Allow us to introduce Edna — Australia’s first “genomics chatbot”. The opening dialogue of Edna the chatbot. Edna (short for “electronic-DNA”) helps patients make informed decisions about seeking “additional findings” testing. Additional findings testing looks for variants in patients’ genes that aren’t relevant to their current health, but may be later on. For example, it… Read more »
FutureFeed, the CSIRO-backed startup using seaweed to reduce methane emission from cattle has won US$1 million from the world’s biggest prize for the food sector. The Food Planet Prize, established by Swedish hospitality entrepreneur Curt Bergfors in 2019, recognises initiatives, organisations and people working on securing the world’s food supply in a sustainable way. FutureFeed was chosen from… Read more »
The continued rise of online design unicorn Canva was even more impressive in 2020 with the Sydney-based global venture revealing it developed 42 new partnerships in 18 countries in defiance of the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The growth of Canva’s global footprint ranged from key US integrations with the likes of Fedex Office… Read more »
Airtasker founder and CEO Tim Fung has invested in the boat and yacht rental startup, Flotespace’s seed round raise, and will join the company as an advisor. The size of the round has not been disclosed and involved multiple investors. Sydney-based Flotespace the ‘Airbnb for boat experiences’ is a concierge service for boat and yacht… Read more »
Sydney startup AMSL Aero has built a battery-powered Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft with a cruising speed of 300kmh that could hit the skies as an air ambulance in 2023. The Vertiia eVTOL prototype, developed in conjunction with University of Sydney researchers and Australian aeromedical company, CareFlight, can travel at twice the speed… Read more »
New Zealand engineering startup ZeroJet is hoping to transform the boating industry by replacing outboards in a five year plan that would be like taking 1.5 million cars off the road. The Auckland-based company, founded in 2015 by Neil Mans and Bex Rempel, built the world’s fastest and lightest electric jet boat, with a top… Read more »
Creative marketplace Envato has hit a new benchmark, with its 81,000 content creators earning more than US$1 billion. Company chair and co-founder Collis Ta’eed, who last month stepped down as CEO last month, 14 years after launching the company, said they reached the milestone a year ahead of expectations. “The $1 billion goal has always… Read more »
Victoria is planning to build a 300 megawatt Tesla battery near Geelong, snatching the title for the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest battery from South Australia. French renewable energy company Neoen will pay for construction of the lithium-ion battery, as well its ongoing operation and maintenance, Victorian energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced today. The 300MW battery will be… Read more »
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Australia’s first ever incubator, Cicada Innovations. To date, Cicada Innovations has incubated over 100 startups, and helped more than 300 companies raise over $450 million in venture capital and government grants, create hundreds of jobs, build local manufacturing capability, file more than 500 patents and trademarks, and launch… Read more »
Agtech startup The Yield Technology Solutions has signed a three-year deal with ASX-listed Treasury Wine Estates to use its machine learning technology to assist with harvest predictions and grape production. The Yield’s Sensing+ solution users sensors and analytics to provide information and predictions in apps that help commercial vignerons make key production decisions such as… Read more »
Shares in ASX-listed MedAdvisor have been placed in a trading halt today with the health-tech venture announcing plans to acquire US-based medication adherence company Adheris for US$34.5 million (AU$49m), while also raising AU$45 million to fund the acquisition. The company’s seeking a minimum of AU$35m in funds through an institutional placement at $0.45 per share,… Read more »
A tennis app utilising artificial intelligence is set to revolutionise player analysis and coaching interaction. Developed former professional tennis player Dr David To in Adelaide, South Australia, the subscription-based Tennis AI app launched last week and is available globally. The AUD$10 a month subscription allows players to upload videos of their games and training sessions… Read more »
Green is more than a corporate colour at Bunnings with the Wesfarmers-owned hardware chain announcing today that it will power its 260-plus stores Australia-wide with 100% renewable electricity by 2025. The move is part of a pledge to achieve net zero Scope 1 (direct) and 2 (indirect) emissions by 2030. Grocery retailer ALDI recently announced… Read more »
Flinders University in South Australia has teamed up with a company that made its name developing a popular fitness app to create an app that can track and trace biological threats. The Torrens Resilience Institute (TRI) at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia worked with web and mobile app developer PixelForce to develop the smartphone… Read more »
Private equity-owned accountancy software firm MYOB is ramping up the practice management solutions side of its business with plans to acquire cloud-based software provider, GreatSoft. The move comes after MYOB recent took a majority stake in workforce management software Roubler. The acquisition, now under review by competition regulator the ACCC, will integrate GreatSoft’s cloud-based practice… Read more »
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