Brain-sensing sports wearable Neuphoria wins Brisbane's River Rival pitch comp

Neuro Technology platform Neuphoria was the big winner from the River Rival startup competition that closed out the Something Tech conference in Brisbane.

The company, responsible for the Focusband wearable brain frequency-sensing headwear, won both the Best Product and Best of the Best Award.

“It was such an honour for Neuphoria to win River Rival’s Best Product and Best of the Best,” said Neuphoria founder and CEO, Henry Boulton.

“Being selected as one of the 7 businesses to participate in the River Rival Pitch the final event of Something Tech 23 conference. River City Labs, especially Pauline and Peter and the whole team put together an amazing conference every year.”

The Focusband headwear provides real-time performance feedback and analysis to athletes and coaches through a mobile app with champion golfer Jason Day among its users.

Winning the People’s Choice award was Yas Grigaliunas from circular economy venture Circonomy which won the votes from the 250 attendees at Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves.

Originally founded as the World’s Biggest Garage Sale in 2013, Circonomy works to give Australians access to reused products ranging from office furniture, renewed technology, and home furniture as part of the company’s mission to “create a world where nothing goes to waste”.

Neuphoria and Circonomy were among the seven startups pitching to a panel of judges including Craig Scroggie, Next DC CEO and managing director; ACS chief growth officer, Siobhan Casey; Venture partner and startup founder, Shahirah Gardner; and Ten13’s Steve Baxter.

The event was the finale of the two-day Something Fest conference that saw River City Labs launch the Elevating Female Founders program that will see up to 20 women entrepreneurs supported in their journey to take their businesses to the next level.

The program offers eight months of support, including structured mentoring, coaching, education skills workshops, industry connections, and a dedicated Entrepreneur in Residence, along with a 12-month digital membership to River City Labs, and is currently open for applications.

Pauline Fetaui, Director of ACS Innovation Labs, said she was proud of the quality of emerging technology companies across Queensland.

“Congratulations to the winners of River Rival and thank you to all the speakers who presented over two days and the week as part of Something Tech and Something Fest,” she said.

“We’ve been blown away by the support and enthusiasm of the Brisbane tech scene and we’re looking forward to an even bigger event next year.”