A surf lifesaving robotic, accessible magnificence, a saliva-based hydration check and a solution to inexperienced hydrogen from biomass are amongst 10 concepts to emerge Newcastle’s I2N Accelerator program in 2024.
The I2N is an initiative from the College of Newcastle, supporting innovators and entrepreneurs by connecting them with what they name the 4Cs: neighborhood, clients, teaching and capital.
This 12 months this system has centered on cleantech and affect as a part of its program, coping with problem starting from clear power to coping with dying and looking out nice when you’ve mobility points.
This system is supported by the Port of Newcastle and the Trailblazer for Recycling and Clear Vitality (TRaCE) with a concentrate on taking progressive concepts from the lab into international manufacturing.
Richard Berry, supervisor of startup applications at I2N mentioned the Newcastle and Hunter area is a launchpad for development, attracting consideration from innovators and buyers with its renewable power zones, superior manufacturing, expansive area and wealthy tapestry of native experience.
“This isn’t your typical tech startup cohort. And coming in over and above trade common, seven of the ten groups featured are female-led and virtually half the general cohort members are feminine,” he mentioned.
James Bradley, cofounder of Diffuse Vitality and I2N’s Entrepreneur in Residence, these the cohort’s founders are set to make a world-changing affect.
“That is the third 12 months the I2N has assisted Hunter-based founders by their Accelerator program,” he mentioned.
“Annually we’re impressed by the standard of groups and concepts, the addition of this 12 months’s Cleantech stream signifies that we’ve got an enormous vary of thrilling tasks which have the potential change the world.”
Charlotte Connell, founding father of the Sustainability Collective and I2N’s trade connector for the cleantech cohort, mentioned she was impressed by the ambition and affect the groups are going to haven’t simply on the Newcastle ecosystem, however the world.
“This can be a critically spectacular cohort, we’ve got a combination of deep-tech, local weather tech, software program and {hardware} options fixing a number of the world’s greatest issues,” she mentioned.
“From hydrogen manufacturing utilizing no electrolysis, a revolutionary bioprocess to remediate PFAS, by to creating inexperienced infrastructure smarter.”
The I2N Accelerator Demo Evening in on November 6, on the I2N Hub Honeysuckle. Tickets right here.
In case you’re fascinated by becoming a member of the I2N Accelerator cohort in 2025 submit a brief EOI right here.
Listed here are the startups within the 2024 I2N cohort.
The Cleantech startups
EM Vitality
EM Vitality group members Chris Wilson, Isabel Toasa and Kesha Manimaran
The powerhouse group behind EM Vitality have cracked the code for inexperienced hydrogen manufacturing, turning biomass and coal waste into hydrogen fuel with out counting on warmth, electrical energy, or micro organism. Think about on-site hydrogen manufacturing from varied coal and waste streams—excellent for industrial heating and sustainable gas with none greenhouse fuel emissions.
With an MOU, grant funding, and authorities backing already secured, EM Vitality is able to disrupt fossil fuels and waste markets. Led by skilled expertise inventor Isabel Toasa and seasoned entrepreneur Chris Wilson, with analysis assistants Kesha Manimaran and Rakesh Rao they’re making affect with their sustainable tech and imaginative and prescient.
Aspect Amtech
Aspect Amtech founder Dr Peter Richardson
Aspect Amtech is utilizing catalyst tech to guide the transition in the direction of clear ammonia manufacturing. Their breakthrough answer slashes environmental affect, boosts effectivity, and paves the best way for inexperienced ammonia reactors.
With a pilot within the pipeline and founder Dr. Peter Richardson is main the cost, Aspect Amtech is primed to shake up the clear power scene and turn out to be a significant participant within the decarbonisation revolution.
Wild Yeast Zoo
Wild Yeast Zoo cofounders Dr Ben Matthews and Evan Gibbs
Yeast… the beloved catalyst for sourdough house cooks and grasp brewers. However what if it may revolutionise industries?
Wild Yeast Zoo have meticulously foraged over 500 wild yeasts and are driving innovation in biofuels, meals and beverage, cosmetics, and prescribed drugs. What began as a citizen science mission is now effectively on its solution to 10,000 yeasts.
With early clients and strategic agreements in place, the energetic group, based by Claudia Holt, Evan Gibbs, Dr. Ben Matthews, and with biochemist Dr. Peter Lewis, are searching for pre-seed funding to scale up and drive sustainable options throughout industries.
Cloud Develop
Cloud Develop cofounders Claire Jones and Jared Lawlor
Cloud Develop are remodeling city landscapes. If water is the life blood of the planet, irrigation is its coronary heart and veins.
Cloud Develop represents the mind tying it all-together with real-time monitoring and analytics to offer inexperienced infrastructure precisely what it wants.
Constructing on this momentum, Cloud Develop is forging key partnerships with inexperienced infrastructure leaders. Collectively, cofounders Jared Lawlor and Claire Jones are setting the usual for sustainable city options in metropolis gardens.
OperisAI
OperisAI cofounders Andrew Sturt and Mehdi Abedi
Cofounders Mehdi Abedi and Andrew Sturt are shaking up neighborhood and affected person transport, in addition to aged care and incapacity rostering, with OperisAI—an AI-driven “Optimisation as a Service” (OaaS) platform.
Their tech slashes inefficiencies in transport scheduling and rostering, trims car use, and reduces carbon emissions. With real-time updates and data-powered simulations, it seamlessly integrates through API to supercharge operations.
Tackling every part from specialised autos to dynamic routing and workforce optimisation, OperisAI is on a mission to rework neighborhood transport and care service supply.
The All-Industries statups
Adios
Adios co-founders Petrina (Nook) O’Dea and Jesso Delahunty
Finish of life is an inevitability and eradicating the stigma and taboo nature of those discussions is precisely what founders Petrina (Nook) O’Dea and Jesso Delahunty are attempting to do. They’re tackling this important problem with their progressive platform Adios, a user-friendly app designed to teach and simplify end-of-life planning for Australians.
Adios affords a complete 10-step course of protecting every part from care directives to non-public preferences, serving to individuals perceive the significance and tackle the method with larger confidence.
Presently in early growth, the app has already garnered optimistic suggestions from over 100 customers and trade professionals. With a rising consciousness marketing campaign, Adios goals to make end-of-life planning extra accessible and fewer burdensome for family members.
ByStorm Magnificence
ByStorm founder Storm Menzies
Think about if the easy act of opening a make-up bottle was inconceivable for you?
ByStorm Magnificence is on a mission to rework make-up equipment for individuals with disabilities, proving that inclusivity might be glamorous too.
Their progressive designs, developed with enter from the incapacity neighborhood and occupational therapists, promise to make making use of make-up simpler and extra fulfilling. With solely 2% of magnificence manufacturers addressing this want, ByStorm is main the cost to fill this enormous hole available in the market.
With a whole lot of potential clients each in Australia and globally already on their waitlist the longer term is trying vivid for founder Storm Menzies, who plans to take the world ByStorm along with her make-up and sweetness equipment.
FG
FG founder Catherine Zontos
FG is kicking down boundaries with female-specific protecting gear for contact sports activities.
Founder Catherine Zontos and Enterprise Improvement Supervisor Conan Hill noticed a significant hole and jumped in with each ft. With two merchandise already in the marketplace and two extra within the works, they’re gaining momentum by on-line gross sales, membership bookings, and bulk orders throughout Australia—and even sparking curiosity in New Zealand.
Aiming at feminine athletes, mother and father, golf equipment, and colleges, FG is able to deal with the demand for top-notch safety in ladies’s sports activities.
IhydRATE
IhydRATE founder Lisa Winn
Founder Lisa Winn is main the cost with IhydRATE and its groundbreaking product, Salhy—a saliva-based hydration check that syncs together with your smartphone for fast outcomes.
Salhy makes use of biomarkers and cutting-edge machine imaginative and prescient software program, excellent for high-risk fields like mining and firefighting, plus athletes and at-risk teams.
After profitable pilot trials, IhydRATE is gearing up for commercialisation with income streams from check strips, enterprise software program, and hydration consulting. Along with her IP technique effectively underway and native manufacturing on the horizon, this firm is ready to make a splash each regionally and globally.
Robotic Surf Lifesaving
Robotic Surf Lifesaving founder Boris Novak
No stranger to startup success tales, founder Boris Novak is on the helm of Robotic Surf Lifesaving, bringing the RoboDucky to the forefront of surf rescue innovation.
The RoboDucky turbocharges response occasions and tackles powerful coaching challenges with its self-righting, autonomous station maintain, and suitably sized battery. Prepared for international affect with a expertise partnership and proof of idea trials, Robotic Surf Life Saving is ready to guide the cost in seaside and water rescue worldwide.
Along with his trade expertise and penchant for taking novel ideas into actuality, Boris’ mentoring of enterprise supervisor Peter Chatwin to take this new enterprise ahead has us buzzing with pleasure.
