The program, CORE Sprint, is being run by Australia's first collaboration and innovation hub focused on the resources industry, CORE Innovation Hub, with support from Plus Eight. Plus Eight was launched in 2016 by WA's leading technology hub, Spacecubed, as a seed-funded accelerator program helping local start-ups go global. Backed by BetterLabs, Hawaiian and other major players, Plus Eight has invested more than A$1.5 million in 20 startups.
The seven women are from South Australia, Western Australia and Canada.
From WA, Anastasiia Ploshkina will present GRAS Energy, while Erin Bell will present Camp Connect, an enterprise software and mobile application for remote mining, resources and construction accommodation sites.
"Mining sites can be very isolating and the industry has some of the highest rates of mental illness and employee turnover. It's an entirely different way of living, which is why building friendships and work connections is so important," Bell said.
"We created Camp Connect to provide a simple solution to the issues of communication, employee engagement, emergency management and mental health awareness. This is part of solving the issue of communication between office and ‘non-desk' employees on a mine site."
From SA, Vanessa Tamms will pitch Trashd, a solution which extracts a greater proportion of precious and other metals more quickly and cost-effectively.
"The potential positive implications for both extraction efficiency and the environment are substantial. We kept seeing amazing innovations coming down the pipeline which we thought had the potential to ‘turn the dial' on tackling sustainability, so we decided to roll up our sleeves and play our part in ensuring these come to market," she said.
Annette McClelland's Tekuma has developed a one-handed, six-degrees-of-freedom control orb for drones, robots and other devices.
"The past four years have been a whirlwind. We've gone from problem to prototype, from patents to paying customers, bootstrapping the whole way," she said.
"We've completed our first paid trial with UnderSeaROV with underwater rovers, and we're looking at the accessibility sector to assist people with limited mobility. We're looking forward to digging deep into the mining and energy sector to see how our technology can make an impact with new applications in this space."
Genene Kleppe's Digital Twinning Australia creates a synchronised digital twin or operating replica of physical assets.
"I'm looking forward to pitching to investors. In every meeting with new people - private or public sector - there's a moment when the arms unfold, the shoulders lift, the body moves forward, eyes light up, the face smiles and they say ‘I get it!'. This is our measure of success because without this moment, we have nothing."
Dr Michelle Tappert, who was formerly based in Adelaide but is now in Canada, founded Hyperspectral Intelligence Inc, which has developed the geoLOGr hyperspectral rock analyser, a rock identification system that identifies ore and waste rock with unprecedented accuracy and precision.
CORE Sprint supports women in the industry by teaming them with a community of successful mentors, investors and advisors to help them take their business to the next level and provide the content and environment to grow their skills.
The participants in the program have benefitted from connecting with mentors, investors and advisors to take their business to the next level.
CORE Innovation National Hub Manager Renee Hakendorf said the program would give women in the resources industry support to take their ideas and innovations to a wider audience, including an opportunity to pitch their plans to an industry panel.
"The seven women chosen for the first round are being supported to explore new opportunities within the sector, test new strategies and create new pathways to accelerate growth," she said.
The women will present their business concepts to investors, government representatives and industry identities tomorrow. Interested stakeholders can join the Zoom pitch presentations here.
