Six of the eight late-stage startups and small-to-medium enterprise selected for the Igniting METS Accelerator hail from regional Queensland, Australia.
The companies are from Ipswich, Mackay, Toowoomba, Rockhampton and the Whitsundays and all are looking to accelerate their development, win contracts and grow their businesses.
The accelerator began at the KPMG offices in Brisbane in late August, kicking off an intense 12-week learning program that will help them rapidly build their business within the METS (mining equipment, technology and services) and mining sectors. The program culminates with a graduation ceremony on 21 November.
The Igniting METS Accelerator is an Australian-first joint initiative between METS Ignited and the Queensland government to assist METS companies. METS Ignited is an industry-led organisation funded by the Australian Government as part of its Industry Growth Centre initiative.
METS Ignited CEO Ric Gros said that Igniting METS was proving there is a massive potential for technology businesses within regional Australia.
He said: "Following a national search for the most innovative mining tech startups we are excited to have such a standout cohort for our first ever Igniting METS accelerator.
"The competition was strong, and it is striking that we have so many great companies coming from regional areas. They have differentiated themselves in their innovation in technology, approach to business and their potential to rapidly grow their business. This program is about helping them to rapidly develop and take on national, regional and global markets."
The eight Igniting METS startups are:
- Artemis Intelligent Robotic Systems – Whitsunday Islands
Providing complete through wall analysis of tubular structures with three-dimensional reporting. Use next generation sensors to move reporting and prediction from best educated guess to quantitative knowledge.
- Commit Works – Brisbane
Software for the frontline team in the mining, energy and infrastructure industries including flexible shift plans and a visualization of the hazards, equipment, tasks and people.
- FDP Mining – Rockhampton
Mines and reprocesses tailings dams to deliver product coal from a resource currently considered waste.
- Mackay Conveyor Equipment – Mackay
Creators of Jibaroo, an underground maingate transfer system that collapses and stands with hydraulics. Jibaroo allows transportation in modular sections, significantly reducing installation time, people required and working at heights.
- Paradyn Systems – Melbourne
Creators of BlendOpt, an integrated pit-to-port planning and scheduling cloud platform built with advanced optimisation and machine learning technologies. BlendOpt delivers transformational step-change improvements to operational profitability within complex supply chains.
- Quick Safety -Toowoomba
A field force automation platform that enables the electrical industry to solve issues in compliance, risk and safety. Helps users eliminates legal liability and personal risk, while saving time and money.
- Vayeron – Mackay
An industrial IoT company which has developed the Smart-Idler – a sensor technology for monitoring and predicting conveyor roller failure in high capacity, time critical bulk materials handling conveyors used in mines, ports and processing plants.
- XDR – Ipswich
Designs, manufactures and sells fast, agile, safe and powerful onshore oil and gas well workover rigs. Coupled with its patented Power Drill Snub and Hands Free Systems, the XDR range of oilfield products is changing the way workover is conducted and significantly reducing the costs of well servicing.
Four of the companies selected for Igniting METs participated in the regional workshops in Mackay and Toowoomba, with Vayeron and Quick Safety winning pitch competitions during the events.
The companies will travel to Brisbane over the 12-weeks to participate in deep-dive workshops and receive mentoring and support from industry leaders, entrepreneurs and subject matter experts delivered by the team behind the successful KPMG Energise accelerator. They will receive financial, marketing, commercial and technical advice to commercialise their products and services and gain additional traction in the mining sectors.
KPMG Australia’s Igniting METS Accelerator programme director Ashley Brown said that the end goal was to create businesses that would bring jobs and growth to their local area and drive innovation into the sector:
"There are massive opportunities for new technologies within Australia’s AU$236bn mining and METS sector.
"Past start-ups have graduated KPMG Energise programs and gone on to win millions of dollars of business, as well as closing major funding rounds. This has led to new jobs and opportunities within these companies’ communities as well as contributing to the competitiveness and sustainability of the Australia resources sector. By helping scale startups from regional Australia, we hope to help create high value jobs and help economic growth, from Toowoomba to the Whitsundays and beyond."
The Igniting METS Accelerator, powered by KPMG Energise
- A 12-week programme for up to eight late-stage startups and SMEs targeting Australia’s Mining Sector
- No fees or equity required from participants
- Taking place at KPMG Brisbane offices for one day a week during the 12-week programme