Technology designed to transform the narrative on disposable waste has won The University of Queensland’s inaugural Empower Startup of the Year award.
Run by a passionate team of ‘rubbish rescuers’, La Foundary Australia is at the nexus of sustainability and cutting-edge biomaterials technology.
Founder Anh Van, in collaboration with her business partner David Sea, said the startup is redefining waste into naturally decomposable bio-materials – a significant step towards sustainable solutions in the everyday lives of Australians.
Ms Van, a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Master of Engineering student at UQ has focused her studies on chemical and biological engineering. She said she is passionate about designing and implementing biological engineering systems to create social impact on a global scale.
“We were motivated by the escalating environmental challenges posed by plastic pollution and general rising waste levels,” she said.
“Building a sustainable world is a collective responsibility, and our mission is to facilitate this transformation by providing businesses with a straightforward and ethical solution: mycelium composite, the thin, root-like fibres from fungi.”
La Foundary starts with rescuing organic waste from the landfills. The team gathers agricultural leftovers like stems, seeds and cut-offs, or commercial waste such as textiles, cardboard paper, and sawdust. Using a network of fungal threads, these discarded materials are then broken down before being shaped, moulded, and produced into a new, tailor-made product.
“What I've learned along the way is that being a female founder is not a limitation but a unique perspective," Ms Van said.
"In a landscape where risk-taking can seem intimidating, I discovered that embracing the challenge with empathy towards the people I was creating solutions for, coupled with creativity, was the key to making a profound impact.”
UQ’s first Empower Women's Accelerator wrapped-up in November with 6 startups pitching to a panel of experts and an audience of students and innovators from Queensland’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The diverse cohort of women and gender diverse founders ranged from social entrepreneurs to trailblazers in health, cold-brew beverages, and decomposable packaging.
Over 3 months, inspiring women and gender diverse students, alumni, and staff participated in workshops and talks with industry experts, were mentored by experienced Entrepreneurs in Residence, and made the most of access to partner incentives, 24/7 co-working space, investor networks, and partnership benefits from Google, Microsoft, AWS, Hubspot, Matlab, and more. Each team also received $10,000 in equity-free funding to develop and grow their startup or social enterprise.
Head of Entrepreneurship at UQ, Mr Nimrod Klayman, said UQ is proud to have added the first women’s accelerator to its suite of programs designed to support entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
“From finding natural solutions to antibiotics resistance, to making STEM learning more accessible and farming practices more efficient, UQ is on a mission to increase the number of founders launching businesses and social enterprises in Australia,” Mr Klayman said.
“Our 2023 Empower Women’s Accelerator cohort has forged ahead in an unpredictable global economy. Despite the challenges, they have discovered and seized opportunities, taking advantage of technological, economic, and social trends.
“UQ is committed to encouraging and supporting these founders who are vital to Australia’s ongoing prosperity, so they can thrive and continue to create change for global communities.”
For more information about UQ Ventures or the Empower Female Accelerator, please get in touch with Beth Lawrence at ventures@uq.edu.au.
