The past month has been a celebration of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, with the City of Perth and Western Sydney hosting pitch nights to mark the graduation of founders from Spacecubed's six-week Plus Eight Pre-Accelerator programs. These events shone a spotlight on the creative solutions and determination of emerging entrepreneurs, as they pitched their innovative ideas to audiences of investors, industry leaders, and peers.
The City of Perth Plus Eight Pre-Accelerator Pitch Night, held on November 27, showcased an inspiring evening of innovation and creativity, as fifteen dynamic startup founders pitched their ideas to an enthusiastic crowd at FLUX. After six weeks of intensive mentorship and development, the cohort presented solutions spanning industries from tech-enabled health and sustainability to gaming and bespoke services, demonstrating the entrepreneurial talent thriving in Perth.
The night concluded with Jessica Rees of CuddleCup winning first place for her ingenious portable, self-heating milk container designed to simplify feeding on the go. Morgan Becker and Ebony Kriedemann of InPsync secured second place for their innovative platform matching clients with therapists based on personality compatibility. Chris von Fintel of Broquet claimed third with his reimagined gifting solution for men. Meanwhile, the crowd's choice award went to Nirajit Syamal and Harley Lindquist-Webb of CareerView, a platform connecting students with professionals for real-world career insights.
Over in Western Sydney, on December 4, ten diverse founders who have also recently graduated from the program, supported by Investment NSW, pitched their businesses. The cohort demonstrated their progress and accomplishments by presenting their innovative ideas to a full crowd of like-minded founders, business leaders, investors, and supporters at the Western Sydney Startup Hub.
Cheyanne Carter, founder of EduBuddy, earned first place for her app empowering early childhood educators, with the potential to enhance support across Australia and elevate education quality. Sharn Chisholm secured second prize with Timeless Talent, a platform employing older Australians to deliver vital community support while fostering their health and connections. Naila Thill’s Patcheee, an innovative and sustainable skincare solution, claimed third place, addressing the demand for effective and affordable products. Lastly, Stephen Neli won the crowd’s choice award with his engaging pitch for Zellus, a platform tackling late and unpaid invoices for SMEs.
Each winner received prizes aimed at furthering their entrepreneurial journeys, including coworking memberships at Riff and the Western Sydney Startup Hub, and access to resources like the Start-Now! program and Xero subscriptions. The events highlighted not only the potential of these startups but also the supportive ecosystem fostered by the City of Perth, Investment NSW and Spacecubed to empower local founders in scaling their ventures.
As the entrepreneurial landscape evolves, the Plus Eight Pre-Accelerator will continue to play a key role in empowering startups, Australia-wide, offering the essential resources and support founders need to grow and succeed. We eagerly anticipate the innovative ventures these founders will create and the lasting impact they will have on their communities and beyond.
Ready to elevate your startup in 2025? Express your interest in Plus Eight’s business growth programs today, and be the first to know when applications open for a program near you. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with world-class mentors, sharpen your business strategy, and join a vibrant community of innovators across Australia.
