Funding accelerates Far North Queensland tech innovators towards global success

Four tech innovators from Cairns and the Atherton Tableland have secured Advance Queensland funding to accelerate their development and growth, and help them launch into global markets.

Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch today congratulated the recipients who will share in more than $541,000 of first round Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas funding.

“I want this funding to be a catalyst for the international success of these businesses, helping them through the sometimes difficult developmental stages, building their resilience and giving them a boost onto the international stage,” Ms Enoch said.

“These are the companies which will lead the transition to a robust knowledge economy in far north Queensland, and provide jobs for the future.”

The program is designed to help early stage, high growth potential businesses achieve scale, growth and profitability.

A total of 39 applicants statewide were successful in the Ignite Ideas first round, representing a funding commitment of $5.65 million.

Queensland Treasurer and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the awarding of funding for local companies underlined Cairns’ reputation as an innovation hub.

“Research tells us that the Cairns region is one of the most vibrant innovation centres in Queensland,” Mr Pitt said.

“The awarding of these funds demonstrates that this innovation has huge global potential and by providing investment in these ideas, we can keep these companies in the region to deliver local jobs.”

Mt Uncle’s Banana Flour, also based on the Atherton Tableland, secured $250,000 to optimise production of its Natural Evolution product range, which is largely based on the healthy, gluten-free properties of locally grown, green, Lady Finger and Cavendish bananas.

“We aim to turn the Natural Evolution into a global, well-recognised health food brand,” company director and founder Robert Watkins said.

“We know our product range is attractive to overseas investors and we are confident our production process can be replicated globally to meet expected consumer demand.

“Lack of funding is a key barrier to growth for innovative businesses like ours, so this Queensland Government investment could not come at a better time.

“With this funding we will optimise our unique processing technology, scale up production to meet overwhelming demand from Australia and overseas, raise additional capital and go for gold.”

Allsafe FNQ, from the Atherton Tableland, secured almost $100,000 to help commercialise their innovative safety alarm for all terrain vehicles.

Cairns recipient, Catch ‘N’ Release, secured $91,000 to refine and market an innovative, reliable anchor retrieval system for small boats and light commercial vessels.

Another Cairns recipient, Didgigo Marketing, secured more than $100,000 to help them achieve global scale for their enterprise software solution.

For more information visit the Advance Queensland website.

Media contact: Daniel Lato 0438 830 201