The Perth Landing Pad program, supported by the City of Perth and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, serves as a gateway for international and interstate startups looking to establish themselves in Western Australia. Through a combination of in-person and virtual experiences, participants gain access to invaluable resources such as coworking spaces, mentorship, and connections to local businesses, setting them up for success in the WA market.
One of the participants in this year’s program is Cognecto, a cutting-edge SaaS platform that transforms the way organisations manage their fleets, equipment, and operations. With a specific focus on industries such as mining and road construction, Cognecto provides AI-powered solutions that enhance operational visibility and productivity. Their mobile application, designed for operators and technicians, offers real-time insights and key performance indicators, empowering both on-site personnel and management teams to make informed decisions.
We recently sat down with Divyani, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Cognecto, who shared insights into her business journey, the company’s ambitions for entering the West Australian market, and how the Perth Landing Pad program is helping them navigate this exciting expansion.
When asked how her business journey began, Divyani shared, “It all began with a vision to revolutionise the heavy equipment and machinery industry. Drawing inspiration from our other co-founder’s extensive experience at General Electric, where he spent nearly two decades managing the gas turbine and aircraft engine business, we saw an opportunity to apply advanced sensing technologies from the aerospace sector to heavy equipment machinery.”
“However, we quickly realised that the high costs associated with these technologies made them impractical for real-world operations. This challenge sparked the creation of Cognecto.” She added.
Sharing what they’re currently working on, Divyani said that at the moment, they’re experiencing remarkable growth, having scaled their operations by 4x over the last year, thanks to the innovative features they’ve integrated into their products.
“We've introduced advancements such as Dynamic Allocation, Trip Count, and Road Quality Monitoring, all of which streamline the day-to-day tasks of mining operations, and building on this momentum, the next year promises to be an exciting journey for us.”
“Our current focus includes integrating our devices with open-source sensor modules like RTK and NEO, enhancing real-time streaming support, and developing vision analytics for loading and unloading wagons at mines.”
“In addition to these developments, we are exploring various other use cases aimed at simplifying and optimising mining operations. Our goal is to make our solutions as comprehensive and user-friendly as possible.” She added.
When discussing Cognecto's goals for the Perth Landing Pad program, Divyani explained, "As part of our go-to-market strategy, we've identified several mining organisations in Western Australia where we believe we can deliver significant value. Our aim is to connect with these companies and explore potential partnerships."
“Expanding into Western Australia is a thrilling prospect for us at Cognecto. With Western Australia being home to some of the largest mines in the world, this move represents a significant leap forward for our company.” She added.
On the topic of having to adapt their business for a new international market, Divyani expressed that adapting their business for a new market is something they are highly skilled at, given their presence across four continents, including India, Australia, Europe, and Africa.
“Our extensive experience in diverse regions has equipped us with the flexibility and expertise to seamlessly execute projects in new markets. Our team conducts in-depth research and analysis to tailor our solutions to the specific needs of the region, ensuring that we deliver maximum value and efficiency.”
“We prioritise local partnerships and collaborations to better understand and integrate into the local ecosystem, making our transition smooth and effective. Our adaptability is rooted in our commitment to innovation and our ability to customise our offerings. Whether it's tweaking our software to meet local regulatory standards or modifying our hardware to suit different environmental conditions, we are prepared to make the necessary adjustments to ensure our solutions are a perfect fit for the new market.” She concluded.
If you’re an international or interstate startup or scaleup looking to expand into Western Australia, learn more and apply now for our year-round program via our website here!
