2023 HARVEST cohort announced! Plus 6 opportunities!

We’re excited to announce the inspiring speakers who will share their insights into growing next-generation industries and economies.

Birgit M. Liodden, Ben Cole, Cameron Scadding and Margie Rule are all experts, entrepreneurs, and leading ventures that are deeply aligned with sustainable development and ecological regeneration.

Click button below to check out the packed agenda including options to tour leading edge sustainable businesses Rocky Ridge Brewery and Capel Marron Farm, plus networking sundowner!

ScaleUPWA is a tailored program for existing WA-based businesses in the agri-food and beverage sector.
- Deep dive strategic business modelling for growth with subject matter experts.
- Themed masterclasses with leading practitioners, delivered in-person or virtually.
- Areas include IP, marketing, branding, traditional and non-traditional sources of funding.
- Learn about being investor ready, trade, and global market opportunities.
- Matched with best practice partners and experienced mentors.
- Access to networks, connections with warm introductions, and opportunities to participate in diverse events.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE, ALL POTENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. Applications close 12 May 2023. http://bit.ly/43vvJhG

📣We are excited to announce our cohort for HARVEST 2023, which is now in its 6th year of supporting innovative WA agtech startup businesses!

🎉Congratulations to Waytree, QL Space, Energy Farmers Australia Pty Ltd, Aeration Control Australia Industrial Automation Group Pty Ltd), Farm Optimisation Group, Desert Gem, Murdoch University Research Project, Xsights Digital Pty Ltd, Esperance Physiotherapy and Carbon West. We are also very lucky to host a group from the Nanyang Technological University Singapore.

This week the cohort will be immersed in thier 2-day Business Bootcamp at Muresk Institute, WA’s skills hub for modern agriculture, where they will attend expert faciliated sessions, farm tours and fireside networking!

What an incredible week-long Southern Ports Iron Ore Loading Circuit Hackathon event! It was so exciting to watch seven talented teams come together, with the perfect mix of data scientists, students, researchers, industry professionals and developers.

A special shout out to the Innovation Central Perth team the Southern Ports Team for being incredible to work with to bring all of this together over the last few months. Keep an eye out on our socials to hear which team manages to secure first place!

City of Swan Business Model Workshops
In collaboration with the City of Swan, through the Workforce Australia for Business Entrepreneurship Facilitator Program, Innovation Cluster are excited to invite registered small businesses located in the City of Swan to attend a free workshop with Peter Clarke and Ash Roberts to help your business survive and thrive! If you are looking for support to grow your business, attract more customers and increase your profitability, please join us at the workshop location/date that is best for you!

Australian agtech businesses interested in the US market were provided valuable tips and recommendations last week as US Commercial Service and Innovation Cluster ran a virtual roundtable session. US Consul General Perth Siri Nair hosted the session, with David Messina (Rumin8) and Andrew Coppin (Farmbot) offering insights into their experiences doing business in the US. Expert advice was provided by Blair Lucas (Acclime) and Patrick Fazzone (Washington Global Law). For the full blog post click here

Following a sell-out 2023 event in Adelaide, evokeAG. organiser AgriFutures Australia in partnership with the Western Australian Government has announced the event will take place in Perth on Tuesday, 20 and Wednesday, 21 February. evokeAG is the Asia Pacific region’s premier agrifood tech event. Since 2019, through a two-day event and an online community, AgriFutures Australia has brought together the agrifood tech ecosystem to connect and facilitate collaboration between farmers, innovators, investors, researchers, corporates, and government. Get latest news and updates on evokeAG here

Curtin University has launched a new full-time three-year Bachelor of Innovation undergraduate program, aimed at equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the rapidly evolving world of business!

The program, which will be offered online and on-campus, will cover a wide range of topics, including entrepreneurship, design thinking, and technology innovation. Students will also have the opportunity to undertake hands-on projects and work with industry partners to gain practical experience.

Check out course information from Startup News

AgriGard - a unique fire monitoring and suppression system for combine harvesters

TechNoL was awarded an Accelerating Commercialisation grant of $300,000 in matched funding under the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs Programme. TechNoL is commercialising AgriGard, which is a unique advanced fire monitoring and suppression technology. It can sense potential fires on a combine harvester quickly and more accurately and, if triggered, uses a safe suppressant that doesn’t require days to clean, thereby substantially reducing the time to get back to harvesting.

Agora: Cutting the fat out of Australian livestock markets

Agora was awarded an Accelerating Commercialisation grant of $550,000 in matched funding under the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs Programme.The Agora platform was established in 2018, specifically for the livestock industry, to break down the barriers between livestock sellers, agents and buyers. Since then it has evolved from a service that simply shared livestock prices, to an online platform providing price discovery and market access for Australia’s cattle, sheep and goat markets.