is shaped by firsthand knowledge of the system's frustrations and opportunities. Our Advisory Board includes trusted sector leaders, bringing strategic insight and ensuring relevance to local government and planning practice.
Deep AI and Tech Expertise
Our team brings over 25 years of experience in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. We combine deep technical capability with a practical focus on solving real-world challenges in planning and government.
Australian Company, Building Local Capability
We are proudly a local startup, keeping AI talent and development onshore. Rooted in local knowledge—not big tech—Spero-ai is committed to building lasting capability within Australia's planning system.
Built by Planners. Powered by AI.
Spero-ai brings together deep planning expertise and cutting-edge technology to simplify complexity, give clarity, and empower better decisions—faster. Designed by those who know the system best, we’re reimagining the future of planning, one smart application at a time.
About us
Established and Backed by Trusted Industry Experts
The Spero-ai team brings together deep planning expertise, cutting-edge AI capability, and a shared passion for solving real problems in Australia’s planning system. Our core team includes experienced urban planners, technologists, and designers who understand the real-world challenges councils face, from permit bottlenecks to planner retention. What sets us apart is not just our technical innovation, but the people behind it. We're supported by an exceptional advisory board made up of industry leaders across planning, government, and technology, who bring strategic insight and credibility to everything we do. Together, we’re building more than just a product, we’re building a better future for planning.
An Australian company building local capability
We’re a local startup keeping AI talent and development onshore rooted in local knowledge, not big tech.
Dr Jane Homewood
“I really believe that this is what councils need, and that there are lots of possibilities of how Spero-ai can help applicants, councils and planners.”
Making Planning Work More Rewarding
By automating the repetitive parts of the job, we free planners to do the meaningful, place-shaping work they trained for, boosting satisfaction and retention.
Our quickly deployable modules
Don't think years, think weeks or months. Spero-ai is a modular, end-to-end planning platform that can be easily adopted by councils to support applicants, assessors, and approval bodies throughout the entire planning lifecycle. Its flexible design allows councils to adopt individual features or implement the full suite as an integrated solution.
🔍 Enquiry Tool – Smarter Front-End Triage
Spero-ai’s AI-powered Enquiry Tool addresses one of councils’ biggest challenges, the high volume of incomplete or unnecessary applications caused by confusion around permit requirements. It guides users through a structured, plain-English process to determine if a permit is required, what triggers apply, and what to expect. This leads to fewer invalid applications and pre-lodgement enquiries, and creates a more confident, better-informed applicant base.
🧭 Assessment Tool – Your Digital Planning Co-Pilot
Spero-ai’s assessment tool reduces repetition and complexity by consolidating planning controls, policies, zones, and overlays, highlighting risks or inconsistencies, and auto-populating structured assessment templates. This enables faster, more consistent, and policy-aligned assessments while reducing cognitive load on planners.
📂 Records Management – A Modern System of Record
Spero-ai’s cloud-based records management system is purpose-built for planning, allowing councils to securely store and track permits, correspondence, and decisions, flag critical deadlines, and maintain a robust audit trail. It replaces outdated systems, improves transparency and compliance, and provides a reliable, centralised source of truth.
📥 Guided Lodgment Portal – Quality Applications from Day One
Spero-ai’s online lodgement portal is built for usability and precision, standardising how applications are submitted, ensuring all required documents are provided upfront, and guiding applicants with a tailored checklist. This results in fewer RFIs, faster decision-making, and reduced administrative burden through a clean, secure digital process.
⏱️ Real-Time Permit Tracking for Greater Transparency and Performance
Spero-ai’s permit tracking module provides live visibility of permit timelines for councils and applicants, clearly showing when statutory clocks start and stop—a common source of confusion. Councils gain real-time insights and automated alerts to flag delays or upcoming deadlines, supporting better workflow management and helping meet State Government performance benchmarks. For applicants, it improves transparency and builds trust in the process.
Rapid Co-Design
With an expert and experienced team, co-designing a solution is a rapid process, which can be started with one or two discovery meetings. Clients can then leave Spero-ai to develop the specific modules and tools that are needed within a matter of months.Through a structured and collaborative process, we work hand-in-hand with our clients to deliver efficient, innovative, and scalable results.Here is how we achieve this:
Step 1: No Obligation Discovery Meeting
This initial consultation is designed to be rapid, structured and pressure free, allowing us to gain a clear understanding of the client’s workflows, challenges, and goals. By identifying inefficiencies and areas for improvement, we lay the groundwork for a tailored solution that meets their needs.
Step 2: Meeting with IT Representatives
This step ensures seamless integration with existing systems, addressing compatibility concerns. Collaborating closely with IT teams enables us to align our platform with current systems while identifying opportunities to enhance integration.
Step 3: System Design and Quotation
We create a detailed plan that outlines the features, modules, and functionalities tailored to the client’s needs. A comprehensive quotation is provided, offering transparency in costs and timelines. This document acts as a blueprint for implementation, ensuring clarity and alignment before moving forward.
Step 4: Implementation of Software
Our team works with IT departments to deploy our software, ensuring it integrates seamlessly into the existing operations. By leveraging industry best practices and our expertise in planning systems, we deliver a robust, reliable software solution that maximizes efficiency.
Step 5: Training Programs and Ongoing Support
We provide comprehensive training programs tailored to the client’s team. These sessions empower users with the skills and knowledge to navigate the platform effectively. Additionally, our ongoing support
guarantees that clients always have access to assistance when needed, fostering long-term success.
Step 6: Regular Maintenance
Our commitment doesn’t end at implementation. Through regular maintenance, we ensure the platform remains updated, secure, and optimized to meet evolving technology and client needs. This proactive approach helps avoid potential disruptions, enhances system performance, and extends the solution’s lifecycle.
Creating Efficiencies That Respect Tight Budgets
We understand financial pressure and aim to deliver savings, while also identifying new revenue opportunities through smarter systems.
James Mant CEO
“I founded Spero-ai to empower planners and reimagine the system, not replace it. I believe AI can spark a renaissance in urban planning by removing repetitive tasks, streamlining the applicant journey, and giving planners back the time to focus on what really matters.As a planner myself, and through my role with the Planning Institute of Australia, I’ve seen the daily frustrations up close. Everyone agrees innovation is needed, but few know how to apply AI in a way that works for applicants, industry, councils and planners. That’s the gap Spero-ai is here to fill.”
We Know the System, From the Inside
Our team is led and includes planners who over many years worked in the trenches, we understand the daily frustrations and the system’s untapped potential.
Spero-ai is first Company to Commit to the PIA PlanTech Principles
At Spero-ai we are committed to supporting the urban and rural planning industry and the planning profession, we believe #AI and technology can bring a renaissance of urban planning and be used to empower planners.
Our Technology
Spero-ai is Australia's first native-AI urban planning company
An AI-native company is one that’s built from the ground up to use artificial intelligence at its core, not just add it on later.
Spero-ai is a secure, ai-based platform designed for all levels of government. Built on government-grade infrastructure with full data sovereignty, it meets Australian privacy principles and includes encryption, consent controls, and auditability. Powered by leading AI solutions, its scalable, customisable architecture reduces back-and-forth and improves planning decisions.
Our team understands the complexity of the planning system and builds tools that integrate seamlessly with existing council systems. With a strong focus on flexibility, trust, and collaboration, Spero-ai helps government deliver faster, smarter, and more consistent planning outcomes.
Our Approach
Co-design – develop product with customer
By planners for planners– develop through lived experience
Integrate with existing council systems
Find new ways to save money
Generate new revenue for councils
Not a Product, A Capability Partner
We don’t arrive with a fixed solution; we bring expertise to co-design what your team needs.
Our Mission
Make the planning process quicker, cheaper and easier for applicants and councils
Deliver trusted, accurate, and complete information to council planners
Reduce repetitive tasks for council planners
Minimise delays in processing
Eliminate incomplete applications and reduce back and forth with applicants.
True Collaboration, Not Just a Vendor
We build lasting partnerships with councils, focused on trust, outcomes and long-term impact not quick fixes.
We're proudly supported by the
Australasia Property Advisory Association
"The APA supports Spero-ai and acknowledges it as Victoria's first AI native planning-led innovation company that is
aligned with APA values."
Other Capabilities
Smarter Workflows, Faster Decisions
Spero-ai is continuously evolving to support councils and planning professionals with intelligent tools that improve efficiency, transparency, and decision-making. Here’s a look at what’s coming next:
Private Sector Project Tools
Spero-ai will provide an integrated platform for private sector organisations to manage every project stage from early planning through to completion, by: Automating communication and admin tasks, providing real-time tracking of progress and enabling better oversight and productivity.This empowers businesses with a single system of records to streamline operations.
Planning Submissions
Managing the influx of public submissions can overwhelm council officers, leading to delays and missed insights. Spero-ai’s AI-powered summarisation rapidly processes submissions to: Extract key themes and unique points, ensure all voices are heard, and support transparent and responsive decision-making.This reduces the manual burden on officers and allows for more efficient, community-focused planning.
End-to-End Council Platform
We recognise the complexity councils face in managing planning across multiple departments and legislative frameworks. Our vision is a unified digital platform that: Connects core functions (e.g. building, engineering, environmental health), enables seamless information sharing and reduces handovers and administrative friction.This end-to-end approach helps council staff focus on value-added work, not internal coordination or chasing applicants.
Referral Authorities Support
An upcoming feature will ensure referral authorities receive complete, validated applications by: Guiding applicants through customised checklists, validating submissions against each authority’s specific requirements and reducing incomplete or incorrect documents.This streamlines collaboration and supports faster, higher-quality decisions.
Planning Scheme Reviews
Spero-ai can streamline and enhance planning scheme reviews by using AI to rapidly analyse large volumes of policy content, planning controls, and latest state planning directions to identify inconsistencies, overlaps, and gaps. It can extract key themes from submissions, highlight areas of frequent amendment or concern, and benchmark local provisions against best practice or comparable schemes. This enables councils to make evidence-based updates faster, improve clarity and usability, and ensure the planning scheme better reflects strategic objectives and community needs.
Book a Discovery meeting
Get in contact for a free consultation and explore our first stage 'discovery' workshop, where we develop a comprehensive set of deliverables including a ROI model, executive brief, and a fully documented implementation plan.