Startups in action

The University of Queensland’s inaugural Ventures Empower Women's Accelerator program has awarded 6 teams with $10,000 equity-free funding to launch their early-stage startups.

The unfolding stories of two innovative startups in Queensland appear to intersect in orbit, like the rings of Saturn. Cofounders from two companies, Valiant Space and Herik Labs, identified our state as the ideal location to launch their careers. Each took the small step of enrolling in aerospace engineering at the University of Queensland, before making the giant leap to debut their out-of-this-world designs.

Naajihah Mahmood is a true Ventures superstar. She’s completed the full suite of Ventures opportunities, from the introductory Curiosity program, all the way to the penultimate ilab Accelerator where she presented her startup to 350+ people at the annual Pitch Night event earlier this year.

A team of University of Queensland (UQ) engineers who designed a sustainable and affordable 3D-printed rocket engine has won two awards for their invention.

Brisbane startup Herik Labs is on a mission to make the space industry kinder to planet Earth through reduced carbon emissions from launches, courtesy of intellectual property its founders hope will allow for the scalable and affordable 3D printed manufacturing of rocket engines powered by green hydrogen.

A team of University of Queensland engineers which has designed a sustainable and affordable 3D printed rocket engine has won two awards at an annual event celebrating entrepreneurship.

A software startup developed by two the University of Queensland graduates has raised $200,000 in a Seed round backed by Melbourne VC Skalata Ventures.

Bloom Impact Investing’s vision is a world where a carbon-free economy allows people and the planet to thrive. The team recently received $100,000 through the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund Round 9.

The founders of Envato and neobank Up have backed Brisbane-based fintech Bloom Impact Investing, as the investing app surpassed $1.6 million in funds under management and 200 customers.

A new product aims to change the game when it comes to health insurance and the struggles with splurging on extras cover. ExtrasJar contributes funds to an investment used for extras cover rather than customers paying premiums for products.