Published Thursday, 06 September, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
i.lab firms ready for commercial marketplace
Two savvy Smart State information and communication technology (ICT) companies are ready to take on the world with their high-tech products after graduating from the Queensland Government’s i.lab Incubator.
Minister for State Development John Mickel has congratulated graduating firms Slap Systems and Interactive Communications Solutions (ICOMMS Pty Ltd) and announced a new $50 million investment milestone generated by i.lab incubatees.
“i.lab, established in 2000 in Toowong, continues to raise the bar when it comes to helping some of Queensland’s brightest firms establish themselves commercially,” Mr Mickel said.
“Slap Systems has resided in the Incubator for three-and-a-half years, and ICOMMS for three. In addition to office space, the firms have accessed skills development and networking programs, business development support, and mentoring from industry leaders in this time.
“The teams behind each company have built thriving businesses that are achieving great success in the commercial world.
“Thanks to their achievements, both companies are ready to relocate out of the Incubator.
“Slap Systems will now operate from Holland Park and ICOMMS from Spring Hill. I wish them both success in the future.”
i.lab chief executive officer Anne-Marie Birkill said Slap Systems founder Soenke Weiss started the company in the spare bedroom of his house in 2001.
“The business started to take off when it joined i.lab in 2004,” she said.
“Since then Slap Systems has made its mark as a provider of business and marketing management software to help hotels streamline their day-to-day operations.
“Over the years Slap has been awarded more than $180,000 in Queensland Government funding through innovation, as well as technology and commercialisation programs.
“Its suite of products are now sold to 29 clients throughout Australia and Fiji, including major hotel chains Accor and Marriot.”
Ms Birkill said ICOMMS was established in the backyard shed of founder and director Mark Leckenby’s house in 1999 to address a need to monitor radiation hazards in the telecommunications sector.
“ICOMMS’ software, radPro and RF-Aware, analyse and report on the radio frequency radiation emitted from antennas on towers, buildings and other radio communications infrastructure that service mobile phones and wireless devices.
“Since joining i.lab in 2004, ICOMMS has quadrupled its number of staff, opened a UK subsidiary, and also won a prestigious national ICT accolade – the ‘Consensus Software Award’.
“ICOMM’s secured markets with all major wireless operators in Australia and other key clients in Europe, and it’s now positioned for further expansion in the US and Asia.”
Mr Mickel also congratulated i.lab clients for raising more than $50 million in investment and grant funding since January 2004.
“This includes funding from angel investors, venture capitalists and the Queensland Government’s Innovation Start-Up Scheme and teQstart investment fund, which assist in the commercialisation of new high-tech products and services,” he said.
“The investment milestone is a great credit to the innovative technology and business prowess of the firms.
“There’s no doubt that the supportive environment provided by i.lab and its 35 mentors has also contributed to this outstanding outcome.”
There are currently 31 early-stage technology based companies representing industries from ICT to biotechnology at i.lab.
i.lab companies to date have generated around 360 knowledge-based Queensland jobs.
Contact details: Slap Systems, Soenke Weiss, 3327 9880
ICOMMS, Mark Leckenby, 3327 9886
i.lab, Anne-Marie Birkhill, 3327 9802
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
6 September, 2007
Minister for State Development John Mickel has congratulated graduating firms Slap Systems and Interactive Communications Solutions (ICOMMS Pty Ltd) and announced a new $50 million investment milestone generated by i.lab incubatees.
“i.lab, established in 2000 in Toowong, continues to raise the bar when it comes to helping some of Queensland’s brightest firms establish themselves commercially,” Mr Mickel said.
“Slap Systems has resided in the Incubator for three-and-a-half years, and ICOMMS for three. In addition to office space, the firms have accessed skills development and networking programs, business development support, and mentoring from industry leaders in this time.
“The teams behind each company have built thriving businesses that are achieving great success in the commercial world.
“Thanks to their achievements, both companies are ready to relocate out of the Incubator.
“Slap Systems will now operate from Holland Park and ICOMMS from Spring Hill. I wish them both success in the future.”
i.lab chief executive officer Anne-Marie Birkill said Slap Systems founder Soenke Weiss started the company in the spare bedroom of his house in 2001.
“The business started to take off when it joined i.lab in 2004,” she said.
“Since then Slap Systems has made its mark as a provider of business and marketing management software to help hotels streamline their day-to-day operations.
“Over the years Slap has been awarded more than $180,000 in Queensland Government funding through innovation, as well as technology and commercialisation programs.
“Its suite of products are now sold to 29 clients throughout Australia and Fiji, including major hotel chains Accor and Marriot.”
Ms Birkill said ICOMMS was established in the backyard shed of founder and director Mark Leckenby’s house in 1999 to address a need to monitor radiation hazards in the telecommunications sector.
“ICOMMS’ software, radPro and RF-Aware, analyse and report on the radio frequency radiation emitted from antennas on towers, buildings and other radio communications infrastructure that service mobile phones and wireless devices.
“Since joining i.lab in 2004, ICOMMS has quadrupled its number of staff, opened a UK subsidiary, and also won a prestigious national ICT accolade – the ‘Consensus Software Award’.
“ICOMM’s secured markets with all major wireless operators in Australia and other key clients in Europe, and it’s now positioned for further expansion in the US and Asia.”
Mr Mickel also congratulated i.lab clients for raising more than $50 million in investment and grant funding since January 2004.
“This includes funding from angel investors, venture capitalists and the Queensland Government’s Innovation Start-Up Scheme and teQstart investment fund, which assist in the commercialisation of new high-tech products and services,” he said.
“The investment milestone is a great credit to the innovative technology and business prowess of the firms.
“There’s no doubt that the supportive environment provided by i.lab and its 35 mentors has also contributed to this outstanding outcome.”
There are currently 31 early-stage technology based companies representing industries from ICT to biotechnology at i.lab.
i.lab companies to date have generated around 360 knowledge-based Queensland jobs.
Contact details: Slap Systems, Soenke Weiss, 3327 9880
ICOMMS, Mark Leckenby, 3327 9886
i.lab, Anne-Marie Birkhill, 3327 9802
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
6 September, 2007