#7 Meet Adelaide Startup Theatrix
All about Adelaide startups and entrepreneurship in your inbox
What's up, Adelaide founders? My name is Rob Blum and I’m the founder of Barbados Nutrition, a plant-based protein startup located right here in Adelaide. This is the first time I publish my weekly startup write-up in a newsletter format, so if you do not wish to receive it in the future, please scroll down and unsubscribe. If you like this content, consider sharing it with your friends.
In this seventh edition of the newsletter, you will meet Theatrix, an amazing South Australian startup that is redefining the way we consume entertainment at home. Plus, learn about plenty of opportunities, programs and jobs for grab in Adelaide and across the country.
Opportunities:
First of all, this is a call for all founders and innovators. Covid-19 might have severely affected your business, but the good news is that everything is now online. So roll up your sleeves and make sure you do not miss the following deadlines:
Skalata Ventures Seed Investment Program — Due Jul 12st
Our six-month program is designed to help companies develop a growth engine, achieve product-market fit and build a sustainable business model. Throughout our program, we work with companies on customer growth, product, strategy, operations and management. Companies in our program receive practical guidance and operational support from program coaches, up to $250K in funding and access to the Skalata network of investors, prospective customers and advisors. Find more.
SBE Life Sciences Program — Due: Jul 15th
Designed for healthcare and life science industries, this program assists companies in seeking seed and growth funding, while establishing expert connections and resources. Being a part of our program gives you access to influential business experts and their invaluable knowledge and experience. Find more.
CyRise Cohort Four — Due: Jul 15th
Accelerating, supporting and investing in world-class cyber security solutions
You’ve got the technology. We’ll help you make it globally successful. CyRise is a cyber security venture accelerator program, powered by NTT and Deakin University. Find more.
Neurohack by Biogen and the Australian eChallenge — Due: Jul 20th
The Neurohack is a fast-paced program that poses a number of problems, pain points, and hindrances around improving the mental and physical outcomes of those suffering from neurological disorders. Find more
ygap’s First Gens 2020 Program — Due Jul 31st
In Australia, migrants and refugees continue to face increased challenges when starting a business, participating in the community and searching for employment. These challenges include: access to funding , access to social networks, access to information, and discrimination. ygap developed the First Gens program to address these challenges by providing funding, world-class training and access to ygap’s extensive network of mentors, investors, advisors and supporters, and a supportive community. Find more
Bridge Hub 2020 Water Challenge — Due Aug 7th
The purpose of the Bridge Hub 2020 Water Challenge is to uncover the best and brightest research, the most innovative ideas and the best startups that positively impact water sustainability within our agrisystem. We have cash prizes on offer for ANZ researchers, startups and students. In addition to cash prizes, there is the opportunity for the winners of the research prizes to receive an investment into the commercial outcome of their solution. Find more
Barayamal Indigenous Accelerator Program — Due Aug 9th
The five innovative Indigenous businesses will receive a funding total of $50,000 in grants with all participants also receiving free co-working space, mentoring and training from industry experts at the Victorian Innovation Hub, Goods Shed North. The Barayamal Accelerator incorporates a competition model to select our innovative Indigenous businesses. Fund more.
Rocket Seeder Accelerator — Due: Aug 14th
Rocket Seeder is an accelerator for startups in the Food and Agriculture sector in Australia. We help innovators and founders take their startups to the next level by providing them with the tools and guidance they need to scale. Find more.
Founders Institute Melbourne Virtual 2020 — Due: Jul 26th
As the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, the Melbourne Founder Institute can help you:
— Focus on what’s important, using a structured growth process that defines your next steps, helps you move quickly, and has proven to reduce the time and cost to build a startup.
— Make smart decisions, through constant feedback on your strategy and progress for the entire lifecycle of your business from the world’s top entrepreneurs and investors.
— Build a global business, by leveraging the world’s largest network of startup mentors, founders, and investors (based in Silicon Valley, with chapters spanning 185+ cities across six continents). Find more.
Founders Institute Sydney Virtual Spring 2020 — Due: Aug 9th
The Founder Institute is the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator. We help you get to traction and funding with a support network of startup experts that are invested in your success, and through a structured business-building process that has helped our alumni raise over $950M. The Sydney Founder Institute, led by Benjamin Chong (Founder and Investor at Right Click Capital and the Sydney Seed Fund), includes intensive mentorship and access to some of the most distinguished entrepreneurs in Sydney and abroad. Find more.
Pitch to EnergyLab’s Cleantech Round 8 — Due: Aug 19th
EnergyLab’s angel group is a unique network of investors who believe in the importance and potential of cleantech startups, can make decisions quickly and will continue to support you well after they’ve invested. Find more.
Startup Pitch Fest at Australian Healthcare Week 2020 — Due: Sep 3rd
Electing the Australian Healthcare Startup of the Year, the Pitch Fest is your chance to educate both the healthcare industry, and leading technology players, about your organisation and the problems you help to solve. It will feature 8 of the leading health startups in Australia and New Zealand, battling it out to be crowned this year’s champion. Find more.
Y Combinator — Due: Set 23rd
We think founders are most productive when they can spend most of their time building. Our goal is to create an environment where you can focus exclusively on building product and talking to users. Twice a year, we invest a small amount of money in a large number of startups. We have two batches per year — one from January through March and one from June through August. Find more
ICC Venture Catalyst for Regional Startups — Due: rolling basis until October 2020
The General category is open to any industry sector and supports startups with the potential for high growth, who are developing new services, markets or business models that compete in global markets. Accepted applicants will receive a tailored program based on their current needs as well as a $10,000 stipend and other benefits. Find more
Melt Accelerator — Due: Dec 30th
The MELT’s accelerator and incubator programs will revolutionize the way hardware Startups prove, prototype, pilot and produce globally scalable products and companies. Find more.
Pitch to EnergyLab’s Cleantech Round 9 — Due Feb 3rd 2021
EnergyLab’s angel group is a unique network of investors who believe in the importance and potential of cleantech startups, can make decisions quickly and will continue to support you well after they’ve invested. Find more.
Pitch to EnergyLab’s Cleantech Round 10 — Due Apr 28th 2021
EnergyLab’s angel group is a unique network of investors who believe in the importance and potential of cleantech startups, can make decisions quickly and will continue to support you well after they’ve invested. Find more.
Smart Regional Incubator — Due: 4th Tue of month on a rolling basis
The UNE SMART Region Incubator accepts applications from new startups that are scaling up and ready to build the regional economy. Our focus is on startups bringing to market solutions for agriculture, health, environmental services and creative industries. Find more.
Brinc’s Australian Clean Energy Program — Due: open year round
A three month Clean Energy Accelerator Program in Sydney, that is uniquely designed to support Australian startups that have fully developed solutions, have established product market fit, and are ready for commercialization. The program is supported by Artesian’s Clean Energy Seed Fund to invest in scalable, high growth startups, encouraging innovation and creating opportunities in the development of clean technology. Find more.
Spark Lab Cultiv 8 Accelerator — Due: open year round
SparkLabs Cultiv8 identifies leading startups working on innovative food and agricultural technology. Our mission is to cultivate growth stage Ag and Food Tech companies with researchers, farmers, investors and global corporate partners, to help digitise agriculture and contribute to a more sustainable future. Find more.
Featured Startup
Meet Theatrix and the founder Jamie Harding
A new digital streaming platform dedicated to bringing the world’s best performing arts spectacles to screens and devices across the globe is currently being spearheaded by a South Australian entrepreneur.
Start-up: Theatrix
Business description: Theatrix is a revolutionary digital platform for arts, music and entertainment.
Year founded: 2019
Founder: Jamie Harding
Stage: MVP
Total fundraising: $190,000 (self, family and friends)
Incubators and accelerators: New Venture Institute (and winner of the 2019 GOLD eNVIe award)
Location: Tonsley
Using the Theatrix website or app gives subscribers the best seats in the house to experience music’s biggest stars, breathtaking performing arts, and popular entertainment acts. No matter your interests, we give our customers content that awes, inspires and entertains, whilst delivering transporting, on-demand experiences- anywhere and anytime. On Theatrix there is no advertising, and we offer a full catalogue and priority support. Theatrix brings entertainment into the 21st century!
Theatrix Founder & CEO Jamie Harding has spent six months overseas working with investors and international entertainment heavyweights to secure content for the soon-to-be launched streaming service, Theatrix.
Mr Harding said “I was thrilled to hear my application with Austrade was successful, The Landing Pads provide market ready and highly scalable start-ups the opportunity to land and expand in the world’s largest innovation hubs- and the global response to Theatrix has been super exciting”
Heavily focused on entertaining its digital subscribers with world class theatre, ballet, opera and concert productions Mr Harding believes his new platform will fill a void in the streaming market.
Mr Harding said Theatrix has been over a year in the making after exploring what would be the next big thing in the arts industry.
“I have been working professionally and innovating for the last 20 years in this industry, and knew that our industry needed to start to look at new alternative models of creating revenue rather than relying on government funding to support the creation of new theatrical works, following a number of severe funding cuts to the arts” Mr Harding said.
“I knew that was a big gap that needed to be filled, and we needed to innovate”. Mr Harding added.
Theatrix will be the home to the world’s best productions, and subscribers will be able to enjoy from the comfort of their own home and is shaping up to be a true game changer in the streaming landscape.
“It fills many gaps, just one example is regional audiences that simply cannot afford travelling to the major cities to access the big acts. Many people find it difficult to afford, because of travel, accommodation and rising ticket prices. Also recently when coronavirus hit, the $15 billion performing arts industry was smashed apart as shows were cancelled and venues closed- and affirmed now more than ever, the need for Theatrix”.
Mr Harding has confirmed a number of world leading companies have joined the Theatrix stable, and pre-signs continue to grow. As well as content created in the performing arts hotbeds of New York and London, Australian talent would also feature on the platform.
“We are at the point where we are edging closer to launch and recently have opened up pre-sign ups so that audiences can come to our website and get ready in anticipation”, he said.
If you wish to learn more about Theatrix, you can contact Jamie directly through LinkedIn or send me a contact request and I will be happy to make an introduction.
Webinars and meetups:
Academy Xi: Customer Experience Unpacked: An Hour With A CX Strategist. Tue, Jul 7th | 10:30-11:30am ACST
This webinar is for managers and team members who have asked themselves any of the following questions:
What does my company's CX department do?
How does CX affect my part of the business?
Would my team benefit from learning CX principles?
Or simply, what is CX?
CBRIN: Understanding Customer Needs. Thu, Jul 9th | 1:30pm - 3pm ACST
Understanding Customer Needs is a short introduction to a key skill for entrepreneurs, innovators and people interested in business to turn an ambitious idea into high-impact, commercial reality. In this practical workshop, you will engage with other like-minded innovators to get a taste of lean innovation, understand the critical importance of identifying and testing assumptions, and learn how to do this in a very rapid and lean way. Register
Swinburne: Masterclass with Alison Hardacre. Thu, Jul 9th | 5:40pm ACST
Join us for a Masterclass with Alison Hardacre, where she will share her experience managing a digital health business, with insights and real time data on the impacts of Covid-19. Alison is a co-founder and co-CEO of Global healthcare company, Halaxy.
Spanning over 50 countries, Halaxy is a global healthcare platform, featuring practice management software, searchable directories and health tracking tools to make healthcare and treatment effective, efficient and accessible for patients and doctors. Register
Blackbird: Authenticity and Mission with Mikaela Jade. Tue Jul 14th | 7:30am ACST
Cabrogal Woman, Mikaela Jade, is the founder of Australia’s first Indigenous Edu-tech company. Indigital’s mission is to close the digital divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, by providing a meaningful pathway for Indigenous people into the digital economy and the creation of future technologies. In this session, Mikaela will discuss the importance of brand authenticity and using your mission to define your goals, solidify culture and guide future decisions. Register
Innovation Bay: How do we feed 10 billion people by 2050? Wed Jul 15th | 7:30am ACST
By 2050 the world’s population is estimated at 10+ billion people, that's over 2 billion more mouths to feed. With current food production at its limits what are the alternatives & who’s leading the charge? Over the last five years investment in agri-food tech has increased 250% (AgFunder). Australia saw an increase in funding in 2019 in agriculture and food technology, while the rest of the world saw a small decline. Register.
Innovation Bay: a Conversation with Larry Marshall Wed, Jul 29th | 7:30 ACST
We are excited to welcome Larry Marshall to join us to talk about innovation in Australia. Larry is an Australian entrepreneur and physicist, and Chief Executive of CSIRO. For around a century, CSIRO has been pushing the boundaries of what is possible in science and technology. Everything they do is focused on creating measurable economic, environmental and social benefits that better the world and Australia’s place in it. Register
Spark Festival — Australia’s Festival of Innovation Oct 12–23
Spark Festival will be a 12 day online opportunity to learn from and connect into the innovation ecosystem right across Australia. Startups, hubs, accelerators, universities, government, corporates, professional services Spark Festival will be a 12 day online opportunity to learn from and connect into the innovation ecosystem right across Australia. Find more
Jobs:
Jobs at Riderwear
The world's best gym wear online and fitness clothing at ryderwear us:
— Performance Marketing Specialist
— Art Director
Sine in hiring spree!
Sine develops technology for workplace safety, security, and compliance:
— Quality Assurance Engineer
— Business Development Manager (Remote, AU)
— Business Development Manager
— Business Development Manager (Remote, NZ)
— Business Systems Engineer
— DevOps Engineer
— Full Stack Javascript Engineer
— Software Engineer
Fleet in hiring spree!
Fleet is an agile, next generation connectivity company:
— Golang Developer
— Technical Customer Support
— Product Owner
— Front-end/UI Developer
— Principal RF Payload Engineer (Adelaide HQ)
Senior Automation Engineer
Chrysos provides ore grade analysis to the mining industry:
— Tertiary education in engineering with mechanical, mechatronic, electrical, instrumentation and control, or equivalent experience
— At least 6 years’ experience in a control system engineering role
— Report directly to the Chief Technology Officer. Find more
Community Development Manager
Like AirBnB for new solar and battery solutions:
— You will be responsible for recruiting local partners to support our solar and battery campaigns
— The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of experience in either sales or business development
— Skills: Sales, business development, community development, strategic partnerships. Find more
Co-Founder
Barbados Nutrition is a new startup working in the food sector:
— Do you have a passion for the future of food? Are you highly ambitious, love to build, and get excited about solving global problems?
— Strong marketing skills: design, branding building and online ad.
— The ideal co-founder would have prior experience in CPG, DTC and startups.
— Full-time, founder, 20–30% equity.
To find out more email Rob here.
Startup Jobs List
Airtree has created an open-source spreadsheet listing startups currently hiring. It is open for anyone to edit and they are asking all founders who are hiring to add the roles they’re recruiting for. You can access the spreadsheet through the link below.
Venture Funding
Are you seeking venture funding for your startup? If so, consider reading my previous post #6 and have a look at the following database of venture capitalists and private investment groups.
This is all for today! If you like this post, leave a comment connect with me through LinkedIn! If you would like to just say hi, or publish a story, event or job announcement on this newsletter, please drop me a line. Finally, click subscribe below to receive this newsletter every week by email.
Keep building,
Rob Blum