Riverina innovation boosted with Charles Sturt University’s AgriTech entrepreneurship program | The Daily Advertiser

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

AN app to reduce people dying from electrical incidents and turning chickpeas into appetising breakfast were two of eight business ideas pitched at Charles Sturt University’s fifth AgriTech Incubator pitch event yesterday. Participants of ATI ‘Riverina: Ready to Launch’ presented their business ideas to regional leaders, including Jo Palmer, AgriTech Incubator alumna and 2019 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National Winner, and Wagga MP Dr Joe McGirr. Among the ideas were an animation project to preserve Wiradjuri knowledge, relief for fliers who suffer every time they board a plan and an app to reduce the number of people killed each year from electrical accidents. The app, called Inspect Elec, was founded by Zac Robinson and it aims to reduce the number of deaths by identifying potential hazards. Mr Robinson, a qualified electrician, said undergoing the CSU program was “really good to put all the ideas together”. “It’s an eye opener and it’s just been great to get feedback and put that into practice,” he said. “We’re trying to get some funding from an investor, just to get our prototype off the ground.” Fellow participant and CSU PhD student Stephen Cork has partnered with a pulse producer and a breakfast cereal manufacturer. They have developed chickpea flakes that are ready-to-eat sources of plant-based protein and fibre that can assist with reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, bowel cancer and type II diabetes. “What we’ve been doing is making them [chickpeas] into breakfast so you can actually eat them raw, with milk or in cooking,” Mr Cork said. “Adding more of this can lead us to healthier lives.” Leading up to the pitch, participants worked at CSU’s AgriTech Hub on their business ideas. AgriTech Incubator project officer Mrs Siobhain Howard said the program aimed to spark innovation and economic development in the Riverina. Mrs Howard said each round of the program unveils new ideas and innovators and the team is excited to see what participants pitch this round. The program is one of the university’s initiatives to support entrepreneurship in regional NSW, along with CenWest Innovative Accelerator in Bathurst and the Walan Mayinygu Indigenous Entrepreneurship Pop Up Hub in Albury-Wodonga. For more about upcoming programs from AgriTech Incubator: [email protected].

October 1 2019 – 11:00AM

Riverina innovation boosted with Charles Sturt University’s AgriTech entrepreneurship program

INNOVATION: A number of the participants of the CSU AgriTech Incubator program. Tom Williams, Jane Quinn, Stephen Cork, Annette Davies, Zac Robinson and Siobhain Howard. Picture: Toby Vue

Participants of ATI ‘Riverina: Ready to Launch’ presented their business ideas to regional leaders, including Jo Palmer, AgriTech Incubator alumna and 2019 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National Winner, and Wagga MP Dr Joe McGirr.

Among the ideas were an animation project to preserve Wiradjuri knowledge, relief for fliers who suffer every time they board a plan and an app to reduce the number of people killed each year from electrical accidents.

Congratulations again to Cohort 5 and thank you to everyone who came along to hear from our passionate, innovative, regional entrepreneurs pitching their business start-up last night @DrJoeMcGirrMP @ScaleInstitute @BenGrozier pic.twitter.com/5gX9xMNDBu

— AgriTech Incubator (@AgriTechCSU)

The app, called Inspect Elec, was founded by Zac Robinson and it aims to reduce the number of deaths by identifying potential hazards.

Mr Robinson, a qualified electrician, said undergoing the CSU program was “really good to put all the ideas together”.

“It’s an eye opener and it’s just been great to get feedback and put that into practice,” he said.

“We’re trying to get some funding from an investor, just to get our prototype off the ground.”

Fellow participant and CSU PhD student Stephen Cork has partnered with a pulse producer and a breakfast cereal manufacturer.

They have developed chickpea flakes that are ready-to-eat sources of plant-based protein and fibre that can assist with reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, bowel cancer and type II diabetes.

CSU PhD candidate Stephen Cork. Picture: CSU

“What we’ve been doing is making them [chickpeas] into breakfast so you can actually eat them raw, with milk or in cooking,” Mr Cork said.

“Adding more of this can lead us to healthier lives.”

Leading up to the pitch, participants worked at CSU’s AgriTech Hub on their business ideas.

AgriTech Incubator project officer Mrs Siobhain Howard said the program aimed to spark innovation and economic development in the Riverina.

Mrs Howard said each round of the program unveils new ideas and innovators and the team is excited to see what participants pitch this round.

The program is one of the university’s initiatives to support entrepreneurship in regional NSW, along with CenWest Innovative Accelerator in Bathurst and the Walan Mayinygu Indigenous Entrepreneurship Pop Up Hub in Albury-Wodonga.

For more about upcoming programs from AgriTech Incubator: [email protected].

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Riverina innovation boosted with Charles Sturt University’s AgriTech entrepreneurship program

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