Perth Angels Pitch Night #28

A selection of Perth’s finest innovative entrepreneurs put their best ‘pitch’ forward at Perth Angels’ upcoming Pitch Night in an effort to pique the interest of angel investors and to secure capital, three early-stage companies will be present their investment propositions.

Drinks and canapés will be served with opportunity to network and connect to founders and founders. This event is free for members or $50 for non-members.

When: Wednesday, 17 October, kick-off 5:30pm (doors from 5pm)
Where: Liberty, 197 St Georges Terrace, Perth

Register your spot HERE

PADDOCKS TO PERTH: REGIONAL INNOVATION AND AGTECH FORUM LAUNCHES HARVEST 2.0

Key stakeholders in the WA agricultural, business and technology sectors met at the Paddocks to Perth: Agtech and Regional Innovation forum event yesterday to discuss key initiatives currently driving the Western Australian Agtech sector and to announce the new cohort of the HARVEST 2.0 program.

The forum featured a keynote from WesCEF Innovation and Commercialisation General Manager Mussaret Nagree on Innovations in Agtech and a discussion panel including Susan Hall from Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Frank D’Emden from Decipher, Gary Rogers from Hemp Homes and Amanda Walker from the Wheatbelt Business Network.

Mussaret Nagree from WesCEF discussed both the opportunities and challenges facing the Agtech industry. Offering fascinating insights into scaling large projects and initiatives, Nagree reinforced the primary importance of connecting with and understanding the farmer as a customer.

“It’s really important to take time to get to know your customer, understanding what their pain points are, what’s going to make it easier for them to manage their farms and boost efficiencies & you can only get that by engaging with them directly,” she said.

Panel member Frank D’Emden from Decipher offered some further insight into the customer, saying that digital technology adoption by farmers is still relatively low comparatively across sectors, however this presents invaluable opportunities and support for uptake, especially as billions of dollars is currently being invested in the Australian Agtech industry.

“I foresee in less than 20 years time farmers being able to look at a map and see what every part of their farm is doing in terms of the critical components of their agronomy, forecasting out 14 days ahead with 90% accuracy of what the weather is going to do and having much better knowledge about supply,” he said.

Susan Hall, Acting General Manager at DPIRD’s WA Open for Business said leveraging off partnerships like the one with AgriStart brings great results for the industry.

 “What we really want to do is be a part of this great culture of innovation across the ag sector and across the regions, and we do this with partnerships, like the one we have with AgriStart and the HARVEST participants” she said. 

AgriStart Managing Director, Tash Ayers says connection and collaboration is key to supporting and exporting WA innovation, particularly within the regions.

“Regional innovation needs to be part of the city agenda too. This networking event showcased the exciting innovations already happening in regional WA and the value of connecting businesses across the state and globally,” she said.

The forum culminated in the announcement of the cohort for next round of the HARVEST 2.0 Accelerator Program, where 16 highly innovative WA start-ups are given the opportunity to accelerate their business under the expert mentorship and guidance of some of Western Australia’s most successful business people. The program has been expanded to include the HARVEST Residential Intensive Program, a business accelerator for regional participants

---

The following companies involved in HARVEST 2.0:

HARVEST Residential Intensive at Muresk Institute:

• Agriculture Guided Implement Systems Pty Ltd
• Black Sheep Engineering
• Gloria Dieu Studs and Orchard
• Indigenous Aquaculture Ventures
• LA.ONE Economics & Consulting and Merredin and Districts Farm Improvement Group
• Livestock Systems Pty Ltd

HARVEST Agtech Accelerator Program Round 2 Participants:

• APIS Industries T/A WA Pure Honey
• C4D Intel Pty Ltd
• Dandaragan Camel Dairies Pty Ltd
• Farmfolk/Agtalent
• Intuit Earth Pty Ltd
• Latitude 28 Produce
• Mirreco Holdings Pty Ltd
• Mote Net
• Oceanwise Australia Pty Ltd
• Stratus Imaging Pty Ltd

---

ABOUT HARVEST 2.0

The HARVEST2.0 Accelerator programs target late-stage start-ups and SMEs looking to scale their business, attract investment, develop new networks and partnerships or explore new export markets. Participants will be mentored by expert growth facilitators who have high level expertise in corporate innovation, entrepreneurial thinking, agriculture and research connections. The program consists of two programs: the HARVEST Agtech Accelerator Program and the HARVEST Residential Intensive Program at Muresk Institute.

For more information about AgriStart and the HARVEST Program, visit https://www.agristart.com.au/harvest-accelerator-program/

LIBERATING INVESTORS TO FLY HIGH

Trio partner to raise local investment in new economy technologies

Local angel investor group, Perth Angels fly high with new partners, Liberty, a top provider of contemporary workspace solutions, and innovation experts, Atomic Sky.

Level 21 of Allendale Square. Peter Rossdeutscher - Atomic Sky, Jamie Vine - Liberty, Greg Riebe - Perth Angels

The three organisations will raise the bar on angel investment in Western Australia to collectively build on investor knowledge, skills and best practice for investing in new economy technologies housing Perth Angels dynamic Investing Series.

The first joint event, ‘Investing in MedTech’, is to take place at Liberty’s purpose-built state-of-the-art training, seminar and event space on August 15 in a half-day masterclass in understanding how to invest in this new economy technology, co-presented by Accelerating Australia. Bringing together industry leaders, practitioners and delegates sharing insights for engaging ventures adopting these new technologies in three sessions.

Some of Perth’s finest form the event’s stellar line-up of professionals, working across the Medical Technologies “MedTech” and Life Sciences, to discuss The Tech, The Transformation Opportunity and The Investment Opportunity, such as: Richard Hopkins (Managing Director and CEO of Zelda Therapeutics), Paul Andersen, (Founder, Managing Director and CEO of OrthoCell Ltd), Kevin Pfleger (Perkins Institute), Maud Eijkenboom at Accelerating Australia, and Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Barry Marshall.

As the pace of change accelerates globally in societies, economies and industries, advances in medical technologies are being demanded to respond to these changes, which is creating new opportunities for investors to invest. Perth Angels’ co-founder and current Chair of Industry Development, Greg Riebe, says that the new partnership will see angel investing stay relevant with active and aspiring investors receiving key insights needed to continue actively investing in Perth-based businesses.

Mr Riebe said, “The new economy technologies stream is specifically designed to share and develop the skills and practices of angel investing in early-stage high-growth ventures in a variety of areas. Partnering with Liberty and Atomic Sky means a home for the investors with an eye to take advantage of emerging technologies so that we can deliver our program in a professional, innovative and community-led environment where entrepreneurs can accelerate their potential”.

Atomic Sky is the Community and Content Partner for Liberty, an Australian owned business with a unique value proposition of ‘space and service’.

Jamie Vine, Liberty CEO, said, “Beyond our world class workspace and exceptional customer service we want to add value by supporting business growth. Liberty is thrilled to be a part of this exciting partnership. One that will provide incubation, innovation and, now with Perth Angels investment support. ‘Investing in MedTech’ is only the first of many exciting events we'll co-host with Perth Angels and Atomic Sky.

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT at https://perthangels.wildapricot.org/

---

About Perth Angels:

Perth Angels formed in 2010 to bring together likeminded business people to expand their peer groups, networks and to encourage investment into the early stage entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Perth Angels is a destination that supports ethical and efficient investment in emerging local business ventures. Perth Angels is a ‘for-purpose’ association and the only group to be affiliated with the national and international angel investor network and is a place where great ideas connect with smart money, connecting founders to funders. Members work together to invest their time, knowledge, networks and investment capital into rigorously assessed an qualified early-stage high-growth ventures. Members also support the broader community and economy by mentoring young entrepreneurs. Angel investing is an alternative investment class and global practice rapidly growing around the world. However, to develop this asset class in Western Australia, Perth Angels runs an annual calendar of events including six pitch nights and educational programs seeking to provide information and skills for best practice to select, value, structure and manage early-stage ventures for investment and exit.

About Liberty:

Liberty is an Australian owned business, founded in 2010 with a mission of putting world-class service back into serviced offices and co-working spaces; it now has five spaces in four locations across the Perth metropolitan specifically along St Georges Terrace and Burswood. Liberty’s Training & Conference Centre covers 1200sqm with nine purpose-built rooms easily reconfigured and can accommodate up to 200 people at one time. Liberty offers a unique service model and ranges in its private and virtual offices, meeting rooms, and co-working facilities. Liberty is unparalleled in its corporate solutions, and concierge and landlord solutions. Housed within prestigious buildings along the Terrace, Liberty prides itself in its accessibility and convenience, servicing 150+ clients from a handful of industries such as engineering and professional services and finance. Liberty’s Founder and CEO, Jamie Vine, spent 15 years in senior positions in the serviced office industry across Europe, where he was instrumental in achieving some of the phenomenal growth experienced within the sector. It is with this experience that has defined Liberty's client-centric proposition and after launching the business into Australasia, Liberty continues to focus its number one priority on delivering exceptional customer service.

About Atomic Sky:

With a team of highly successful Advisors, Atomic Sky draws on a wealth of experience and expertise based on real-world experience and best practice to advise clients in a number of areas. Atomic Sky’s mandate is all about helping people take good ideas and turn them into great businesses. Atomic’s team of Advisors understand business and know how to innovate with traction and impact in larger organisations having held senior corporate, government and advanced consultancy or advisory roles both locally and internationally. Atomic Sky uses its wealth and combines it with passionate people who enjoy what they want to do. It is good people, good ideas and good practice blended together to help new businesses starting out how to scale projects quickly, get a grasp on first-hand steps and identify pot-holes in order to be faultlessly executed.

Atomic Sky’s TechHub Expands with Liberty!

Peter Rossdeutscher - Atomic Sky and Jamie Vine - Liberty

PRESS RELEASE:

Expert innovation services and consulting company Atomic Sky has partnered leading flexible workspace provider Liberty.

Along with expanded innovation community activities and service offerings, the collaboration includes the TechHub space relocating to Liberty locations.

Opening in 2013, TechHub is one of the first and most successful co-working and incubation spaces in Western Australia.  TechHub will relocate across numerous A-grade Liberty locations to expand its support of startups, professionals and companies that are serious about growing their business.  

The partnership strengthens the West Australian innovation community by combining Atomic Sky's high value events and incubator advisory with TechHub's coworking activities and Liberty’s exceptional facilities management and customer service, across their growing portfolio.  

Liberty are a leading provider of ‘Space & Service’ and are home to more than 200 businesses across circa 5000m2 of private offices and co-working space in the Perth Metro area.

Jamie Vine, CEO of Liberty said, "As part of our aim to continually improve how we help our clients achieve their growth potential, we wanted to develop a market leading community event program. A partnership with experts like Atomic Sky will deliver a turbo charged environment for education and innovation.”

Atomic Sky is a leading strategic consultancy that helps large and small organisations build capability, capacity and business outcomes through strategic innovation.  Through its Start Something, TechHub and Studio StartUp brands, Atomic has proven an exceptional track record in leading coworking spaces, entrepreneurial programs, hackathons, incubators, accelerators and corporate innovation advisory.

Peter Rossdeutscher, Managing Partner of Atomic Sky, “Liberty is a quality leader with outstanding customer satisfaction. This new combined offering provides a rare mix of exceptional service, flexible space and a proven innovation community.  It is an ideal solution for companies looking to innovate or grow.”

Jamie added, "This is a win-win for our collective clients, future clients, and for the wider Western Australian business community. Together this partnership offers more than the sum of its parts."

Liberty

Founded in 2011, Liberty recently announced the opening of two new locations: Level 13 of 37 St Georges Terrace and Level 1 at 53 Burswood Road, to take their Workspace footprint to in excess of 4800sqm. The strategic partnership will enable all types of organisations to access high-quality events, mentoring, community and workshops. Liberty's new 1200sqm Training & Conference Centre will provide the focus of these events.

Atomic Sky

Atomic Sky is a leading advisory firm providing strategic outcomes through structured innovation processes.  They help large and small organisations gain competitive advantage through strategy, collaboration and execution. Atomic Sky's team of experts are all former C-level executives and successful entrepreneurs with exceptional track records leading and incubating success across multiple sectors.  Atomic has also Founded numerous companies, sector-wide initiatives, accelerators and coworking spaces. 
www.atomicsky.com.au    

www.techhub.io 

Agristart Harvest 2.0 Accelerator Programs

Do you work in Agtech or looking to apply your innovations to the agriculture and food industry?

The HARVEST 2.0 Agtech Accelerator programs are an incredible opportunity for late-stage start-ups and small to medium sized enterprises looking to scale their business, attract investment, develop new networks and partnerships, and explore new markets.

Featuring a line-up of inspiring expert mentors and growth facilitators, highly interactive workshops and informative panel sessions and field trips, the 12-week program will also cover:

HARVEST ACCELERATOR MENTORS & ALUMNI

• Positioning for growth, including strategic expansion planning

• Adoption strategies for applying new technology in agriculture

• Export market pathways

• Industry connections, including AgriSector corporate mentoring and Meet the Farmers

• Increasing income, including investment readiness, marketing and positioning

• Pitch coaching and media training

• Opportunities to pitch to investors and showcase your technology to the industry

• And much more!

Due to intense interest in the program, AgriStart will also be running a residential intensive version of the program for regional businesses at Muresk Institute. The HARVEST Agri-Innovation Accelerator is a week-long program covering similar topics.

Applications for both Programs now.

For more information and to apply visit HARVEST 2.0

Download the BROCHURE

Innovator of the Year Awards help Outstanding Innovators to Scale

Innovator of the Year 2018 (IOTY) opened for Applications last week. Applications were formally by Christopher Tallentire MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science.

I was fortunate to moderate a wonderful panel for the launch which included leaders from Medical Science, Mineral Resources, Energy, AgriTech, Research, Government and Technology. Joining me on the WA IOTY Launch Panel discussion were;

Professor Lyn Beazley, 2015 W.A. Australian of the Year and former WA Chief Scientist, who kicked off the discussion with examples of the significant economic and social impact that innovation can bring across the State. The IOTY program promotes job creation, economic diversification and future skills development in Western Australia. As part of the State's New Industries it strengthens in areas such as innovation in the resources sector, human health, automation, energy, agriculture, education and the environment.

The Joondalup Innovation Hub brings together Edith Cowan University as is a world leader in research and education, innovation expertise, the Australian Security Growth Network, AustCyber, and the Cyber Security CRC. Steve Marmion (Economic Development Advisor, City of Joondalup) discussed how the Hub is building global leadership and jobs in the sector. He also pointed out some of the many advantages of being an innovator focused on high growth sectors with significant underlying demand.

Woodside Energy proactively works with energy sector researchers, startups, SMEs and young innovators to provide demand for future skills. Neil Kavanagh, Chief Scientist & Technology Manager of Woodside Energy, pointed out the power of innovation to engage communities throughout Western Australian regions. He then expanded on the positive outcomes for communities that come from innovation and collaboration, providing excellent examples of outcomes in the Pilbara of innovators working across the value chain. 

Innovation in the Agricultural sector is important to improving the efficiency of food production and distribution. Dr Natasha Ayers, MD and CoFounder of agri-business experts AgriStart, has helped many companies grow through collaboration and innovation. She shared her experiences of where and how companies are leveraging new technologies focused on innovations in agriculture and regional development. Tash also touched on growing the food industry through skills development, engagement and innovation

Mitsubishi is in its tenth year as the Principal Sponsor of the Awards. David Lake, General Manager of Mitsubishi Australia Ltd and IOTY Judge, highlighted the importance of the IOTY Awards to promote and acknowledge the success of Western Australian innovators. In addition, the many outcomes that come from bringing innovative people together to contribute to success across all sectors.

The IOTY Awards have a history of activating and strengthening industry-university research collaborations. Steve Durkin (Safescape) added his company’s experience of leveraging Universities and how researchers helped strengthen their high growth business. He then expanded on the benefits the company gained from being part of the 2017 IOTY Awards and how winning the Emerging Category with Safescape Edge Protector has helped them further scale. 

The IOTY program is an initiative of the State Government's New Industries Fund, which aims to enable SMEs to develop greater opportunities to commercialise their innovations and expand to create new jobs. 

The initiative has supported and showcased innovative businesses since 2006. Some of the many high growth companies that have benefited include FastBrick Robotics, iCetana, SEQTA, TrackEm, Tap into Safety, ScanCam, Group and Fusion Books.

Canva CoFounder, Melanie Griffiths, has previously commented that being part of the W.A. Innovator of the Year Awards as CoFounder of Fusion Books had "opened more doors than she could have dreamed of. Getting great advice in the early stages of our business had a huge impact on our strategies and success. It’s a fantastic program that’s had a huge impact on us.”

In a survey of prior IOTY participants, the firms had reported that being involved in the awards later led to them employing more staff and that the awards led to increased investment from business angels and venture capitalists. The companies also reported they were now focusing on domestic plus international markets with more than 45% of those survey respondents now successfully exporting their products or services overseas.

Apply for Innovator of the Year 2018 HERE

High Impact Innovation from Industry and Research Collaboration

By Peter Rossdeutscher | 8 Apr 2018

iPREP WA Marshall Institute team with Christopher Tallentire MLA

Researchers strengthening their broad collaboration skills tackling the innovation demands of workplaces. The H1 2018 iPREP cohort presented their recommendations after six weeks of concentrated work. Multidisciplinary teams of PhD researchers from five different Universities with a number of commercial supervisors tackling on real corporate problems for paying clients.

Each of the teams showed entrepreneurial thinking of the challenges and presented strong recommendations to their corporate project sponsor. The presentations were supported by a report and presentation.

Focused on projects solving real workplace challenges. Four of the projects were innovating in the sector; optimizing wetland performance of future treatment technologies; environmentally sustainable solutions for sequester carbon using hemp, using data science to increase the efficiency of fertiliser use efficiency, optimizing the sniper precision agriculture system for grain growers.

The final team of the night had been working on Nobel Prize Barry Marshall's Noisy Gut initiative. Their work included recruiting study participants for data recordings using the Noisy Guts intelligent acoustic belt. The belt will provide doctors with a non-invasive way of screening for physical diseases with irritable bowel syndrome and other guts disorders.

For the third consecutive year, Atomic Sky was a key supporter of iPREP providing commercial solution delivery coaching.  It always amazes me how quickly researchers adapt to workplace challenges and the exceptional input to the commercialisation of projects they deliver in such a short time.

What do the University PhD students most get out of this type of diverse engagement with industry partners?

- Increased business acumen

- Demonstrated problem solving

- Project management skills

- Cross-discipline teamwork

- Workplace skills translation

Christopher Tallentire MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Western Australia Minister for Water, Fisheries, Forestry, Innovation and ICT, Science closed the formalities. Minister Tallentire highlighted the quality of the outputs as well as commenting on the value of research working with industry as well as collaboration across sectors for growing economies.

Vicki Hodgson MC'd the evening and iPREP Coordinator, Narelle Jones, concluded the event noting that the key theme for the success of all of the projects was optimisation and applying cross-discipline thinking to innovative commercial projects.

RESHAPING ENERGY NETWORKS TO INTEGRATE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

How would you reshape existing energy networks to integrate new and emerging technologies for regional areas to maximise renewable power sources? 

The future of energy networks will be driven by customer choice, with renewables having a large part to play in the energy mix.  Increasingly energy networks will act as platforms for retail and residential customers to choose how they want their electricity supplied and delivered.

Operators will continue to foster and enable the connection of renewables – a generation source that continues to grow.  Micro grids will enhance power supply on the edge of the grid, while Stand-alone Power Systems will bring new opportunities for isolated customers.

As part of its plan for the future, Western Power with the aid of the City of Albany and Atomic Sky rallied some of the brightest local minds to imagine a blueprint of a future smart city. Speakers included Western Power Senior Executives Fiona Bishop and Matt Cheney, Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington, Sunrise Energy Director Neil Canby and leading innovator Dr Natasha Ayers.

Outcomes from the workshop feed into Western Australia’s first Energy Self-Sufficiency Hackathon in Perth (22-23 March 2018). 

Info on the hackathon is at www.atomicsky.com.au/events

Technology Innovation Growing in the Food & Agriculture Industry

The application of AgTech will create significant competitive advantages for nations as exporters and producers. In Australia, there is huge momentum building in technology-centric innovation activity in food and agriculture.

Australia has the primary production, research and expertise to provide agrifood and business tech on a serious scale. In particular,  Western Australia has a significant opportunity as a scale producer and exporter of value-added agriculture and premium to Asia, and new initiatives are focused on making resources and support available to entrepreneurs to help capitalize on this potential.

The next few years will be critical in developing more mature growth pathways that blend sector domain expertise with innovative technology and entrepreneurs. Hon Alannah MacTiernan, Western Australian Minister for Regional Development, and Agriculture and Food said that investing in AgTech development and applying new technologies is critical for the Western Australia’s competitiveness and productivity within this industry. 

“We are really excited about this project and the ability for us to provide people in this post start-up stage a real boost to their business which is fundamentally allowing farmers to take advantage of modern technology to farm better and to farm smarter,” Minister MacTiernan said.

AgriStart’s HARVEST program is at the forefront of local initiatives supporting AgTech companies to develop and scale, and part of a wider ecosystem supporting the growth of the AgTech industry in Australia.

From edible crickets and big data to aerial surveying and wind turbine technology, Western Australia’s most innovative small businesses form the first cohort of the HARVEST program. These companies are at a point where they are ready to have a broader impact, so HARVEST is providing them export readiness guidance, access to networks and investment opportunities to support their next stage of expansion.

Convergio - Convergio are applying the latest technologies in computer vision, machine learning and data analytics to develop next-generation solutions for virtual simulation and economic modelling to enable farmers to improve yields, extend capacity, diversify products, enter new markets.

GeoMoby - GeoMoby technology provides cost-effective solutions to several problems in agriculture by coupling of real-time data with accurate position information, leading to efficient analysis of large amounts of geospatial. It supports applications including livestock tracking, fencing automation, lone worker tracking and farm mapping.

Grubs Up - Grubs Up is WA's first edible insect farm, providing an alternative to beef and lamb as a protein source for human food and animal feed. Grubs Up aims to scale up insect farming that is sustainable with a zero-waste system, with minimal environmental impact.

MALDIID - Identification of rhizobia, the critical soil bacteria needed for legumes to provide nitrogen to the soil, can be expensive and time-consuming. The MALDIID technology provides rapid and efficient rhizobia identification without the need to culture the bacteria, allowing farmers to manage their legume crops and pastures more effectively. 

Mapizy - Mapizy's machine learning platform can rapidly process satellite, drone and terrestrial imagery data and create an accurate inventory of crops, trees, weeds, pests and diseases. Equipped with this new type of information, agriculture businesses can make better decisions and improve performance.

P&A Pan - P&A Pan is a second generation, family run business that has traditionally grown fruit and vegetables. Their new venture involves soilless micro herbs grown in a sea container within a controlled environment, with the goal to be chemical free and use less water.

Precision Agronomics Australia - Precision Agronomics is focused on improving agricultural practises by developing customised soil mapping, data processing and machinery control solutions that help solve the practical problems for the world's farmers, such as reducing input and labour costs, optimising crop yield and quality, while minimising adverse environmental effects.

Scientific Aerospace - Scientific Aerospace is focused on designing and producing world-leading high precision aerial surveying solutions. Aerial surveying of soil & crop health will help farmers to identify plant vigour, pests, diseases and soil water content.

Windturbine - Windturbine is looking to solve issues with remote water pumping requirements for agriculture using renewable energy sources. The Windturbine solution combines wind and solar along with battery storage to provide a 24-hour pump on-demand solution to remote irrigation.

The first workshop of HARVEST program on Friday focused on a strategic business planning session and featured a line-up of expert speakers including Nicole Keating (CSBP), Peter May (DPIRD), Julian Coyne (AIIA), Greg Riebe from Triangle Capital Partners, Dr Natasha Ayers (AgriStart) and Adjunct Professor Peter Rossdeutscher (Atomic Sky).

The mentor-intensive program will feature 40 experts from around the world such as Trendlines AgTech, BayWa, CISCO, Wesfarmers, AgWorld, Austrade, GRDC, RuralCo and Plumb Grove.

Minister MacTiernan stated at the HARVEST launch; "We want to create an environment to support businesses to develop their ideas, technologies, business models and commercialise their products in global markets. Our local AgTech companies have the opportunity to come up with innovative technology-based solutions to make our agriculture and food industry more efficient, and capitalise on opportunities in growing export markets.”

WA Chief Scientist Peter Klinken highlighted the opportunity when opening the HARVEST launch event said it was essential for the WA agricultural industry to stay one step ahead of international competitors by taking seriously the investment into the development and innovation within the industry.

 “Let’s make sure we don’t sit on our hands and watch everyone else go past us. We don’t want future generations to wonder what we did when we had the opportunity. We want them to think ‘They did a good job”.

HARVEST was created and is delivered by AgriStart with support from Atomic Sky.  More information about the companies and programs can be found at www.agristart.com.au and www.atomicsky.com.au.

Leadership WA Key Note by Atomic Sky Owner

WHAT MAKES A GREAT LEADER?

Sharing views of leadership traits that standout in successful global companies was the topic of Atomic Sky Managing Partner Peter Rossdeutschers' talk to The WA Leaders Executive Alumni audience.

Speaking to a room of senior Executives and business Owners, he discussed learnings from leadership experiences.

PETER ROSSDEUTSCHER from ATOMIC SKY

Peter has been fortunate to work with organisations of different cultures in roles such as Managing Director of Asia for a Fortune 100 Company, Chair of a global Consulting Group based in Europe, Non-Executive Director of numerous large organisations based in Australia and Asia.

In each organisation there were exceptional leaders and many traits in common. 

The talk closed with this list of traits that he values most in leaders in his capacity as a Professional Non-Executive Director;

* MAKE MEANING - with passion & clarity through a strategic vision    

* BUILD TRUST - consistent role models of integrity & respect    

* LEAD - listen then take the responsibility to decide & communicate    

* EMPOWER - well-structured delegation of real decision making    

* DIVERSITY - diversity lowers risk & lifts opportunity scanning    

* GIVING BACK - they teach, mentor and open networks to pay it forward

---

Other great speakers on the day included James Paulsen, Corrinna Politis Angie Paskevicius Adam Rowles Greg Riebe Alexandra Capstick

---

The Australia China Innovation Growth Fund backs the AgriStart Sector Initiatives

The Australia China Innovation Growth Fund was announced today as a Supporter of the AgriStart HARVEST sector growth initiatives in Western Australia. 

AgriStart Mentors Ally Bishop, Peter Rossdeutscher, Dr Natasha Ayers, Grant Sanderson, Greg Riebe, Stuart Kidd

"China continues to experience incredible growth, and as the economy matures its demand for innovation and technologies is increasing. Australia has developed amazing technologies and its Agri/Food Tech sector is recognised, especially in China, as lean, clean and green.
 
The Australia China Innovation Growth Fund is pleased to be part of the AgriStart Harvest Accelerator program as it provides us an opportunity to feedback what we are seeing and hearing in the China market, as well develop long term relationships with Australian-based companies that may be opportunities to connect to China growth in the future.”  

Kent Matla, Founder & Managing Director

AgriStart programs draw on some of Australia’s leading experts in growth business mentoring such as Greg Riebe, Stuart Kidd, Nicole Keating, Julian Coyne, Tracie Clarke, Tom Calder, Peter Rossdeutscher, Dr Natasha Ayers and Grant Sanderson. 

The HARVEST AgriBusiness and AgriTech accelerator also leverages global experts from Germany, Israel, USA, China and Singapore such as Ally Bishop, Kent Matla and Stuart Crocker.

The initiative is led by AgriStart Executive Director, Natasha Ayers, and Atomic Sky Executive Director, Peter Rossdeutscher

LINKEDIN

HARVEST Accelerator Program Attracts Sponsors

CSBP & Plum Grove announced as sponsors of WA agtech program & Atomic Sky is proud to be a delivery partner for the initiative.

HARVEST is a 9 week accelerator program targeting late-stage start-ups and SMEs looking to scale their business, develop new opportunities and export markets. The program will feature a range of expert mentors tailored to the needs of the participants.

CSBP’s Development Manager, Nicole Keating, said

‘CSBP are keen to support the Harvest program as we believe innovation is a key way to generate new growth and employment in our regional communities. New technologies are creating a lot of new innovation opportunities in agriculture and programs like Harvest play an important part in equipping innovators with the necessary skills, mentoring and networks to take their ideas forward within WA as well as to markets beyond.’

Plum Grove were also keen to support the associated CONNECT regional innovation workshops to support their regional clients.

Plum Grove and CSBP join the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development as major sponsors of the HARVEST Accelerator program. 

Applications for HARVEST close soon on 5th February. More information about the program can be found on the HARVEST Accelerator Program webpage. 

Gov Backs Ag Accelorator to Harvest Big Ideas

Agristart

Dr Natasha Ayers

Business News - by Matt McKenzie

The Harvest accelerator program will be run by consultancy Agristart, with support from the department, Austrade, and co-working hub Atomic Sky.

The eight-week program will run across a number of co-working spaces in Perth, according to Agristart founder Tash Ayers. READ MORE

How Israel Provides Opportunities for Australian Companies to Globalise

OMRI WISLIZKI speaking at ATOMIC SKY'S innovation breakfast in the STUDIO STARTUP Basement

Israel is well known as a startup nation and engine for creating technology-centric innovation on a global scale. It has the most NASDAQ listed companies after USA and China, one in ten jobs are a tech job, 1/4 of the countries tech workforce are employed in international R&D centres. As a global hub it attracts corporations and investment groups from around the world looking for tech-centric solutions.

Austrade's Landing Pad Manager in Israel, Omri Wislizki shared some of his experience at the Atomic Sky Innovation Leadership Breakfast in Perth. A Tel Aviv native, Omri plays a key role in connecting Australian growth companies into the Israel ecosystem.

Some take-always included;

• With little domestic market, all Israeli companies think global from day one. They look to use technology to solve big problems and create international businesses.

• In Israel startups you start as fast as you can, then you go faster, so it is a place you can go to change your mindset about innovation. 

• Connecting and collaborating is far more impactful in a local innovation culture of openness to meet and help other entrepreneurs.

• Israel's outstanding investor market accelerated itself on a baseline of Founders who have exited well and now invest and mentor the next iteration of startups.

• Cultural diversity adds to the richness of the culture and to the ecosystem.

Omri Wislizki; "It was great to see so many passionate people today at Atomic Sky. The W.A. start-up scene seems to be growing fast. I see great complementarity between Western Australia and Israel, particularly in Agtech and Cyber.

The Tel Aviv Landing Pad facilitates connections to potential collaborators, clients and activities via Israel. It is a fantastic opportunity for Australian companies to connect to global markets"

Omri Wislizki

Peter Rossdeutscher

Dr Natasha Ayers spoke about the state-wide HARVEST agri-tech accelerator for SME's during Omri's visit. The initiative includes a combination of inclusive activities to accelerate the agribusiness and agritech sector in Western Australia. The holistic approach aims to grow collaboration, jobs and SME exports in the sector.

As relatively small, isolated populations Israel and Australia share the need for their knowledge industries to be successful and continue to grow on a global scale. The platforms of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology enable that outcome so are crucial to the economic development of both countries.

Israel is too small to provide a meaningful global market for Australian companies but we can learn from its technology startup success and leverage its ecosystem as a pathway to internationalise high growth companies. Australia itself has excellence in research, talent and potential sectors in which to pilot and strengthen Israeli innovations.

Director of Innovation at the University of Western Australia, Mark Stickells, recently returned from a business mission to Israel. He commented in the panel session that “Israelis argue that entrepreneurship is their national sport, whereas Australia prides itself as a sporting nation. We can learn a lot from Israel's innovation ecosystem and how it turned the challenges of geography and geopolitics into drivers for innovation and growth. Australia needs to embrace the advantages of its proximity to Asia and exploit competitive advantages in sectors such as agriculture, resources, and med-tech.". 

The Israel, Innovation and Australia event brought together growth minded leaders from SME, Startup, Universities, Government and Large Companies. It was kindly supported by Austrade and the Western Australian government Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Dr Natasha Ayers, Mark Stickells, Omri Wislizki - Studio StartUp

Israel, Innovation and Australia

ECCENTRIC UNDERGROUND VENUE

Innovation Cluster and Atomic Sky joined to deliver an interactive presentation on commercialisation to the current team of iPREP PhD researchers, in an eccentric underground venue in Perth CBD.

What makes a good pitch? Andy Lamb from Atomic Sky spent the first part of the session running through the elements of a successful pitch.  Andy’s Lesson #1: Put the Audience first. What do they want to hear and what’s important to them? Not everyone can understand technical talk, it will fly right over the heads of the audience and attention will be lost, unless of course you're pitching to the technical team at the organisation. Know your audience. Andy also suggested to ‘Get to the point’ and ‘Practice, Practice, Practice.’   Read More...

ATOMIC SKY INNOVATION THINKING WORKSHOPS

Tailored for corporates to drive innovation by thinking like a Startup

Launched this week, the corporate Innovation Thinking Workshops will provide their staff a common language and platform for corporates to elevate their innovation thinking, by applying startup thinking techniques.

The program is run by Atomic Sky CEO Andy Lamb, who holds a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and is an Honorary Fellow of Innovation at UWA... Read More