When Tom Young experienced a significant delay in a home renovation project he was working on a decade ago - all because the local council had spelt the name of his street wrong - he knew he had stumbled on a problem that needed solving.
If an experienced draftie and self-professed ‘dirt nerd’ like Tom found it this hard, how on earth could the average householder cope?
Eight years on, Tom has managed his way through all the slings, arrows and pivots of outrageous fortune that are so common in startupland.
He is stronger, wiser and, yes, a bit older and greyer. He now has three children too. A full life, you might say.
Ecosystem and program support
Tom’s entrepreneurial journey took a pivotal turn when he won a place on the Plus Eight Accelerator program in 2018. Designed to connect startups with expert mentors, investors, and a thriving network of innovators, the six month accelerator provided Tom with the tools he needed to elevate uDrew from a conceptual startup to a scalable business.
“The mentorship and resources I gained through Plus Eight were critical to Udrew’s and my own personal growth,” Tom told us.
“It was a game-changer in helping us define our vision and bringing it to life.”
Tom Young, UDrew, middle front (white t-shirt), at the graduation ceremony for the 2018 Plus Eight Accelerator
The Plus Eight international visit to San Francisco in September 2018 really opened Tom’s eyes to what was possible. Appearing on Jason Calacanis’ ‘This Week in Startups’ global podcast, an extremely nervous Tom pitched UDrew, which totally blew the host’s mind.
“Wait a minute, Tom,” said the American entrepreneur and investor, “You mean you can develop all your renovation plans, drawings and costings, in a matter of minutes? That’s incredible!”
Of all the startups pitching on Jason’s podcast that week, uDrew was his favourite. Quite the endorsement.
Shortly after completing the program, back in Perth, Tom went on to win the prestigious 2018 WA Innovator of the Year. If ever an award was going to give you confidence, it’s this one, as he beat off medtech and other deep tech innovations to claim the prize.
Tom Young, WA Innovator of the Year, 2018
Beyond Plus Eight, Tom tapped into a variety of local resources to grow uDrew.
Programs such as Curtin Ignition played a pivotal role, offering insights and connections that eventually led to a significant investment. uDrew also secured a $550,000 federal government Accelerating Commercialisation Grant, allowing the team to develop cutting-edge technology and expand their reach.
In 2022, uDrew was selected to attend London Tech Week, along with 9 other startups. This included being interviewed by now Premier (then Deputy Premier) Roger Cook MLA on the steps of the Queen Elizabeth II Centre.
Tom Young being interviewed by Roger Cook, London Tech Week 2022
Tom attributes much of his success to leveraging WA’s rich network of opportunities, including the SPUR Landgate Grant, iPREP, and support from local councils. These initiatives not only provided funding but also helped uDrew refine its technology and validate its product-market fit.
While Tom’s journey has been marked by significant achievements and support from the local ecosystem, it hasn’t been a walk in the park either.
In fact, Tom highlights three key areas where WA’s ecosystem could improve:
“Government procurement processes are often so complex that startups can’t effectively engage or scale partnerships,” Tom said.
“The demand, sentiment & good will is there, but the mechanism for a small company to engage with government is often lacking or just impossible for a startup to navigate.”
Tom was sent from department to department over many years, and while they were encouraging, there were not many open doors or actions resulting. Procurement for startups remains a big issue to resolve, one that other states and jurisdictions seem to have progress on.
2. Access to talent
Early in uDrew’s journey, finding a technical co-founder and building a skilled team proved difficult. While WA’s talent pool has grown, Tom believes more can be done to connect founders with technical expertise, and develop more home-grown tech talent.
3. Investor education
“There’s so much wealth in WA, but much of it is concentrated in traditional industries such as mining and property,” Tom says. He advocates for initiatives that educate investors about the potential of startups, helping shift focus toward technology and innovation.
Publishing more success stories, such as his, can help too. Tom points to Perth’s growing list of achievements, from global companies like Canva to emerging startups making waves in their own industries.
“We have everything we need here — the lifestyle, the talent, and the ideas,” Tom says. “It’s a near-perfect Sandpit to perfect any concept.
“What we need now is to ensure we’re keeping our best and brightest in Perth and showing the world what we’re capable of.”
Tom’s vision for Perth is one of growth and opportunity. He dreams of a thriving ecosystem where startups like uDrew not only succeed locally but become global benchmarks for innovation.
Tom also thinks its important to give back, and he has mentored on various startup programs himself, at Plus Eight, Curtin University and through the JustStartIT program for school age entrepreneurs.
What’s his advice for budding entrepreneurs, navigating the local startup scene?
“Don’t do it alone,” he said. “Programs such as Plus Eight, WA Innovators of the Year and Curtin Ignition are there to help. Leverage every resource, seek out mentors, and never stop pushing forward.”
Connect with Tom Young on LinkedIn, and visit the uDrew website here.
To learn more about WA’s innovation ecosystem:
Stay tuned for our next WA Startup Stories feature, where we spotlight Tyler Spooner, CEO and Co-Founder of The UGroup & Co, whose startup journey is shaped by resilience, bold ideas, and a mission to create real impact. From humble beginnings to leading one of WA’s fastest-growing tech companies, Tyler’s story is one you won’t want to miss.