stomping through Victoria with groundbreaking tech, 10 innovators will bring farm security to the fore as part of the latest CivVic Labs challenge, available on our website.
Innovators Address Agricultural Safety in the Most Recent CivVic Labs Initiative
From Bairnsdale to Bridgewater, these visionaries are gearing up for a six-week design sprint, receiving a sweet $15,000 in equity-free funding to collaborate with Victorian farmers, industry bodies, and startup whizzes.
The finale sees two teams securing an extra $35,000 to expand their trailblazing ideas, reaching an audience of 154,000 hardworking folks in Victoria's agricultural scene daily.
Justin Koschitzke, a former AFL pro, and Leneila Lynne, Co-Founders of Acumind AI, are tackling dense, text-heavy protocols, turning them into interactive and accessible training for farmers.
Biomass Frontiers Australia, helmed by PhD students Mohamed Rashid Ahmed Mohamed and Dr. Md Sakinul Islam, are spinning gold from agricultural waste by manufacturing biodegradable mulch films that are kinder to Mother Earth and farmers alike.
Launching from Lavers Hill along the Great Ocean Road, David McKeown is whipping up a tool that lets remote operators call emergency services on their radios and shares their precise location with first responders.
Monash University student Ned Murdoch's EarthBrew offers a low-emission fertilizer, repurposing industrial by-products like brewery and quarry waste to give chemical fertilizers some earth-friendly competition.
Jamie Ross is designing an app to help on-the-farm workers stay on top of safety protocols, with task-based checklists tailored to their unique roles and skillsets.
Laurence Khoo’s venture focuses on insurance and risk management encouraging safe and long-term farming practices through incentives.
Michael Brown's Orchard Mate uses satellite monitoring and field observations to streamline orchard scouting, boosting efficiency and safety.
Ornata Technologies is developing an autonomous agricultural service. Their self-driving machinery solutions stand to eliminate the risk of accidents by keeping farmers away from powered equipment during operation. Ornata boasts a team including Swoop Aero alumni Michael Webb, Sabrina Ravail, and Joshua Tepper.
People in Paddocks' Sam Pritchard has created a simplified agricultural worker recruitment, training, and management platform, sprinkling some efficiency into farm operations.
Finally, Michael McGrath's Semantrix Research is bringing advanced radar technology to create safety monitoring systems for farm machinery, tackling the grave issue of equipment-related accidents head-on.
Skim the 10 ambitious contenders, hear them pitch their solutions, and stake your claim to the very first glimpses of the next CivVic Labs challenge in Victoria at our free showcase event on 27 March 2025.
Stay tuned for more info on the upcoming Agriculture Victoria challenge – register now to secure your place!
- The CivVic Labs challenge offers an opportunity for 10 startups to receive funding and support, as they work on farm security innovations in a six-week design sprint across Victoria.
- The program fosters collaboration between these 10 innovators, Victorian farmers, industry bodies, and startup whizzes, providing them with $15,000 in equity-free funding.
- At the finale, two teams will secure additional funding of $35,000 to further develop and expand their trailblazing ideas, reaching a daily audience of 154,000 in Victoria's agricultural scene.
- Among the innovators is Justin Koschitzke and Leneila Lynne, Co-Founders of Acumind AI, who are simplifying complex farm training programs, making them more accessible and interactive.
- Another participant, Biomass Frontiers Australia, led by PhD students Mohamed Rashid Ahmed Mohamed and Dr. Md Sakinul Islam, is creating eco-friendly biodegradable mulch films from agricultural waste.
- Meanwhile, David McKeown is developing a tool that enables remote operators to call emergency services and share their precise location during emergencies, improving safety in the agricultural sector.
