The four innovative entrepreneurial startup companies who have been chosen to participate in the GRIFFIN Accelerator this year are set to pitch to investors at a joint event with Capital Angels on the 13th September 2017. They hope to raise funds to enable them to expand their efforts to take their innovations to the world as high growth startups.
The GRIFFIN Accelerator is a three-month intensive program run by experienced Canberra entrepreneurs who invest in, host, teach and mentor selected startups to create successful businesses with the help of the CBR Innovation Network.
Selected from 125 expressions of interest, the four startups received $25,000 initial investment from the GRIFFIN mentors then had three months of intensive work with the mentors.
“It’s exciting working with four such very different businesses, each aiming to make people’s lives better. Its more exciting to see how much progress they are making. Additional capital can help them to grow faster and take these Canberra innovations to the world” Dr. Craig Davis, CEO and Co-founder, GRIFFIN Accelerator.
The four companies who will pitch to investors include Juxtapus, a music technology company creating tools for music creation, StakOne, a software service to make the hospitality industry a better and more productive place to work, EmuDent, a new technology enabling dentists to perform procedures with greater precision, and lastly Brain Changer, a simple product based on established science that is helping people recover from chronic pain.
The dedicated team at GRIFFIN are also proud to announce an above average national percentage of female founder participants for its 2017 program at 25%.
By connecting startup businesses, innovators and entrepreneurs to what they need to succeed and grow, both nationally and internationally whilst encouraging collaboration, teams from previous GRIFFIN cohorts have now raised $3.5M and investors value them at $20M.
The CBR Innovation Network supports and promotes innovation in Canberra and it is uniquely placed to be at the forefront of innovation in Australia.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
The CBR Innovation Network will be holding a Collaborative Innovation Session to help shape and enhance the innovation ecosystem over the next 3-5 years.
To be a part of this session take our 2-minute survey to help us identify themes and we will be in touch with more information.
Session details*:
Wednesday 2 August
2.00pm – 4.00pm
CBR Innovation Network
Level 5, 1 Moore Street
Followed by First Wednesday Connect
*Participants will be selected from survey respondents – limited spots available.
Survey closes 5.00pm Wednesday 26th July.
The Board of CBR Innovation Network is delighted to announce the appointment of Petr Adámek as the Innovation Network’s new CEO effective 19 April 2017.
Petr Adámek came to Canberra in 2014 and to date has been the General Manager for KILN Incubator in addition to being the Director of Programs and more recently the Acting CEO at the CBR Innovation Network. Petr comes with a wealth of international experience in design, management and evaluation of innovation policies and programs, as well as with hands on experience in supporting entrepreneurs and innovators. Petr’s previous roles include being the Acting CEO at Soda Inc in New Zealand and being the co-founder and Executive Director at Berman Group in the Czech Republic.
“When I joined the CBR Innovation Network team I was immediately inspired by the mission to connect, promote and accelerate growth within the local innovation ecosystem. It strongly resonates with my passion for entrepreneurship, collaborative innovation and helping innovative companies scale up and grow” said Petr Adámek, CEO of the CBR Innovation Network.
“I’m very excited by the opportunity to lead the next stage of growth and to work with the team, our foundation members and partners, including the ACT government, to establish the network as a world class model for how innovation and entrepreneurship support can be delivered in a productive and highly inclusive partnership within the entire local and regional innovation ecosystem” said Petr Adámek, CEO of the CBR Innovation Network.
The CBR Innovation Network coordinates, supports and delivers a range of programs and events for startups, entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators, creatives, youth and SMEs. Through collaboration we are dedicated to building a healthier and better ecosystem to help strengthen Australia’s economy.
“I am committed to growing the ACT’s business sector through innovation and sustainable technologies, and so is Petr, which is why I believe he will achieve great success as the CBR Innovation Network’s new CEO, continuing the fantastic work done by the founding CEO Sarah Pearson in establishing the network as the centre of innovation in the ACT” said Leanne Cover, Acting Chair of the CBR Innovation Network and CEO of the Canberra Institute of Technology.
The CBR Innovation Network’s vision is for Canberra to be globally recognised as a clever, connected and creative city fuelled by excellence in research, innovation and entrepreneurship. To do this we continually strive to connect innovative businesses, innovators and entrepreneurs to help them succeed and to grow both nationally and internationally, whilst encouraging collaboration.
The CBR Innovation Network would like to thank its foundation members from the Australian National University, Canberra Institute of Technology, Data61, CSIRO, University of Canberra and UNSW Canberra as well as the ACT Government and our partners Optus, PWC and King & Wood Mallesons for their continued support.
