Hype Man - 7 July 2024

Welcome to edition #4 of the Hype Man Newsletter!

Your fortnightly dose of everything you need to know about the Australian Tech & Innovation ecosystem.

Since my last edition I’ve been jet setting across the country, on a mission to better understand the entirety of the Australian Tech & Innovation landscape.

My adventure has taken me from the chilly lowlands of the Nation's Capital Canberra to the tropics of Far North Queensland, to Sydney’s second city in the Western Suburbs of Parramatta. Via, of course, my spiritual home of Melbourne and current Bondi abode.

Amongst clocking up the Frequent Flyer points, I’ve also been able to understand the similarities and differences between our various local ecosystems and get an idea of the gaps we need to fill in order to go to market as a connected Australia.

My five key takeaways are that:

1. ?People are really proud of the ecosystems that they represent
2. There's a general sense of optimism across the country?
3. The majority of the people working in each individual ecosystem are siloed.
4. Everyone and I mean everyone is heavily reliant on Government support
5. There's incredible people doing incredible things across the whole of Australia?

You can read more about my insights here and I’ll be digging deeper in future editions as I make my way around the country.

Hopefully I’ll see you in your local ecosystem soon!

Big love,

Dickie Currer - Author & Hype Man for the Australian Tech & Innovation ecosystem?

In case you missed it!

The Tech Council hosted their third annual Parliamentary Innovation showcase

I was lucky to make my way down to Canberra last week for the first time to see the best of Australian Tech & Innovation on show at Parliament House.

The event featured over 50 exhibitors from Startups like Vow and Take2, to Tech Giants like AWS and Optus with a big focus on AI, Quantum and the Future of Work. With over 600 exhibitors the event was the largest to date in Canberra, with Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic MP even taking to the stage.

Australian Premiere of “Show here the Money”

Across 3 days last week both Melbourne and Sydney played host to the Aussie premiere of a Silicon Valley created film focussed on highlighting the barriers that women entrepreneurs face when looking for investment.

The events organised by She backs Me, who also announced their first fund for investing in Women led Startups, saw over 300 people in attendance across both cities.

There’s a long way to go until gender parity is achieved in venture funding but events like this certainly go a long way in creating safe spaces for Women to succeed!

Tropical Innovation Festival 2024

The National ecosystem convened in Cairns at the end of May at Australia’s largest Regional Innovation event. Spread across 5 days in far North Queensland.

The event was a huge success and had its biggest attendance to date, with the best of Queensland’s rapidly growing Innovation economy on show.

The last edition of the “Hype Man newsletter’ was a TIF 2024 special edition, so if you want to dive a little further (pun intended) you can read about it here

5 Startups that I’m excited about this week

I get to meet hundreds of Founders a week, here’s a few that have jumped out at me recently!?

1. Automi

Automi enables 100% compliance at speed for global goods through our inventions in Autonomous AI and Software robotics. 100% compliant packaging artwork and information means no recalls, no medical errors due to mislabelling, and revenue supercharged.?

Learn more at about Automi’s journey here

2. Teamed

A digital platform that empowers women by fostering collaborative work opportunities. I had the pleasure of spending a week in Cairns with its Founder Viviana Castrillon and was blown away by her passion and dedication in changing this space!

Follow what Teamed are doing on LinkedIn

3. Lyngo AI

Lyngo is an AI phone receptionist for allied health clinics, it can handle general FAQs and complex appointment bookings instantly over the phone. Since their pre-seed round, Lyngo has grown its presence across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Ireland.

See what Lyngo AI are getting up to next here

4. Enrola?

Enrola simplifies the often overwhelming task of finding the right course by using AI-driven matching to connect students with life-changing educational opportunities, supported by personalised guidance. With 100 happy students and 25% month-on-month growth, they’re making education easier and more accessible for everyone.

Sign up here to be an Enrola supporter

5. Givewrap

Givewrap is no ordinary gift wrapping paper. When you buy someone a gift, and you wrap it in Givewrap, proceeds from the wrapping paper are given to charity. So with Givewrap, you Give Twice - to someone you love, and to someone in need. They’re on a mission to transform the $31 billion gift wrapping industry and divert huge amounts of this money to charities, all around the world.

Join Givewrap’s giving twice revolution now

Want your Startup featured in a future newsletter edition? Fill out this form now

Events to watch out for

My favourite events across the country, with a couple of cheeky discounts to help you get there:

11 July - Startup Palette show live - Sydney

A live viewing of the Startup Talk Show spotlighting Startup Superstars. This edition will feature Jackie Vullighns, Partner at Airtree and Kim Randle, the Founder and CEO of Fair Supply.

Register for your tickets here

26 July - AccelerateHer Workshop - Western Sydney

A one day workshop in the Western Sydney Startup Hub to help aspiring Female entrepreneurs in bringing their entrepreneurial ideas to life.

Register for the event in Parramatta North now

31 July- 2 August - Forward Fest - Sunshine Coast

Silicon Coast proudly presents FORWARD FEST, a premier business festival aimed at elevating thought leadership, fostering growth, and addressing critical issues to ensure the safety and prosperity of the thriving Sunshine Coast ecosystem.

Learn more and grab your tickets

8 August - Victorian Startup Gala - Melbourne

The highly anticipated Victorian Startup Gala is back for another year, and you’re invited to join the celebration! This premium event, hosted by LaunchVic, shines a spotlight on the local startup sector and its $103 billion contribution to the state’s economy.

Buy your tickets to this incredible event now

29-30 August - SomethingTech - Brisbane

The Showcase of Emerging Technology and its Journey to the World as part of Australia's Something Fest! Featuring Tech Talks, Founder and Entrepreneur Journeys, Networking Lunches, Office Hours (Rendezvous Hours), Tech Tradeshows, Australian and International Guest Speakers, Networking, RiverRival + more!

Join me at Brisbane’s flagship Innovation event?

Want your event featured then tell us about it here

Get involved

Some of the opportunities currently open in the Australian ecosystem!

She Loves Tech x UN Women Climate Tech Entrepreneurship Accelerator

Aimed at women-led or women-impact startups in the ASEAN region. The comprehensive nine-month programme is designed to support women entrepreneurs harnessing technology to address climate change, enabling the startups to become high-growth, high-impact enterprises that are investor- and market-ready.?

Learn more and apply for the program here

SXSW Sydney Startup Village?

The Startup village at SXSW Sydney is a curated collection of forward-thinking businesses in the technology sector across the APAC region. It’s your chance to showcase your Startup to an audience of thousands and network with potential customers and investors.

Access the expression of interest form here

Let us know about the opportunities that you’re working on here so we can share the love

If you liked this newsletter then follow me on LinkedIn for more content like this!

And if there’s something you’d like to see more of then DM me and let me know

See you on the other side Dickie x