As part of its vision to strengthen Australia’s digital ecosystem, the $10M Victorian Government-backed tech hub, Cremorne Digital Hub has announced the first group of high-growth tech companies to join its inaugural Scaleup Program.
Demonstrating clear commercial success markers, the four standout companies were handpicked from around 40 global applications to join the six-month program delivered in partnership with Boab.
The companies will gain access to Cremorne Digital Hub’s dynamic network of partners, investors and industry advisors. This will place them at the heart of a Cremorne-based ecosystem, accelerating growth and removing barriers to commercialisation and market penetration.
Artesian, REA Group, CAR Group (parent company of carsales), University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, RMIT University and Kangan Institute are just some of the partners that will offer participants tailored support and direct connections to industry leaders. This consortium will be integral to helping participants achieve investment, form new partnerships, validate their products against industry requirements, develop high functioning teams and build brand awareness.
This level of support and access to experts within their specific fields will help participants forge new pathways to commercialisation with validated products and services that resonate with new markets and attract investor interest.
Cremorne Digital Hub’s first Scaleup Program cohort includes:
- CADS: a Singapore-based platform providing personalised online learning and workforce development to help organisations close skills gaps, boost data literacy and cultivate a data-driven culture in the face of technological change.
- FCC Analytics: a Hong Kong-based platform providing natural language processing (NLP), AI ‘Know-Your-Customer’ (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions to name screening, customer due diligence, translation monitoring, fraud management, network analytics and compliance bots.
- LARKI: a Victorian-based SaaS and data platform transforming 3D laser scan from planes, drones, tripods and cars, to building and neighbourhood information models (BIM), streamlining processes for architecture, permit approvals and construction.
- ZEPIC: a U.S. SaaS platform providing businesses with hyper-personalised, multi-channel customer engagement experiences.
Cremorne Digital Hub will also support CADS, FCC Analytics and ZEPIC to establish a foundation in the Victorian and Australian market – a move that aims to enhance the tech industry’s capabilities while contributing to jobs in the sector.
Cremorne Digital Hub CEO Peter Osborne said the hub’s vision is to help companies that have developed breakthrough solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems gain access to the expertise and knowledge required to successfully scale and commercialise.
“Companies with great ideas and leading technologies driven by visionary founders deserve a chance to thrive. This is where Cremorne Digital Hub comes in.
“With the Victorian Government as our primary stakeholder, venture capital support, insights from university partners on emerging technologies and the incredible scaling capabilities that our tech partners bring, Cremorne Digital Hub is perfectly positioned to help companies establish solid growth pathways into both Australian and global markets, moving them towards rapid adoption, scale and revenue.
“In the last few years there’s been a decline in investment into new tech companies – not because investment has dried up, but because investors are taking less risk. Our aim is to help buck this trend and help companies better demonstrate their value to investors,” said Peter Osborne.
Adding to its group of founding shareholders (Artesian, the Victorian State Government, La Trobe University, RMIT University and the University of Melbourne), Cremorne Digital Hub recently received backing from Kangan Institute and tech unicorns REA Group and CAR Group.
This backing from some of Australia's most prolific tech giants goes beyond just financial investment. All shareholders will play a pivotal role in accelerating Cremorne Digital Hub’s growth and its support to scaleups, while simultaneously championing Cremorne as the tech-focused inner-city precinct driving Victoria’s digital capabilities, digital transformation and innovation.
“We’re excited to work with CADS, FCC Analytics, LARKI and ZEPIC – all promising companies with innovative leaders and ideas,” said Peter Osborne.
