Melbourne startup AgriWebb takes out top prize in Tech23 competition

Melbourne startup AgriWebb was yesterday awarded top prize at Tech23’s startup competition in Sydney. The agritech startup received the People’s Choice Award, along with the $5,000 Digital Disruption Award, making it the most celebrated startup of the competition.

Founded in 2013, AgriWebb has created a livestock management solution with full data transparency to capture information and help farmers make smarter farming decisions. This technology is targeting management problems and trading inefficiencies that affect the global $1.4 trillion livestock industry.

“There is a perception that farmers tend to not really understand technology or not be tech-savvy. I disagree with that, I think that they are incredibly resourceful, it’s just that there hasn’t been a great deal of focus on the livestock side of farming,” cofounder of AgriWebb Justin Webb previously told Startup Daily.

With agricultuture supported by agritech expected to become a $100 billion industry by 2030 it’s no wonder startups like AgriWebb are being noticed. Agriculture is the largest employer in rural and regional communities and according to a StartupAUS report the sector makes up four percent of Australia’s total employment.

In September this year AgriWebb also won Startup of the Year at the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) iAwards. These awards recognise Australian innovation across industries including healthcare, community services, entertainment and the environment.

With Tech23 being in its eighth year, the competition is now seeing over 400 delegates attend to watch 23 startups pitch their innovative ideas and world class solutions for issues experienced not only in Australia, but around the world.

The startups pitched to a panel of expert judges including Bill Bartee of Blackbird Ventures; partner at NAB Ventures, Melissa Widner; Angela Clark, director of digital at the ABC; and Petra Andren, CEO of ATP Innovations.

“Tech23 is a special event because it brings together amazing people – from investors to innovators, customers to R&D – to recognise and celebrate phenomenal deep tech that has the potential to make a real impact. The good will in the room was again palatable,” said Rachel Slattery, creator of Tech23.

Startups that also received awards on the day include:

ResApp Health– Tech23 Innovation Excellence Award

Plutora– Tech23 Greatest Potential Award and B2B Enterprise Award

Cardihab– Austrade Best Startup Award and $2,500 AMP Amplify Award for Best technology Tech23 2016 startup founded by a woman

Hovermap– $5,000 Market Changing Technologies Award

Biteable– $5,000 PayPal Enabling Choice Award

Myriota– $2,500 Audinate Prize

SPEE3D– $2,000 Advanced Technology Award

Haventec– Tyro Fintech Award

agAlytics and Rappsio– Saasu Award

Gruntify– Square Peg Capital Award and MYOB Awards

Lorica Health– OneVentures Prize