Five Aussie start-ups have taken up residence in San Francisco, where the Federal Government has just launched its first ‘Landing Pad’ for home-grown innovators.
Australia’s Consul General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner in San Francisco, Chris Oldfield, said the new Landing Pad would put Australian entrepreneurs and start-ups ‘at the heart of technology and innovation’.
“This Landing Pad will let some of the best and brightest Australian start-ups take their ideas and innovations to the next level by being in the global hub for technology and entrepreneurship,” he said.
“The San Francisco tech ecosystem really leads the world in fostering successful start-ups and has produced outstandingly successful companies like Facebook, Airbnb and eBay.
“Now a diverse group of Australian start-ups ranging from a child-safe Wi-Fi network to a personnel management solution for large volunteer-led events will have the best possible opportunity to find similar success.”
First of five overseas Landing Pads
The San Francisco Landing Pad is the first of five announced by the Federal Government as part of the National Innovation and Science Agenda.
They are being established in global innovation hotspots – Berlin, Shanghai, Tel Aviv and Singapore as well as San Francisco – to help Australian entrepreneurs bring their ideas to market and build high-growth, high-return enterprises.
The San Francisco Landing Pad is managed by Austrade and located at RocketSpace, a technology campus and accelerator in the heart of San Francisco. Approximately 1,000 tech start-ups have been members of RocketSpace’s community including 17 “unicorns” (i.e. technology companies valued at more than $1 billion).
“We are delighted to work with Austrade and offer access to our ecosystem to help Australian tech start-ups grow,” said RocketSpace Founder and CEO, Duncan Logan.
“RocketSpace is committed to creating a bridge between Silicon Valley and the world’s top tech hubs to help the most promising start-ups think and expand globally.”
Austrade facilitating entrepreneurial partnerships
Austrade is using its business networks to facilitate access to investors, customers and strategic partners. By tapping into the existing Australian entrepreneurial ecosystem in San Francisco, Austrade is also helping Landing Pad participants work with their Australian peers and engage them as mentors.
Austrade’s San Francisco office is facilitating networking and mentoring events with visiting Australian university and business delegations, and will engage a dedicated Landing Pad Coordinator who will ensure access to the network of both Australian and other key contacts in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Meet the inaugural group of Aussie innovators
The first group of participants at the San Francisco Landing Pad include:
- Rosterfy:cloud based, end-to-end, personnel management solution for large volunteer-led events.
- Koala Safe: new Wi-Fi network in the home that is safe for children with time limits, site and app blocking and analytics.
- Gymsales: business development software for gyms which provides a simple, clean, easy to use interface.
- OpenCities:cloud based solution that empowers local governments to better engage and deliver online services and requests to residents.
- VAXXIN8: cloud based vaccination management solution for healthcare workers to make immunisation compliance simple.
- Arthritis Relief Plus:differentiated, natural and patented product, demonstrated through robust clinical trials to be effective for sufferers of joint pain.
Applications are now open for all five Australian Landings Pads in San Francisco, Berlin, Shanghai, Singapore and Tel Aviv. For more information or to apply, visit: http://www.australiaunlimited.com/Landing-Pads
Related article: International Expansion nay be vital for growth; but do you have what it takes?
