Changing the world from regional NSW
Four UNE SMART Region Incubator founders based in Armidale but making international impact, were recently featured in Found Regional, a young publication telling regional stories from its regional base.
According to UNE SRI Director Lou Conway, the opportunity to work with Found Regional made sense.
“Like the young magazine and the team behind it, UNE SRI and our founders are in the New England North West intentionally. We choose to live and work here for so many good reasons, and we are keen to contribute our community,” Dr Conway said.
“Part of that, is sharing the stories of people who are here and doing great things across a whole range of industries - locally , but also across the globe!”
Over two issues, Found Regional profiled the UNE SRI and four Armidale based founders - Othelia, FarmLab, Zondii, and Optiweigh.
From its Armidale base, Othelia is working internationally, often in Hollywood. Othelia is a narrative engine, ‘a digital writing tool storytellers and creatives can use to develop future stories in a paper-free, non-linear format.’ Founder, Kate Armstrong-Smith is keen to put creatives at the helm of new technologies. For Kate, the move to the regions began accidentally, but the decision to stay and work in the New England was well considered - an opportunity to enjoy lifestyle and cost-of-living benefits enabled by good internet connectivity.
FarmLab’s team is all based regionally (Armidale, Inverell and Tamworth) as it is important for them to be part of the community. Founder, Sam Duncan says that it is essential to have ‘boots on the ground’ where they are going to make a difference as an agritech software business. FarmLab maps and verifies soil, plant and water measurements ‘helping farmers make better decisions and earn trusted and verified carbon offsets.’ They are now making a difference for farmers internationally, with a growing number of clients, and a new office in the United States.
Likewise, Zondii is based regionally on purpose. It is essential for them to be communicating with farmers, especially during the research phase ahead of building their tech. Danielle Morton founded Zondii in Armidale, but it is a global technology company, verifying and validating food and fibre with a phone or hand-held device - and was recently announced as ‘Best Regional Startup’ at the 2023 Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards.
Bill Mitchell founded Optiweigh in Armidale, and believes that it would not have happened if he lived outside the region. Optiweigh, a portable unit that collects real-time livestock weight information in the paddock, was developed, prototyped, and is manufactured in Armidale. It is now exported around the world.
“Optiweigh benefitted from the New England’s culture and tradition of agricultural innovation, education and research - and also contributes to it,” said Dr Conway.
“The UNE SRI is a connected community of founders and innovators who share a deep commitment to seeing new and existing enterprises flourish in the New England. They simultaneously benefit from and contribute to our community, but our whole region benefits!”
Articles are published in Found Regional Issue 04, WINTER 2023, and Found Regional Issue 05, SPRING 2023. More here