Cicada x Tech23 – Global Innovations, Made in Australia. Meet 23 groundbreaking ventures in one day.

From sovereign capability in critical technologies to commercial-ready innovations seeking strategic partnerships, Cicada x Tech23 offers a rare, high-value opportunity to engage with frontier technologies on the cusp of global scale and impact.

Cicada x Tech23 is more than just a showcase of cutting-edge breakthroughs - it’s a gateway to real Australian ventures delivering global impact and commercial success.

For 25 Years Cicada Innovations has been the home for deep tech and Tech23 has been the launchpad for Australia’s most ambitious deep tech companies - Morse Micro, Samsara Eco, and Q-CTRL - startups that are not just pioneering new technologies but securing major investments, scaling internationally, and reshaping industries.

We’re inviting you to meet the next generation of deep tech founders - visionary entrepreneurs tackling billion-dollar markets in AI, quantum, biotech, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.

Whether you’re an investor seeking high-growth opportunities, an industry leader looking for strategic partnerships, or a policymaker shaping the future of technology, this is your chance to engage with companies ready to scale, commercialise, and create lasting impact.

Our host and MC:

Tiahni Adamson

Tech23 Host

Wildlife conservation biologist, climate tech leader, and proud Kaurareg woman, Tiahni Adamson brings deep care for Country and sharp clarity to conversations about our shared future. Named South Australia’s Young Australian of the Year in 2024, she blends science, sustainability, and Indigenous wisdom in everything she does, from methane-cutting seaweed to systems change. As host of Tech23 2025, Tiahni brings heart, humour, and purpose to the day, grounding us in what matters most.

Speakers:

Steve Kessel - Senior Vice President, Amazon 1999-2020

Former senior executive at Amazon who helped launch Kindle, Fire tablets, and Just Walk Out technology. Steve brings rare insights into what it really takes to build innovation cultures that scale. Drawing on decades of experience navigating ambiguity and complex systems, his talk will challenge founders, policymakers, and leaders alike: Are we serious about deep tech, or just saying the words? What system shifts are needed to enable true innovation in Australia?

Lisa Sarago
CEO & Founder, Land on Heart Foundation

Proud Bunda Burra Yidinji/Western Yalanji woman and 2022 Indigenous Leader of the Year, Lisa is fusing the world’s oldest living culture with modern technology. As founder of Land on Heart Foundation and Tiddas in Tech, she’s building pathways for Indigenous innovation and economic empowerment. At Tech23, Lisa asks: "who gets to shape the future?" A powerful call to confront blind spots and build futures that are inclusive, sovereign, and fair.

Rachel Slattery

Founder, Silver Futures

A long-time shaper of Australia’s innovation landscape, Rachel Slattery founded Tech23 and Agile Australia before “deep tech” and “agile” were household terms. Now, through Silver Futures, she’s turning her lens to the radical potential of ageing. In her talk, Rachel invites us to design not just for longevity, but for lives rich in contribution, curiosity, and purpose. A compelling call to reimagine the second half of life as a new frontier for innovation.

Edmond Lau
Cultural Strategist & Author, The Dark Mode Shift

Cultural strategist and author of the viral essay The Dark Mode Shift, Edmond makes sense of trends, memes, and internet aesthetics. At Tech23, he’ll explore what it means to design in an age of disillusionment. In a world where optimism feels naïve, how should we shape the future? A creative, visual, and philosophical reflection that will leave you seeing “darkness” not as doom, but as a space for intention and reinvention.

Why Attend?

Access 23 of Australia’s most promising deep tech startups across AI, quantum, biotech, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing - each with global potential.
Engage with 400+ investors, industry leaders, and government decision-makers, all committed to scaling deep tech.
Discover why Australia is emerging as a global deep tech hub, with strong R&D pipelines, commercial-ready technologies, and increasing international investment.
Connect with Cicada Innovations and Australia’s top deep tech investors, backing startups that are reshaping industries worldwide.

Check out last years event highlights

Read about the Tech23 class of 2025.

Be Part of Australia’s Deep Tech Revolution

Join us in Sydney on 10 September 2025 to connect with the people and ideas shaping the future of technology.

🎟 Get your ticket now and be part of Australia's deep tech movement.

🚀 Full program coming soon.

Parking and Accessibility

Lift and Disabled access on site.

Parking is available directly across the road from the venue in the Jones Bay Wharf Car Park or at The Star. You may enter the venue from the street level stairs or dedicated lift on Pirrama Road.

Cicada x Tech23 is only possible with the support of our sponsors

Contact the host of Cicada x Tech23 2025 - Australia's Biggest Deep Tech Festival

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