Small Business

The top Western Australian company in this year’s Energise accelerator program is developing an ambitious plan for robotic on-site manufacturing of equipment it believes will boost safety and dramatically cut costs at open pit mines.

Startup accelerator Plus Eight has revealed the six finalist companies that are participating in its inaugural program, with four of them originating from Perth.

From pods to beans, the founders of social enterprise Community Pod have extended their business model.

FilteredHQ is an online subscriptions platform that tracks emerging technology, business models and global startups.

There are plenty of people who want success for the local startup scene, but fewer seem willing to commit to fund it.

Two Perth entrepreneurs are looking to clean up in the laundry business with new offerings that bring technology and style to an often thankless household chore.

Do men really need a tray to store their phone, wallet and keys? Three local entrepreneurs certainly think so.

Formalytics enables soccer players with a smartphone to film their kicks and become better players through the feedback received. The technology allows users to master a knuckleball, dip ball, curl ball and penalty strike.

Bunbury will host the state’s final for the Australia Post Regional Pitchfest accelerator program, which is offering $100,000 in prizes for the winners.

The local business that undertook one of the nation’s largest switchable glass projects as part of the development of Perth Children’s Hospital is now planning to target overseas markets.

Offpeak Games is a virtual reality (VR) games developer. It has released two VR games, Valiant, a medieval mounted combat multiplayer game, and Arcane, a fantasy wave shooter game.

Immersia has been developing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) products and services since 2014, particularly in the safety training, mining and property development sectors, as well as for concerts and marketing.

Stressed corporate types are among the growing clientele driving the success of Perth-based Nick Dunin’s floatation therapy business.

MiPlan has been named Techboard’s highest trending startup in January, after the WA-based mine production management solutions company announced its acquisition by US-based Hexagon Mining for an undisclosed amount, as reported by Business News.

Prestige Perth-founded wristwatch brand Haigh & Hastings is on the market, with company administrator Bob Jacobs moving quickly to sell the business as a going concern.

ImpRes People is a cloud-based platform that connects businesses with operational and project talent.

A Perth team hoping to break a land speed world record has turned to crowdfunding to raise $50,000 to avoid a potential liquidation caused by a fight with the Australian Taxation Office, and is 20 per cent of the way to its target.

Burswood-based company Western Work Force is set to emerge from administration in highly unusual circumstances, with its largest creditor opposed to its recapitalisation, its founder and major shareholder in police custody, but its core business continuing to grow.

Cribber Communication provides construction and mining work sites with their own mobile newsfeed.

Fastbrick Robotics was Techboard’s highest ranking company for December, after the recently ASX-listed robotic bricklayer won the Mitsubishi Corporation WA Innovator of the Year award, and also completed an $8 million capital raising from Hunter Hall Investment Management.

The state government’s co-working hub Spur has announced nine local startup companies which will share in $91,000 of grants to help develop their products.

Fremantle-based renewable energy company Carnegie Wave Energy has been named Techboard’s highest trending company for 2016.

Now in its sixth year, the annual OzApp Awards concluded last night announcing the 2016 winner as Townsville-based Safety Culture, selected from five grand finalists which included Perth-based Formalytics, Melbourne’s Law Advisor and Reword, and Shippit (Sydney). 

Hand crafted and high tech are terms that rarely go together, yet a small Perth company is reinventing bicycle manufacturing with both those concepts at its heart.

MyLeadPod is a fully automated digital platform that allows businesses to establish their own customer reward program in order to encourage referrals.

Seventeen Perth-based startup organisations have been selected to participate in the KPMG Energise and OzAPP Awards accelerator programs to help grow their businesses.

Colin Barnett says he would like to see penalty rates cut for casual small business employees on Sundays and public holidays, but lift the base rate for standard hours.

The state government has allocated $2 million for a new co-working space in Karratha to promote small business and startups in the area.

Saybubble has been named Techboard’s highest trending company for this fortnight, following strong international news coverage and social media engagement.

Three local businesses have been inducted into Family Business Australia’s hall of fame, including an electrical contractor established in 1920, a fertiliser supplier and an engineering business that recently listed on the ASX. 

The recently appointed Australian small business and family enterprise ombudsman has launched an inquiry into the payment practices of big businesses and governments across Australia.

Fastbrick Robotics has topped Techboard’s startup and tech company ranking this fortnight, following its win at the 2016 WA Innovator of the Year awards.