You thought this time of year was about wrapping presents, well it’s also when various accelerators wrap up their 2018 programs, while opening up applications for the coming 2019 year…
In the past few weeks, three Perth-based tech accelerator programs have presented their graduating classes, which gives the rest of us the opportunity to see what they’ve been up to, and what they did during the accelerator itself.
Get iPrepped
iPREP WA held its demo day at KPMG Perth HQ,with seven teams presenting their results.
iPREP is a bit different in that companies pay $10K (or $5K if a startup) to get 3 PhD students working with you for 6 weeks, on a research problem. Not only does the company get some very well priced help, the PhDs get some real world experience. The program has been running 8 years, and recently has had 2 cohorts a year.
Some of the PhD students end up getting hired by the companies, and this year it’s been no different. Some of the former iPREP companies have gone on to bigger and better things, such as the Noisy Guts Project, which this year won a WA Innovation of the Year Award, and got to pitch for $1M at StartCon recently, making it all the through to the final 6.
In the second cohort for 2018, Cinglevue worked on their Virtuoso product, an individual learning platform. They have been a participating in PREP since its inception.
Meanwhile, the state department of Jobs, Tourism, Science & Innovation used PhD students to assess the impact of the WA Innovator of the Year program. Agtech startup Laconik used 3 students to help develop their precision nitrogen algorithms, while Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers used students to work on safety hypotheses.
Vital Trace is developing a diagnostic device for mothers during child birth, Spacecubed used the program to test how social change can best be supported, while Mirreco used the PhD students to test carbon-capture of their hemp building material technology.
A Springboard to success
Springboard graduated their class of 7 female entrepreneurs running through their E3 program, with mentors Sam Birmingham, Sheryl Frame and others (see photo above).
Participants included All the Dresses, Blockboxx, Digital Health Action, Iron Matrix, Kaiketsu, the Noisy Guts Project and Project Pay.
After being named #1 Accelerator program in the Startup Muster 2018 report, Springboard announced recently that applications for the prestigious 2019 Springboard Enterprises Tech and Life Science Programs are now open.
The Springboard Enterprises Programs provide women-led companies access to a suite of relevant experts and resources to assist them in building big, scalable and sustainable businesses.
Emerging, high-growth companies with a woman in a senior leadership position are eligible to apply.
If you or someone you know is a woman leader that you think should apply to their 2019 program, Springboard would love to hear from you.
Visit their website for all details regarding the programs.
Harvesting Value
The HARVEST Ag accelerator also held its demo day, down at Deloitte in the city; and it was standing room only for the 100+ people attending.
Two cohorts were up on stage demonstrating their companies and agtech solutions, varying from farm security, camel milk, beef export to China, livestock pricing, IoT sensors, imaging and WA pure honey.
16 companies made it through the 2nd cohort of HARVEST in 2018, some attended the program in the city, while another group met at the Muresk Institute WA in Northam.
Plus Eight goes 3rd
Meanwhile, the third iteration of muru-D’s Plus Eight tech accelerator has thrown open its doors for applications.
This time, Derek Gerrard will be Entrepreneur in Residence; and the cohort receive a $40K SAFE note for getting on the program, which also includes a trip to Silicon Valley (cost not included) and expert mentors.
Applications are now open online, and close 28th January 2019.
Wait a minute – it’s WAITTA!
The annual WAITTA (Incite) Awards are also open, and although submissions are not due til end of February, if you register and pay by midnight Fri 14th December, you can still get an early bird price.
You can then finish your submission off anytime between now and Feb 28th and still get that early bird deal. Don’t say you weren’t told!
All information is on WAITTA’s Incite Awards website.
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MAIN IMAGE: Sam Birmingham with graduates of the latest SpringboardE3 accelerator.
