An easy-to-use visitor management system has taken out top prize at the 2017 West Tech Fest Startup Challenge, Asia Pacific’s leading competition for digital tech companies.
Sine Image: (L-R: Head of Startup Ecosystem, Australia and New Zealand Ian Gardiner, Sine Founder Antony Ceravolo & VC Co-Founder West Tech Fest Bill Tai)
Adelaide-based tech company Sine – which develops technology that makes it easy to check-in visitors, contractors, staff and assets across a workplace – won the award following a pitch to a panel of judges and an audience of over 400 people at Curtin University’s 6th annual West Tech Fest in Perth late last week.
With a client base ranging from the local school right through to Fortune 500 companies, Sine has clients in over 1500 cities globally and include major brands such as Vodafone and Qantas.
Sine Founder Antony Ceravolo will now travel to Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) at CES in Las Vegas in January 2018, where they will be given the opportunity to present the company to XTC finalist judges.
West Tech Fest has been a fantastic conference to be a part of and it’s a real honour to be the winner of the Startup Challenge. Aussie Tech is on the move and Sine.co is super excited to attend the XT Challenge in Las Vegas.” said Mr Ceravolo.
Sine along with four other finalists were vying for the highly prestigious award. Other Startup Challenge finalists included Appbot (a review aggregator) Credi (a loan management platform) Soter Analytics (an injury prevention platform) and Fleet Space Technologies (low-cost connectivity to terrestrial internet in remote areas).
The West Tech Fest is a celebration of Asia Pacific’s start-up ecosystem showcasing innovation, investment and entrepreneurship. Over the last six years, the programme has built a strong global network and profile, with many successful investment outcomes.
This year the event attracted leading global tech innovators, investors and entrepreneurs, as keynote speakers, panellists and attendee’s.
“We are very lucky to be able to bring such a great lineup of speakers to share their insights and time with the Perth Community” said Larry Lopez Director of Accelerating Commercialisation, Department of Industry, Innovation & Science and Chair of the West Tech Fest Advisory Committee and Curtin’s Commercialisation Advisory Board.
The West Tech Fest program featured inspiring keynote speakers and panelists including:
- Stephanie Hannon, former CTO for the Hilary for America presidential campaign
- Paul Herz Director Manufacturing Operations & Quality @ Building 8, Facebook
- Michael Casey Senior Advisor, MIT Media Lab Digital Currency Initiative, Chairman
CoinDesk - Erick Miller Hyperseed Ventures
With local speakers including:
- Jemma Green: Chair and Co-Founder Power Ledger, Deputy Lord Mayor City of Perth
- Marcus Tan: CEO & Medical Director at HealthEngine
- Bonnie Lin: Managing Director Rainmakers
- Claire McGregor: Co-Founder and Head of Growth Appbot
- Kirsten Rose: Head of Low Emissions Technologies, BHP
Commenting on the influx of high quality local, national and international speakers and guests to Perth, Deputy Lord Mayor Dr Jemma Green, who is also Cofounder and Chair of WA based technology company Power Ledger said, “It was really fabulous to see Perth attracting so many innovators from around the world, with a truly exceptional lineup. Each of the talks was really unique and stimulated a conversation with the +500 ppl who attended, that I believe will seed the ground for the expansion and creation of new markets here in Perth”.
Ian Gardiner, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Australia and New Zealand | Amazon Web Services, added, “I’ve been coming to West Tech Fest for the last 3 years now. It’s a really high quality event that helps to showcase Perth and WA to a local, national and international audience. AWS loves supporting this event and the startups that are involved. There is a real buzz in the Perth startup ecosystem with some amazing businesses emerging from the local community”.
