Advance Copy - Media Release

7October 2015

ENERGISE ACCELERATORSTARTUPS LOCK IN OVER A$650,000 OF PRIZES AND PILOTS WITH ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES SECTOR HEAVYWEIGHTS

KPMG Australia’s Energise Accelerator has delivered overA$650,000 in pilot projects and prizes to eight startups looking to bring their disruptive technology to the energy and natural resources sector – wrapping up its 12-week program at a finale gala in Perth yesterday evening.

A total of 10agreementshave already been generated for the Energise startups with major ENR industry players, including FMG, BHP, Laing O’Rourke, South32 andWoodside. These contracts, cumulatively valued at over A$400,000, will see the startup technologies and innovations tested, trialled and deployed in coming months, with more pilot projects currently still in negotiations.

Gary Smith, WA Chairman for KPMG commented: “Energiseset out to trial a new kind of accelerator model – putting the focus squarely on the immediate and actionable needs of the mining, oil & gas and utility sectors for Australia, and ensuring that key players in these sectors were on board throughout the entire process. By keeping this focus, and augmenting it with input from some of the best global minds in the startup eco-system, we have truly plugged startup innovation into the energy and natural resources sector.”

On top of the contracts generated, Energise provided over A$250,000 including contributions from platinum sponsor Woodside and gold sponsor Jolimont Global Mining Solutions.

  • Sentient Computingwas named the 2015 EnergiseWinner, receiving aA$100,000 cash prize to assist with the roll out of itstechnology to the resources sector.
  • Skrydatareceived the EnergiseInnovationAward, recognising the startup has had the strongest value proposition, regardless of the startup’s business maturity or the status of its current business model.
  • The eightEnergise startups will alsoreceive access to a total ofA$50,000 worth of professional services from KPMG and A$50,000 of web-hosting credit from Amazon Web Services.

Energise is Asia-Pacific’s largest energy and natural resources (ENR) accelerator, taking eight startups through a rapid commercialisation and development process aimed at helping them deliver their innovative technologies to leading industry players. The companies were mentored by international startup experts such as Gary Coover, manager of Samsung’s Silicon Valley accelerator; and Peter Rossdeutscher, the entrepreneur behind tech firms Intierra and Micromine, as well as 40 KPMG specialists in areas such as company set-up, product development and market insight. They were also connected directly with 14 industry participants includingWoodside, RCF, Jolimont Global, Atlas Iron, BHP Biliton, FMG, Inpex, MACA, Shell, South32, Synergy, Worley Parsons, Laing O'Rourke and Iluka.

The startups who have completed the KPMG Energiseaccelerator are:

  • Ecocentric Energy: has developed 'Numen System' a system designed to revolutionise the decision making process in using and conserving energy in commercial buildings and industrial facilities.
  • Element Engineering: a mechatronic engineering firm that has developed a new ‘internet of things’ product which allows real-time monitoring of any product or structure through the use of modular devices and multiple forms of wireless communications.
  • Global Unmanned Systems: provides customised, integrated solutions for the natural resource and extractive industries sectors in respect of environmental and social baseline data acquisition, ongoing monitoring, surveillance, inspection and surveying using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and complimentary data processing and analysis technologies.
  • GreenSync: a high growth technology company that provides a portfolio of automated demand management products and services for commercial and industrial energy users and network utilities to optimise power usage, including distributed energy technology for large scale.
  • Sandpit Innovation: an ideation consultancy that specialises in the design, development and delivery of innovation to the ENR sector. Sandpit Innovation have co-developed a number of newsolutions such as the Spidler®, mineRECON®, Oust!® and iCAS®.
  • Sentient Computing: an established Perth-based software company that has been developing high quality applications for customers such as Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals Group, and Woodside since 2000. Sentient has developed MVX, a new venture that utilises data to create dynamic and interactive 3D environments.
  • Skrydata: advanced analytic technology and processes to uncover insights from big data. Skrydata has worked on bespoke applications of its proprietary system for clients such as iiNet, Landgate and Cobham Aviation Services.
  • Smith and Jackson (Notio Pty): has developed an innovative system to install modular buildings materially faster, cheaper and with less environmental impact than traditional methods.

Toby Gardner, Energise program director,said: “While the teams from Sentient Computing and Skrydatahave taken home the cash prizes, every single startup should be recognised for their achievements over the past 12 weeks. It has been a highly intensive experience that has seen them hone their products, build new client and partner relationships, and prepare to scale their businesses.”

“By all our measures, and particularly looking at feedback from our ENR sector partners, Energise has been a resounding success – and we have only just scratched the surface of innovation talent in Western Australia.”

More details on the Energise program can be found at: energise.kpmg.com.au.

ENDS

For further information

Ashford Pritchard

KPMG

0411 020 680

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