MQi Demo Day 2024

1pm                                   

Panel Discussion                                                                                                                                      

Hear from a panel of experts from the innovation community as they uncover the topic: "Is positive impact on people and planet a nice-to-have or dealbreaker in the startup ecosystem of 2024?"

Our speakers will unpack the topics and discuss their thoughts in an insightful high value panel discussion. 

Strap yourself in and open your mind with:

Prof. Joe Steensma, Professor of Public Health & Social Entrepreneurship at Washington University St Louis

Dr. Joseph Steensma is an accomplished entrepreneur, educator, and scientist with a background in biology and public health. He has served as a health physicist at the U.S. Department of Energy and an Environmental Health Officer in the U.S. Army. Dr. Steensma founded multiple successful companies focused on environmental sustainability and public health. He mentors numerous companies and teaches at institutions including Washington University in St. Louis and the Royal Academy of Engineering, highlighting the importance of science in business success and sustainability.

Jenna Leo, Co-Founder & CEO of Like Family

Jenna is the Co-Founder and CEO of Like Family, a high growth tech and human services startup on a mission to end loneliness and social isolation. Like Family is a venture backed startup that has been running for over 8 years, operating across the East Coast to help thousands of people with disability or who are elderly and their families. Jenna was a Cartier Women's Initiative Fellow 2020, a finalist changemaker of the year for Women in Digital 2022, an AMP Tomorrow Fund grantee and a portfolio company of Apropela.

Dave Sammut, Founder & Managing Director of Loop Hydrometallurgy

Dave Sammut is a scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, author and mentor. He has spent 30 years in technology development and commercialisation, and is currently active in 5 companies. His focus right now is on his cleantech startup: Loop Hydrometallurgy, which is “Making copper green”.

Since 2013, Dave has volunteered to run a national mentoring program for STEM students and early career scientists, which is good. Unfortunately, Dave also thinks he’s funny and inflicts his standup comedy on audiences every chance he can, which is bad. So watch out for dad jokes.

Roanne Gonzales, Strategic Transformation Consultant at ThinkPlaceX Impact Accelerator

Roanne is a strategic transformation consultant at ThinkPlaceX, the strategy and creative impact accelerator of Synergy Group. As a DFAT New Colombo Plan scholar, she worked across Asia with Good Return and the Asian Development Bank. Roanne led award-winning social enterprises in Australia as President of Enactus MQ 2020 and occasionally serves as a post-graduate guest lecturer at Macquarie University on topics including impact investing and social entrepreneurship. She graduated from Macquarie University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws (Class 1 Honours), focusing her thesis on social enterprises' regulatory challenges in raising capital.

2pm    

Startup Exhibition      

Come in and meet the founder behind the startups and scaleups that contribute to the Macquarie University Innovation Ecosystem. 

How can you help? Attending events like this is super important for our founders, they want to meet you and tell you about their idea, they also want your feedback and opinions on what they are doing.

Startups hosting tables at our exhibition include:

• Rapid Analysis
• Loop Hydrometallurgy
• Zymedyne Therapeutics
• Endoluminal Sciences
• ETHyR Biotech
• Minomic
• Forge Finders
• Apate
• Myfuelz
• Toxic Energy
• Proheme Diagnostics
• MedMagLabs
• Childsplai
• Lagvelki
• Latent Knowledge
• SoCreative
• Invicta Prospects Group
• Access RnD

3pm

Pitch Showcase

Hear from the founders that are creating new businesses, disrupting industries, and inventing novel solutions to our greatest challenges. 

What will the founders be pitching for?  Could be a cofounder to join their startup, investment dollars, industry connections or advisors to join their board.

Pitching companies include:

1. Rapid Analysis
2. Loop Hydrometallurgy
3. Zymedyne Therapeutics
4. Endoluminal Sciences
5. Minomic
6. Forge Finders
7. Toxic Energy
8. SoCreative
9. MedMagLabs
10. Access RnD

4pm 

Networking Session         

Time to relax, network, and make new connections. 

Who will be there? researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, university stakeholders, students, and the local innovation community. Drinks and nibbles will be served.