October 2008 Newsletter

WORKSHOP ‘GRADS’ ON THEIR WAY…

CathRx enters European market - see www.cathrx.com for more information

In September ASX listed company CathRx Limited, the manufacturer and marketer of a range of innovative catheters for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, announced it had made its first sales in the UK in its push to enter the European market. CathRx estimates the market for its catheters in Europe is currently worth about $265 million.

And at home, CathRx is in the process of moving its operations from its current facility at the Australian Technology Park Innovations Centre in Eveleigh to a new facility in Homebush Bay. The two facilities will operate in parallel for a transition period.

CathRx CEO, Neil Anderson participated in the Workshop in 1996 and subsequently began CathRx as a start-up company. Of his Workshop experience Neil has said, “The Workshop was a key step for me (as a researcher at that time) – in developing skills needed to be an entrepreneur – providing a business plan – and a network of skilled people. The Workshop was able to satisfy these needs.”

Landscape Solutions - see www.landscapesolutions.com.au for more information

It’s now a long way from 1993, a ute and a wheelbarrow for Tim Buckle and his team who participated in the Workshop in 1999. A significant benefit from their Workshop experience was the development of Key Performance Indicators which they use continually. A substantial increase in the company’s turnover resulted and, most importantly, profitability has steadily increased with growth.

Today the Landscape Solution team is working on a wide range of projects including maintenance of Sydney Olympic Park - The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority $10million Ballast Point park project. Tim said, “The Ballast Point project demonstrates our ability to complete complex external works – including demolition and excavation, amenities buildings, large retaining walls, precise lookout walls, seawall works, lighting enormous steel staircases, landscaping and even wind turbines that will help power the park. We have a solid track record and a “get the job done attitude” – whatever the job, some very large – and some not-so-large.

Biometix - The MD is an author as well! See www.biometix.com for more information

If you have always wanted to understand biometric data then the new book by authors Dr Ted Dunstone, MD (Workshop ‘02) and Neil Yager of Biometix, titled ‘Biometric System and Data Analysis: Design, Evaluation and Data Mining’ is a book for you! It brings together aspects of statistics and machine learning to provide a comprehensive guide to evaluate, interpret and understand biometric data.

Before flying to the United States on Biometix business, Ted gave us the news about his book and said, ”The Workshop should be compulsory for all budding entrepreneurs.”

Dr Euan Tovey joined the Workshop as an individual

– participated in a small team to ‘explore options’…

Euan is Head of Allergy Research at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, He describes himself as a ‘boy who likes to play with particles’. He participated in the Workshop in ’07 to examine commercial options for small nasal filters to assist with hayfever with the potential to protect against flu viruses. Another of Euan’s inventions, a novel mask that can be used to sample viruses exhaled by infected people, is currently being developed. His research measuring the protection against viruses provided by surgical masks, was the subject of a half page feature in the SMH on 23 September – see www.enterpriseworkshop.com.au for the article.

Euan said, “The Workshop was an excellent learning experience for someone who has the technical know-how - but who needs to develop the business skills to make it happen”.

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HEADING INTO 2009!

Two programs will be offered next year. Please remember to put anyone you know that could be interested in touch with us so we can invite them to an information session. Contact us at succeed@enterpriseworkshop.com.au or 02 9209 4796

The ‘mentor-participant’ information sessions for the Winter Program this year proved to be popular – more are planned for the new year. Please let us know if you would be willing to join up with your mentor for a session in the CBD or in Parramatta.

Also let us know – if you know of any opportunities for the Workshop to have a few minutes to ‘spruik’! Contact Marjorie Anderson, mha@andersonknight.com.au or 02 9247 2490.

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THE WORKSHOP IS IN THE BOARDROOM (Radio that is!)

The Workshop has become a partner of Boardroom Radio Australia – Entrepreneur Series.

Boardroom radio is a simple and effective tool that enables companies to speak directly with investors. Through our partnership with BRR we will have opportunities to profile Enterprise Workshop entrepreneurs. Are you ready and willing to join the BRR Entrepreneur Series? check it out through www.enterpriseworkshop.com.au

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THE WORKSHOP’S ‘WILDCARD PRIZE’ WINNER - PITCH ‘08

The Workshop was one of the sponsors of Pitch ’08 along with the NSW DSRD; ASSOG;

and Davies Collison Cave.

Five finalists were selected to present before the judges and a sizeable audience at the PowerHouse Museum on Saturday, 6 September.

Judges for the Workshop Wildcard Prize (a scholarship toward the program fee), Steve Rank, Marjorie Anderson and Dr Ron Knight, agreed unanimously ‘pitcher’ No. 2 was the best fit for the Workshop’s process of identifying and expanding commercial opportunities.

The winner, Geoff Ball, is an engineer. On behalf of his company, Vision Water Pty Ltd, Geoff gave an excellent pitch on WaterCell, an engineered, high volume rainwater harvesting system to provide potable quality water for residential, commercial and industrial developments.

Two of the other pitching companies have expressed interest in the Workshop program for next year – a great result for our participation.

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WINTER PROGRAM UPDATE

- the teams – the projects – the mentors

Neomedix Phil Gehringer; Katherine Phillips; Catherine Bourgeois; Carla D’Andrea; Donna Lai

Mentor: Dr Peter Hanley

· To develop a unique clinical urodynamic diagnostic system involving a device with unique software targeted at the growing continence surgery space.

Immune Systems Technology Darren Jones; Cameron Jennings; Andrew Hutchinson

Mentor: Ross Harricks

· To develop a business plan with a ‘fast to commercialise’ strategy for early stage IP discoveries with therapeutic potential.

Piccolo – Eric Coates, Mick Handcock, Jhonny Quintana

Mentor: Murray McInnes

· To raise funds to take 'pocket piccolo, an automated flossing device, to market. The project is at pre-production trial and market research stage.

Fire – Pravin Trivedi, Dale Kennedy and Anthony Sorial

Mentor: Dr Graeme Towers

· To expand a design and engineering consultancy company to provide professional services on fire safety requirements on a national and international level.

Powerlite – Roy Jessop; Darren Boughton-Worth; Peter Vincent; Gretchen Scott

Mentor: Dr Ian Lin

· To develop a plan for growth (manufacture of generating sets and products, importing and distribution) and preparing for industry changes and succession

Resmed – Joshua Gudiksen; Sofietje Meynink; Angelene Ozolins

Mentor: Lachlan James

· To investigate opportunities to use ResMed's expertise (esp. in mask development).

Voice IP – Mark Armstrong; Justin Daly; Ken Panhania; Patrick Gardner; Emma Sung

Mentor: Roger Price

· An internet communications protocol company which aims to develop a business to provide

OH&S benefits to mobile workforces.

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NOW A WORD FROM TWO OF OUR SPONSORS…

You are invited to contact John Scilly, Business Development Manager of major Workshop sponsor, NSW Department of State & Regional Development to discuss funding opportunities in programs such as: New Export Opportunity Program; Bio Business Program; Australian Technology Showcase.

Ph 02 8843 1117 M 0423 025 198 - john.scilly@business.nsw.gov.au - www.business.nsw.gov.au

ATP Innovations, also a major Workshop sponsor, is a technology convergence hub that facilitates the commercialisation of research and development. It has enjoyed a long partnership with the Workshop and many of its resident companies and individuals have completed the Workshop program. The two annual programs are run at Australian Technology Park Innovations and Workshop ‘grads’ are able to join the BizNetClub. Contact Britt Hartnett, Manager Business Programs on 02 9209 4461 or b.hartnett@atp-innovations.com.au – www.atp-innovations.com.au for information about Australian Technology Park Innovations.