Adelaide’s Clevertar digital avatar business out of administration

Digital healthcare-focused ‘avatars’ creator Clevertar will trade as a going concern following finalisation of a two-month-long external administration process.

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Digital healthcare-focused ‘avatars’ creator Clevertar will trade as a going concern following finalisation of a two-month-long external administration process.

Clevertar, a Flinders University-backed award-winning business that received multiple taxpayer grants and international recognition, including from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, was placed in voluntary administration on March 28.

Clevertar’s virtual agents provide support to patients with chronic conditions at a fraction of the cost of human intervention. Its flagship product is Anna Cares, an online platform designed to motivate patients through mobile and tablet reminders and support.

Pitcher Partners’ Michael Basedow was appointed administrator after talks with a major creditor broke down.

Digital coach ‘Anna’ created by Adelaide artificial intelligence firm Clevertar.

On Wednesday, the company posted on its website that the administration had been finalised with Clevertar remaining a going concern.

“Last week, creditors voted in line with the recommendation of Michael Basedow from Pitcher Partners to support the Deed of Company Arrangement as proposed by the directors of Clevertar.

“This formally concludes the period of Administration, and in accordance with legal statutes, provides certainty for creditors, staff and customers alike,” the statement said.

Although the company continued to trade and its services and development program remained uninterrupted, “a voluntary administration did present an air of uncertainty for Clevertar”.

But the company said it not “seem to adversely impact the support of its customers.

A spin-out of Flinders University, Clevertar was co-founded by Tania Newhouse and Martin Luerssen in 2012.

Tanya Newhouse with Steve Wozniak and Clevertar co-founder Martin Luerssen

“We are grateful that our customers continued to show faith in Clevertar over the past few weeks, and are delighted to say that all have remained on board with us,” Ms Newhouse, currently chief executive of Clevertar, said.

Clevertar said it remains committed to building on its innovative research roots.

“The possibilities for empathic (sic) and useful consumer assistance using virtual human technology are almost endless,” she said.

In 2016, Clevertar was judged the global Best Start-Up — Tech Innovation by a panel comprising Mr Wozniak and a panel of judges at the Talent Unleashed Awards in Sydney.

“I almost want Anna Cares (CleverTar’s product) for every little kid — for education as well as for the elderly,” Mr Wozniak said in his comments at that award ceremony.

Clevertar is chaired by Jim Birch, who also chairs the Federal Government’s Australian Digital Health Agency, which is charged with rolling out the My Health Record initiative.