Cicada x Tech23 is back. Australia's largest deep tech festival is coming to Melbourne and we want to meet you.

Join us on Wednesday 28th February at Jumar Bioincubator, Australia's newest biotech incubator. This is your chance to mingle with fellow founders, innovators, investors, and leaders in Melbourne's deep tech ecosystem.

Be part of the conversation shaping Australia's future as we hear from three visionary founders transforming industries like Climate Tech, Renewable Energies, and Healthcare. Led by Cicada's CEO, Sally-Ann Williams, our panelists aren’t just discussing the future; they're actively building it:

Liz Williams, CEO and co-founder of Hemideina, who is revolutionising the cochlear implant industry with groundbreaking solutions.
Charlie McGill, CEO of ElectraLith, developing a pioneering lithium extraction with the cleanest and most efficient methods.
Raj Bagri, CEO and founder of Kapture, who is leading the charge in climate tech innovation with a non-toxic solvent for decarbonising global diesel emissions.

We'll imagine a world where hearing impairments are seamlessly overcome, where clean energy is more accessible than ever, and where climate challenges are met with groundbreaking solutions. Join us to glimpse a future where deep tech isn't just a concept, but a tangible, life-changing reality.

This event marks the launch event of Cicada x Tech23 2024, Australia's biggest deep tech festival, set to take place on 7th August in Sydney.

Come and network with the brightest and boldest of Melbourne's deep tech community and join the CxT23 village.

About the radical innovations

Hemideina

At Hemideina, their commitment and passion is to help those living with severe sensorineural hearing loss to live a full and connected world through sound.

By 2030, 1.5bn people will be aged >50 worldwide. 1 in 3 will suffer from disabling hearing loss. Cochlear implants are the only viable option to restore hearing when hearing aids no longer provide benefit, but they are uncomfortable and provide limited hearing performance. As a result, less than 3% of people who need treatment receive it. Untreated hearing loss is the highest risk factor for dementia.

They are developing unique technology to re-imagine what a cochlear implant looks like and how it functions. Our sound processor and miniature wireless technology offers a more comfortable and discreet design, utilising the ear’s natural structures to provide improved performance.

ElectraLith

ElectraLith is unlocking a green future with the cleanest, fastest and most efficient method of extracting and refining lithium, the primary element of a sustainable future.

Our cutting-edge DLE-R technology revolutionises Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) and Refining processes by extracting and producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide in a single, scalable and modular step. As opposed to other DLE processes, DLE-R fully eliminates the need for water and chemicals and can run entirely on renewable energy.

No water, no chemicals and running on 100% renewable energy – that’s the ElectraLith story.

Backed by Rio Tinto, IP Group Australia and Monash University, ElectraLith is based in Melbourne Australia.

Kapture

Kapture has developed disruptive carbon capture technology that can be retrofitted to diesel engine exhausts. The technology is low capex, has little to no energy penalty and can be scaled at mass.

About Cicada x Tech23

Cicada x Tech23 is celebration of radical innovation and bold ideas in the world of deep tech, showcasing 23 of the nation's most promising ventures, and connects visionary founders to a network of investors, leaders and big thinkers.

Register your interest in the main event here
Explore more about the festival on our website
Delve into the insights into Australian deep tech in our 2023 Report.

About Jumar BioIncubator

Jumar BioIncubator is Australia’s first and only biotech incubator. Jumar serves as a ‘first home’ for young biotech ventures, providing them with affordable lab and office space and the practical support to unlock the potential of their early scientific discoveries. Companies in residence become part of a vibrant community, with access to world-class facilities, a dedicated team to lean on, as well as curated entrepreneurial training and events.

This purposely designed environment will leave biotech ventures better equipped to progress their discoveries towards real-world outcomes.

Jumar's mission is to create a world-class hub for innovation translation, research commercialisation and talent development in biotechnology, with a critical mass of management-skilled scientists who have the knowledge and confidence to run successful biomed and biotech companies.

Jumar Bioincubator was established by three of Victoria’s most distinguished entities spanning industry, research and academia – CSL, WEHI and the University of Melbourne. Together, with backing from innovation investor Breakthrough Victoria and operator Cicada Innovations.