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Western Australia is home to innovative businesses and changemakers doing things differently. But how do we make sure their stories reach the audiences they deserve?
That was the thinking behind Meshpoints’ Promotion & Storytelling Challenge, supported by Lotterywest, which awarded $152,550 to eight initiatives working to showcase WA’s innovation ecosystem and the people shaping its future.
One of the initiatives supported was the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce’s Fremantle Innovation Exchange, which set out to bring local innovation stories to the wider business community.
Bringing innovation into the wider business community
Many innovative businesses and founders across WA operate outside the spotlight, with their stories rarely reaching audiences beyond their immediate networks. The Fremantle Chamber of Commerce saw an opportunity to change that by giving local innovators a platform to share their journeys, lessons and insights with the wider business community.
With support through Meshpoints’ Promotion & Storytelling Challenge, the Chamber delivered four events across Fremantle between July and September 2026. The series combined keynotes, founder interviews, panel discussions and networking, and focused on two of Fremantle’s strengths: the blue economy and the creative industries.
From the ocean to the creative industries
The two blue economy events explored marine technology, regenerative aquaculture and what it takes to turn an idea into a commercially viable business. Speakers included Chris de Cuyper (Fremantle Seaweed), Andrew Outhwaite (For Blue), Susie Kropman (Blue Economy CRC), James Keane (Greenroom Robotics) and Joshua Wigley (Hyperion Systems). Attendees also had the chance to explore South Metropolitan TAFE’s maritime simulator facilities and visit Hub on SX, part of Fremantle’s growing innovation infrastructure.
The creative industries events looked at how creativity drives innovation and urban renewal, and at the commercial realities of running a creative business. Sarah Booth of SPACEMRKT shared new approaches to activating underused spaces. Pippa Hurst (DesignFreo), Pete Stone (City of Fremantle), Nick Juniper (Freocast) and artist and designer Tim Meakins then discussed where creativity, entrepreneurship, design and digital media meet. The series closed at Old Customs House with a session on business models, monetisation, brand building and reaching new markets.
Across the four events, the Exchange drew 204 attendees. They ranged from entrepreneurs and established businesses to government representatives, researchers, educators and creatives, many of whom wouldn’t usually cross paths.
Rather than focusing only on polished success stories, speakers shared the challenges, pivots and lessons behind their ideas. For Fremantle Chamber of Commerce CEO Chrissie Maus, some of the most valuable moments came once the formal program had wrapped up.
“The real magic often happened after the formal conversations finished,” she said. “Watching people stay behind, exchange ideas, make introductions and discover unexpected common ground was a wonderful reminder that innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens through connection.”
Building on the conversation
The Chamber hasn’t committed to another formal series yet. Even so, the Exchange has strengthened its role as a connector between Fremantle’s established business community and WA’s wider innovation ecosystem. The relationships built through the series will continue through the Chamber’s networks, industry committees and future events.
The experience has also given the Chamber a format to draw on for future opportunities to showcase local innovators and bring different parts of the business community together.
“Our ambition is bigger than an event series,” Chrissie said. “We want Fremantle to be recognised not only for its extraordinary heritage, culture and creativity, but also for the ideas, businesses and innovators shaping its future.”
Through Meshpoints’ Promotion & Storytelling Challenge, the Fremantle Innovation Exchange shows how bringing the right people together can give innovative ideas the visibility they need to grow.
Watch the keynotes and interviews from the series here, and learn more about the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce via their website.
The Fremantle Innovation Exchange was backed by Meshpoints, powered by Spacecubed and supported by Lotterywest.