In summary

  • Swinburne’s 2024 Venture Cup Pitch Night spotlighted seven startups poised to transform industries with innovative approaches

  • Nexobot, co-founded by Dominic Lindsay and Nicholas Hunt, has taken home this year’s prestigious Venture Cup Grand Prize Award.

  • Pulsatile Innovations, a cutting-edge medtech device designed to aid in suspected cardiac arrest cases, won the highly coveted People’s Choice Award. 

The 2024 annual Venture Cup Pitch Night at Swinburne University of Technology celebrated the achievements of seven startups, marking the successful completion of their journey through  Swinburne Innovation Studio’s accelerator initiative, the Elevate Program

The pitch night showcased the diverse range of startups in this year’s cohort, presenting solutions that span sectors such as robotic automation, edtech, fraud prevention technology, Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms, and medtech. These entrepreneurs demonstrated remarkable vision and a shared commitment to solving some of the most pressing challenges in their respective fields.

Abhay Seth, Director of Commercial Innovation at Swinburne, says the Innovation Studio's startup programs empower the Swinburne community to turn ideas into impactful ventures.

“Today, we’ve seen how these programs play a pivotal role in shaping startups for a better future. Each program is designed to foster specific aspects of founders’ growth and understanding, with the Elevate Program in particular setting them on a clear pathway to success,” he says. 

Swinburne alum Dominic Lindsay, co-founder of Nexobot, pitching at Swinburne's 2024 annual Venture Cup Pitch Night.

Transforming parcel sorting into a seamless and cost-effective process

By leveraging 3D-printed components, Nexobot is helping small warehouses reduce the barriers to entry for warehouse automation. This innovative technology enables efficient package sorting through a unique design, making automation more affordable and accessible.

Following their participation in Swinburne’s 2023 Venture Cup and the 2024 Elevate Program, Nexobot has used the insights gained from these programs to develop their product further and steadily expand their market presence. 

“I feel that our business is in a much better position to take on the next stage of our growth after participating in the Elevate Program,” says Dominic Lindsay, Nexobot co-founder and Swinburne Master of Supply Chain Innovation alum. 

“Spending time with other founders working on businesses at similar stages has given me a great network of peers to draw on as I continue to build this business.”

Elleesha King, founder of Pulsatile Innovations and winner of the People’s Choice Award.

A simple medtech solution minimising CPR delays and saving lives

Founded by Elleesha King, winner of the People’s Choice Award, Pulsatile Innovations aims to address a critical gap in cardiac arrest response. 

Drawing from her experience as a paramedic in remote areas, Elleesha created Pulse Tile – an advanced medtech solution designed to help healthcare professionals assess patients’ pulses quickly and accurately, ultimately improving survival rates during cardiac emergencies.

Swinburne Innovation Studio – a launchpad for entrepreneurial success

Swinburne Innovation Studio continues to be a thriving hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, offering transformative programs and opportunities for startups to grow and succeed. 

This year, the Innovation Studio has empowered entrepreneurs through its flagship Initiate, Luminate and Elevate Programs, providing tailored mentorship, strategic growth support and investment readiness. 

Additionally, the Innovation Studio hosted a series of online masterclasses and webinars, giving startups access to valuable insights on fundraising, market expansion and product development.

“I found the Elevate Program extremely beneficial to my early stage start up journey. The team at Swinburne's Innovation Studio were incredibly approachable, supportive and shared a wealth of relevant knowledge and advice,” says Elleesha, Pulsatile Innovations founder. 

Stay up to date with Swinburne’s latest startup programs, events and success stories by signing up to Swinburne Innovation Studio’s newsletter and following them on LinkedIn.

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