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SouthStart sets the stage for “deep tech” connections

THE value of this year’s SouthStart conference, to be held on November 22 and 23 at Town Hall, will be in the connections made over a series of events planned to showcase the state’s vibrant business and cultural ecosystem, according to its new organisers Moonshine Labs.

THE value of this year’s SouthStart conference will be in the connections made over a series of events showcasing the state’s vibrant business and cultural ecosystem, according to its new organisers, Moonshine Labs.

The two-day ticketed event, to be held on November 22 and 23 at the Adelaide Town Hall, is targeted at start-ups.

Previously regarded as the “jewel of Entrepreneurs Week”, it will include a Peel St party and dinners at Africola and The D’Arenberg Cube and Star of Greece in regional SA.

Event director Craig Swann said the event would “celebrate the collision of people, ideas and technology”.

“It will not just showcase some of the best minds in SA, interstate and world, but also expose the vibrancy of SA not just in the startup sense, but also cultural and entertainment sense.

“We are doing everything we can to create connections.

“The value of these events is connections — you can listen to inspirational talks and attend amazing workshops and access great information, but this is about finding people to connect with — finding your business partner, find someone to do a JV with, etc.” he said.

About 30 speakers are now signed up to speak at the event which will focus on “deep technology”, including those being developed in SA.

“We want to facilitate conversations around some of the world-leading work we are doing here in space, agritech, transport and mobility and put up something that can help the state put its best foot forward.

“Longer term, we see SouthStart representing the Southern Hemisphere in what is now a ‘white space’ in the market,” Mr Swann said.

“For this one though, my goal is to fill Town Hall with as many amazing people as possible,” he said.

“I have a love for bringing people together,” he said.

In May this year, Moonshine Lab acquired the event from former founders Chhai Thach and Steve Barrett, who last year pulled the plug on the event, citing lack of state government support. At the time, SouthStart co-director Steve Barrett had lashed out at the former state government’s “rhetoric” on making Adelaide an entrepreneurial hub. The conference, which started in 2013, was previously supported by $400,000 in funding over four years.

Moonshine Lab has roped in Telstra as the naming partner for this year’s event, supported by other sponsors, including News Corp in SA, publisher of The Advertiser.

Headline speakers announced for the event so far include, Life Whisperer co-founder Michelle Perugini, Canva co-founder Cameron Adams and Swedish electric car manufacturer Uniti’s chief executive Lewis Horne.

Ms Perugini said SouthStart would act provide a “mandate to open the conversation for change” in SA.

“The line-up includes something for everyone. For instance, from Canva we’ll learn what it’s like to grow a company from an idea to something that’s impacting millions of people,” he said.

Canva’s online design platform now has more than 10 million users across 190 countries. “Uniti lends an excellent international perspective on the conversation that’s already happening here in SA on the future of transport,” Mr Swann said. Other event speakers include Adelaide-based Tobi Pearce, who launched Bikini Body Guides with his fiance Kayla Itsines in 2012, encouraging people to transform their bodies over 12 weeks.

SouthStart’s “kick-off” night is at Flinders University’s NVI Icebreaker speed networking event at Tonsley.

Visit www.southstart.co for details on speakers, events and tickets.

Mandate to drive change for SA

By Michelle Perugini

SOUTHSTART is not a conference for Adelaide, it is a celebration of Australian talent and success stories, and a mandate to open the conversation for change.

It is the meshing together of innovation, people, and a burgeoning culture for innovation that is building in Australia.

Dr Michelle Perugini and Dr Jonathan Hall from Life Whisperer a company that utilises artificial intelligence technology to improve outcomes relating to IVF.Picture Mark Brake
Dr Michelle Perugini and Dr Jonathan Hall from Life Whisperer a company that utilises artificial intelligence technology to improve outcomes relating to IVF.Picture Mark Brake

The event will bring together investors, innovators, Government, and private enterprise with the intention to build greater connectedness between these somewhat siloed networks.

There is an amazing line-up of local, national, and international speakers talking about their successes, challenges, and an agenda to build a new industry premised on deep technology and a harnessing of the new digital age.

The intention is not to have a bunch of people talking about what they have done and how South Australia is the perfect innovation or start-up environment, it is meant to open an honest conversation about what we could be doing better and getting the right people in the room to assist in affecting change.

I am so excited to be part of the line-up of speakers at SouthStart this year. My session will focus partly on the exciting opportunity for our state to build a new digital industry, of which Life Whisperer and Presagen will be a core part.

But it will also portray an honest view of what is not going so well in this state and some of the major challenges we need to overcome if we are going to compete on the world stage. Some of this has to do with culture and mindset, government policy, building a supportive local environment with international connections, and driving investment funding and capital to prevent a brain drain and overseas investment.

SouthStart is going to kickstart a great conversation with all the right people in the room to make the change.

The only way we can build a new industry is together.

We need everyone to get involved.

Start-ups will have the opportunity to pitch to investors, and investors will see a showcase of amazing opportunities.

Our new Government will have the opportunity to speak about their vision for South Australia.

Everyone should get involved and get excited about the amazing opportunity we have to build locally but be successful globally.

Michelle Perugini is co-founder and managing director of Presagen and Life Whisperer

Some of the Speakers at SouthStart18

Katrina Donagh is the co-chief executive officer and co-founder of Civic Ledger — a civic focused blockchain Australian company.

Flavia Tata Nardini is the co-founder and chief executive at SA-based satellites company Fleet Space.

Julie Trell is global head of Telstra’s startup accelerator, muru-D and country lead activator for SheEO in Australia.

Michelle Perugini is co-founder and managing director of AI technology companies Life Whisperer and Presagen.

Elaine Stead is managing director of Venture Capital at Blue Sky Investments.

Anastasia Volkova is the founder, FluroSAT, which is closing the gap between the application of remote sensing technology in precision agriculture.

Cameron Adams is a co-founder at Canva, an online design platform with over 10 million users in 190 different countries.

Tobi Pearce is co-founder of Sweat, a fitness and health company, which uses social media to connect women with trainers, content and products.

Lewis Horne is founder of Uniti, Swedish electric car maker set up in January 2016.

Matt Michalewicz is managing director, Complexica, a provider of AI software for sales and marketing activities.

Jo hn Henderson, partner, AirTree Ventures, where he focuses on vertical applications of data analytics.

Lloyd Damp, chief executive, Southern Launch, which is developing a Polar and Sun Synchronous Orbit rocket launch site.

Dr. Sandy Tirtey is business development director Australia at Rocket Lab USA, supporting the local space industry.

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/southstart-sets-the-stage-for-deep-tech-connections/news-story/9ad8e1f1144034a296816991a203df0f