Find out more about the power of being a Microsoft digital partner here

Congratulations to:

• Consultmed: a user-friendly and secure referral management platform that connects primary care providers directly to specialists and hospital networks.

WATCH: 10 startups pitch in front of a live audience

• Compass IoT: Connected vehicle data to improve road safety
• Upstreet: Customer acquisition & loyalty we share as a reward
• Cache Invest: On a mission to help more people invest.
• Snackr: Covid-era risk-free food delivery at major events
• Single Use Aint Sexy: Dissolvable hand soap tablets and reusable glass bottles
• Greener: Gives you personalised recommendations for more sustainable stores.
• PentaQuest: A gamification app that helps executives and HR leaders create high performing organisations by increasing employee engagement.
• Allegro Live: It’s like AirBnB, but for live music.
• Spendable: a disability payments solution

With a judging panel made up of some of Australia’s most influential tech experts and investors, including:

Emily Rich

Director of Microsoft for Startups, APAC & Partner @ M8 Ventures

Emily co-founded Jemsoft, a machine learning and computer vision company. Jemsoft was acquired in 2017 by a publicly listed IoT company, from there Emily took her passion for startups and pursued investment opportunities with a focus on early stage tech. Emily went on to co-found M8 Ventures, a venture capital fund, in 2017 whose concentration is working alongside founders to build out sustained growth strategies. Emily has since joined Microsoft as Managing Director of Startups for APAC.

John Orrock

Founder, CEO, Principal Investor at Future Now Ventures

John Orrock is responsible for leading Future Now Capital’s investment strategy, performance and corporate governance oversight. John is a technology entrepreneur with global experience and has had key advisory and investment roles throughout the technology sector. He is highly regarded for driving delivery and business development for high-growth companies, identifying IP, talent and market opportunities in technology ventures. John is also an ongoing advisor to members of Microsoft’s Global Leadership Team.

Lauren Capelin

Principal of Startmate

Lauren is a community strategist and disruptive innovation specialist passionate about the development and application of new business models, corporate social innovation, impact investment and fostering entrepreneurial capacity, particularly in women. Lauren also co-founded Collaborative Lab with author Rachel Botsman, working alongside leading thinkers, entrepreneurs and community champions to play an instrumental role in growing collaborative consumption into a global economy and movement over the last 5 years.

Lee Hickin

National Technology Officer at Microsoft

Lee has over 27 years experience in the IT industry working across a variety of roles and technologies. Lee has a passion for innovation and leading-edge technologies such as AI. He has been a CISSP certified security architect with RSA Security and Tivoli, leading the IOT business development team acrossAPAC with Amazon Web Services and most recently the CTO for Microsoft Australia. Lee is passionate about the positive potential for Artificial intelligence to build an inclusive and bright future and is a regular speaker on Cloud technology, innovation and driving digital transformation.

Microsoft is proud to support Pitch Perfect alongside their digital expert provider partners: