CSIRO x Cicada Innovations: Scaling Deep Tech with the Right Partners – Lessons from Founders

Scaling a deep tech startup comes with unique challenges—long R&D cycles, capital-intensive development, and complex commercialisation pathways. CSIRO offers a suite of programs and services to help founders navigate this journey

Join CSIRO and Cicada Innovations for an exclusive founder-led panel where deep tech entrepreneurs share how they identified and leveraged the right partners. Learn how these founders worked with CSIRO’s R&D teams, funding programs, and commercialisation pathways to turn their ideas into scalable ventures.

Don't miss this dynamic panel discussion featuring founders who are scaling their businesses with the right partners. We'll explore startup challenges, with founders sharing their experiences and lessons learned from working with organisations like CSIRO. Key themes will include:

• Choosing the Right Partner: What startups should look for in R&D, funding, and commercialisation partners.
• How CSIRO Helped: First-hand insights from founders who accessed CSIRO’s services, from R&D support to investment.
• Lessons Learned: The do’s and don’ts of collaborating with partners
  
  

Hear from our expert panel of speakers:

• Alexander Post, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, MGA Thermal
• ShanShan Wang, CEO & Founder, Roam Technologies
• Daniel Wan, Founder & CEO, FlavourIQ
  
  

Meet the speakers 

Alexander Post, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, MGA Thermal
Dr. Alexander Post is a graduate of mechanical engineering and physics from the University of Newcastle and holds a PhD in concentrated solar thermal power with the CSIRO. His specialty is in technological and economic analysis of emerging renewable energy technologies. His professional passion is in creating sustainable business pathways to commercialise innovative deep tech research for real world impact. Alexander was listed as one of the country’s top 100 innovators by the Australian Business Review in 2021 and is a founder and the CTO of MGA Thermal.

ShanShan Wang, CEO & Founder, Roam Technologies
ShanShan Wang, founder of Roam Technologies, is an award-winning industrial designer and science entrepreneur. With her team, Roam is on a mission to help millions breathe better and live longer, fuller lives. Roam is pioneering a breakthrough in oxygen delivery — a next-generation medical device for active, everyday use in chronic conditions. Designed to increase endurance, go further, and reduce fatigue, Roam’s mission is to enable millions to breathe easier and live longer. Roam’s tankless, continuous oxygen solution unlocks a new era in personalized therapy, empowering patients to live a longer, fuller life.

Daniel Wan, Founder & CEO, FlavourIQ
Daniel, founder of FlavourIQ, a flavor matching AI, has held leadership positions in tech companies like Archistar, Zoom2u, and Bridge SaaS. With a background in law and finance, he also served as a share market investment analyst at Deutsche Bank and Wilsons Advisory. He's a judge and mentor for the CSIRO ON Program, and graduated from Sydney University with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce.

Meet the organisers

About CSIRO

As Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst, CSIRO partners with researchers and industry to solve the nation’s greatest challenges through world-leading science and technology. With a global network, 5,000 experts, and cutting-edge facilities, we deliver research, development and commercialisation solutions that drive strategic growth and real-world impact. Our suite of innovation, funding and entrepreneurship programs enables collaboration at every stage of the innovation lifecycle — from strategic advice and planning, through to breakthrough R&D and market-ready solutions. CSIRO: unlocking a better future for everyone.

About Cicada Innovations

Cicada Innovations is the home of deep tech in Australia. The Sydney-based incubator with a twenty-one year track record of developing deep tech ventures tackling some of the world’s most pressing problems. Working at the forefront of innovation, it supports ventures seeking to create life-changing technology – applying cutting-edge science such as advanced materials, synthetic biology and AI to challenges like the future of human health, food security and the climate crisis.
Since inception, Cicada has seen an unprecedented $1.3 billion in exits from six deep tech ventures in the last 25 years, and helped over 330 companies to raise more than $1.7 billion in funding. It has twice been awarded ‘Top Incubator in the World’ by InBIA, and delivered commercialisation training to thousands working in science & technology.