Good medicine: Brissie health start-ups go global

Two of the city’s homegrown tech firms working in the medical sector have picked up gongs at a Shark Tank-style pitch challenge in San Francisco.

Who said Brisbane wasn’t an innovative place? Two of the city’s homegrown tech firms working in the medical sector - also known as medtech - have picked up gongs at a shark-tank style pitch challenge in San Francisco in front of hundreds of investors.

Field Orthopaedics and Max Kelsen took out gold and bronze respectively in the challenge run during the famed JP Morgan Health Week by Life Science Nation. Teneriffe-based Field Orthopaedics won the top gong after impressing seasoned investors with its innovative surgical screws and nails for treating complex fractures.

Max Kelsen, which is headquartered in Spring Hill. claimed bronze with its machine learning solutions that are transforming the way scientists store, analyse and work with data to fast-track vital research.

The challenge attracted more than 500 global investors, providing significant exposure to the Brisbane early-stage firms seeking strategic partnerships. Brisbane-based Microbio, which has created a rapid test for sepsis, also received a special mention prize.

The homegrown firms were members of the Brisbane Economic Development Agency’s (BEDA) medtech accelerator cohort that last month attended the investor challenge, the largest and most informative healthcare investment symposium in the industry.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says it is fantastic to see homegrown talent making an impact overseas. “We’re seeing a new wave of innovation roll over the city, with local talent driving advances that could save lives and make healthcare faster and more convenient,” says Schrinner. “Getting recognised as a innovation hub is important for the future of our local economy because it will attract more businesses and create more jobs.”

Dr Chris Jeffery assisting in the first operation of the world's smallest biomedical screw at Brisbane Private Hospital.

Field Orthopaedics chief executive Patryk Kania says the firm now has a framework for capital raising and has benefited from mentorship from both international and local industry leaders. Founded in 2015 by Dr Chris Jeffery, Field is now valued at $10m with the backing of the richlister Flannery family.

“Being an early-stage company is not easy so to be supported by BEDA with a program like this has been invaluable,” Kania says. “As a young company we aspire to commercialise and internationalise our current and future products. We hope the recognition from San Francisco will help us achieve this and we have already attracted interest.”

Max Kelson product manager Navid Toosi Saidy says the company was now well positioned to expand its presence in the US and unlock access to global markets. “We are incredibly humbled by the enthusiastic reception our technology received,” Saidy says.

BEDA chief executive Anthony Ryan says the extraordinary success of the cohort was proof Brisbane was setting the pace for innovation in Australia.

“Brisbane has a long and successful track record driving world-class innovation with leaders like Professor Ian Frazer, founder of the Gardasil cancer vaccine paving the way,” says Ryan. “We hope these connections result in fresh investment to help bring these amazing products onto the market sooner while supporting jobs and better resources to grow this vital industry.”

Other medtech companies to attend the challenge and attract global investor and partner interest included Clinials, De Motu Cordis, Laronix, Microbio and Midnight Health. Dennis Ford, chief executive of US-based program facilitator Life Science Nation, says Brisbane was growing its global reputation as a modern city supporting key growth industries like medtech. One of Brisbane’s leading medtech firms Vaxxas is already creating hundreds of jobs and is preparing to move into a new multimillion-dollar manufacturing facility at Northshore Hamilton. The firm, which is developing a needle-free vaccine patch, has been on a steep growth trajectory over the past two years, effectively doubling in size to 120 people. The new Northshore facility can accommodate 150 staff.

Tinder for jobs grows

GETAHEAD, a fast-growing Brisbane-based recruitment technology start-up that’s been described as Tinder for jobs, has raised $1.38 million in a pre-seed round led by two high-profile Queensland entrepreneurs.

The round was led by Pipeline Capital, the founder of Ezidebit’s Michael Dempsey’s investment fund and supported by founder of Di Bella Coffee, Phil Di Bella (pictured).

The funds will be used to buoy the company’s growth, with Getahead aiming to triple its headcount by 2024, expand to Melbourne,Sydney and Perth, add more capabilities to its platform and consolidate its rapid growth.

Launching on the app store in December 2022, Getahead has gone on to host applications for more than 1500 job seekers, with 1156 signing on in the first 24 hours of launch with no advertising spend. Like Tinder, it employs a swipe right to match mechanic, making it seamless for candidates to sort through roles effectively and efficiently.

Healthy cities

Springfield City Group is bringing together experts in mental health and wellbeing for its Future of Health Seminar on Friday, February 17, with one of the key topics focusing on better design of communities.

Among the speakers will be Springfield City Group deputy managing director Umah Ranchigoda, Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health Emma McBride, Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic and West Moreton Health board chair Michael Willis.

Ranchigoda says city designers need to think about how the urban landscape can facilitate and encourage positive health behaviours such as the ability to exercise safely, walkability, social interactions and connectedness with nature.

“There is value in eye contact and conversation between people. How are our communities designed so that residents can interact as they go about their daily routines?” he says. “Are there walking paths that wind through inspiring and relaxing surrounds? Are there community areas such as shopping centres designed so that people mingle and connect?

“These are the questions that have driven Springfield City Group for more than 30 years as we have master-planned a community that will grow to more than 100,000 residents.”

Springfield City Group is living this interconnectedness with its Nightingale precinct in its Health City next to the Mater Private Hospital. The Nightingale precinct will include five buildings, on three street frontages, interconnected through a central ground-level precinct utilising outdoor areas and green spaces.