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Engine Shop Induction

as we explore the fundraising process, the dynamics between investors and startups, and what is takes to catch the eye of investors.

 who will unpack the investment process from both a founder and VC perspective and walk us through Aquila's $3M Seed round. 

After the event, there will be a chance to network with the best and brightest in the Australian space community.

Space Hub Connect

 online workshop to explore the key strategies to foster successful collaboration and drive innovation forward.

In this session, CSIRO, Australia's national science agency and leading innovation catalyst, will help you 

map out a clear pathway to success for your business through the exciting world of research and development (R&D) collaboration.

Led by CSIRO's Kick-Start team, this workshop will offer valuable insights into:

Learn from an esteemed expert panel, including two of the 23 part of 

Additionally, you'll gain insights from CSIRO SME Collaboration Manager, 

, and CSIRO Manufacturing and Native Secrets project lead,  

, as they share their first-hand experiences in facilitating R&D partnerships, collaborating with SMEs and inspiring success stories that have transformed businesses.

Don't miss the opportunity to connect with this expert panel, unlock the potential of R&D collaboration, and learn more about the pathways to success with the CSIRO SME Connect team.

Anna Tao, Executive Manager, Company Creation for CSIRO

Anna manages and leads the curation and development of market-led science ventures with industry, investors, and entrepreneurs. Anna has extensive experience in research commercialisation across food, agriculture, energy, and advanced manufacturing. Anna holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and Economics and a MBA from Melbourne Business School.

Brendan Ryan, General Manager at Native Secrets 

Brendan, who holds an M.Sc and an MBA, is originally from New Zealand. He has a diverse background in agriculture, science, finance, and consulting and has been working as the General Manager of the Native Secrets Australia Group for the last two years. The group has several divisions, including land and biodiversity offset management, manufacturing, research, cosmetics & treatments, business consulting, community liaison, and conducting cultural immersion training and experiences.

Dr. Monika Szabo, CSIRO SME Collaboration Manager

Dr Monika Szabo is a SME Collaboration Manager within SME Connect at CSIRO. Monika’s role is to help strategically drive engagement of SMEs with publicly funded R&D through interactions with internal and external stakeholders, investigating gaps in our ecosystem and managing pilot programs and tools. Monika also manages CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow, an online program for SMEs to understand the value of R&D and how to engage with CSIRO and/or other Australian universities.

Dr. Peter Duggan, CSIRO Manufacturing and Native Secrets project lead

Peter Duggan is Senior Principal Research Scientist at the CSIRO and Adjunct Professor in the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University. Peter oversees the CSIRO’s Botanical Extracts Laboratory in which research with local companies is undertaken, including the analysis, processing, refinement and formulation of plant extracts, and the synthesis of phytochemicals. The laboratory has a special focus on phytocannabinoids, psychedelics and the ethical development of plant-derived medicines of importance to First Nations People.

CSIRO Online Workshop - Connecting the Dots: A Pathway to Collaboration for R&D Success

After a while, it's time to bring the Cicada community back together at BrewDog to catch up and meet new residents.

Community Drinks at BrewDog 

The end of the financial year is an important and busy time for for startups, would a well-timed "Radium Advance" benefit your business?

Join us for a Lunch & Learn session, hosted by 

, to explore simpler ways to access the money you are owed faster.

As a non-dilutionary cash injection, Radium Advances can help smooth cash flow, give R&D projects a boost, or kick-start your FY24 plans.

 will be on hand to discuss funding at this important time of year, and further explain how non-dilutionary funding can be utilised throughout your R&D projects.

EOFY and R&D Funding - Lunch & Learn w/ Radium Capital

Climate Tech Elevate

 as we explore the intersections of the space and health tech industries.  

The fusion of space and health industries has unlocked the potential to improve and find solutions to global health issues. With satellites monitoring air quality, remote medical diagnosis, and 3D printing generating medical devices for space, the possibilities to transform our future are endless.

Join us for an evening with the Australian space and health tech communities - to unpack how space innovations solve urgent health issues and discover how local entrepreneurs grow their businesses by playing across both industries.

Dr Katja Beitat, Cicada's Head of Health tech, and Julie Autuly, Head of Space Tech, will be in conversation with: 

We are bringing together founders, experts and key stakeholders across the space, defence and health sectors to collaborate, connect, and share knowledge and opportunities.

Mr Grosser has over 25 years’ experience in the health technology industry working across Engineering, Management and R&D at firms such as Cochlear, Micromedical and the Henry Schein group. 

23 Strands is utilising whole genome sequencing and Artificial Intelligence to unlock the power of your genetic code. Since 2018, the company has developed a proven capability to deliver genome-wide DNA sequencing data to allow a more accurate understanding of complex diseases and to facilitate improvements in patient care.

Dr. Chou is a pioneering world leader in space biology and healthcare development and technologies, and is passionate about disrupting human healthcare and pushing the boundaries of science. He is a committee member of the Australian Space Agency Space Medicine and Life Science group and is a research group leader at the University of Technology Sydney. 

EXPLOR is the only simulated microgravity device available dedicated for biological and pharmaceutical applications.

Dr. Ax is a passionate German doctor and researcher with a double-specialization in dry eye and ocular surface diseases and space exploration. After graduating Medical School in Münster in 2020, he joined Beyond700, where he has been involved in clinical trials in Germany, Hong Kong and Mexico. Currently he is a PhD student at Western Sydney University and has been a Project Leader for “Tears in Heaven” at DLR Parabolic Flight Campaign in Bordeaux.

Space Hub x Health Connect 2023

We are excited to have you in our Space Elevate program. Here's what you need to know and complete to prepare for the workshops.

We are looking forward to having you with us, 

Space Elevate 

Join us from anywhere for this special online event to celebrate the achievements of Tech23 alumni and the opportunity for Australia's deep tech ecosystem. 

 is an alumni of both Cicada and Tech23 (2017). Its founder and CEO, 

, is one of the radical innovators joining us on this special online conversation with Cicada CEO, Sally-Ann Williams, as we reflect on her deep tech journey building a global deep tech company that is enabling regenerative agricultural practices across the globe.

, Australia's biggest deep tech festival.

Dr. Anastasia Volkova is the CEO and Co-Founder of Regrow Ag, an award-winning company that empowers climate action through regenerative agriculture.  She is a recognized thought leader and innovator in regenerative agriculture and sustainable food sourcing and has more than 10 years of experience in academia, business, and startups. 

Dr. Volkova has nurtured Regrow into a global company that empowers some of the world’s largest brands (Kellogg’s, Cargill, and General Mills, among others) to reduce GHG emissions across their supply chains and combat climate change through food production. 

She’s a member of the Forbes Technology Council, a TEDx Speaker, one of MIT’s “35 Under 35” Innovators (2020), one of BBC’s “Top 100 Women” (2020) and one of Top 100 Australian Innovators (2021 and 2022). Most recently Anastasia was named one of the 2022 Bloomberg New Economy Catalysts.

Regrow is an enterprise SaaS company that empowers the food and agriculture industries to adopt, scale and monetize resilient agricultural practices. 

Regrow Ag has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the 

 for 2023. The climate-focused software company has earned the standing of No. 41 on the 2023 World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies list as well as No. 1 in the Agriculture category. It offers the most scientifically robust 

Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) software for agriculture

 (which was included in the Fast Company 

 for “World Changing Ideas”), in addition to a 

 platform that enables companies — for the first time — to accurately quantify soil carbon and greenhouse emissions (GHG) baselines and reductions

Cicada x Tech23 National Online Event - Regrow

Mastering the world of hardware can be tough, and it's no surprise why. Many startups have faced setbacks because they couldn't handle the complexities of manufacturing and supply chains when it’s time to bring a physical product to market at scale.

Successfully integrating highly technical hardware businesses into supply chains is now vital for improving efficiency, cutting costs, and fostering innovation. However, entering an established supply chain and finding your spot is far from simple.

Join our next Hardware Connect to unpack this together 

Come along and discover how understanding this complexity can be your compass to navigate the challenging seas of new product launches and scale your hardware business to success. 

Join us for our series of Hardware Connect events, hosted at Cicada Innovations. Immerse yourself in Sydney's hardware startup community while listening to experts' viewpoints and connecting with key people across the sector.

An event for the Sydney hardware startup community hosted by hardware entrepreneurs.

Hardware Connect 2023

Are you working on a sensor technology and ready to take it to the next level? 

 workshop in the Engine Shop exclusive for Cicada residents

This is your chance to ask all your questions on the technical challenges you are facing while building your technology and get practical support to move forward.

Due to the Engine Shop capacity, spots are limited to 10 people. 

Workshop - Scaling your sensor technology

Are you a part of the bio, med, or health tech world, with your sights set on expanding to the USA or collaborating with American teams and partners?

 We've tailored this Health Tech Connect for you.

This event is your pass to a behind-the-scenes chat where industry peers will open up about their personal experiences and proven strategies, when navigating both the American and Australian health ecosystems, helping you avoid common obstacles.

Katja Beitat, Cicada's Head of Health Tech, in a conversation with Eric Davis, Senior Health Executive, and Maryam Parvitz, CEO and Co-founder at SDIP

, exploring the real trial and tribulations when crisscrossing the two countries.

There's nothing quite like learning from lived experiences, and we're here to unveil the strategies—both official and unofficial—that have proven to be game-changers for our guests and many others in these ecosystems.

Eric Davis - Senior Health Executive with global marketing and commercialisation experience with Abbott, Cochlear, Johnson & Johnson

Eric Davis is a "Blue Ocean Strategy" marketing innovation leader -an "energiser" and "connector" - with three decades of experience in healthcare, with a particular focus on intrepreneurship in big medical device companies, especially relating to the incubation and commercialisation of new products. 

Most recently, Eric was Division Vice President of Abbott's Rapid Diagnostics business unit which was the global leader COVID-19 testing.  In prior lives, Eric led Commercial Innovation for Abbott Diabetes Care, responsible for the definition and upstream commercial planning for Freestyle Libre, and was Vice President of Global Portfolio Strategy at Cochlear in Sydney.  Eric is an Australian Permanent Resident via the Distinguished Talent Program for Innovation, and is brainstorming ideas to come back to Australia to make an impact in the medical products start-up world.

Maryam Parvitz, CEO and Co-founder at SDIP

Dr Maryam Parviz is the co-founder and CEO at “SDIP Innovations” with more than 12 years’ experience in the Biomaterial field. She received BSc and MSc degree in Biomedical Engineering from Tehran Polytechnic. Maryam received her PhD on implantable electrodes from the University of New South Wales in Australia sponsored by one of the most prestigious Australian scholarships, UIPA. 

She has been trained on commercialisation of medical devices and worked with medical device startups on research translation before founding SDIP in 2018. Since then Maryam has contributed in securing angel and grant investments, development of new JAZBI`s formula and designs, the establishment of the company QA system and the formation of the expert team on the business and clinical sides who can take JAZBI products to surgeon`s hand. In 2019, Maryam and her co-founder were awarded $1M (AUD) by NSW Health- QB3/UCSF Rosenman to operate SDIP Innovations from San Francisco with the vision of providing improved patient outcomes globally and reserving the hospital capacities for emergencies and essential operations.

Come and join us for an evening at Cicada Innovations and an opportunity to connect with founders, funders and industry.

Health Tech Connect - How to successfully navigate the US and Australian health ecosystem

Save the dates for our monthly Women's lunches at Cicada!

​We host these monthly lunches to bring together the women residents of Cicada. We want this to be an opportunity to connect with Cicada's hugely diverse women's community and build your network.

​Occasionally, we'll invite guest experts to dive into specific topics.

​If you'd like to attend, please RSVP. We are ordering lunch, so we would like to know the numbers.

Women's Lunch 

The hardware lunch brings together the Cicada hardware community. 

This is a place to discuss challenges and share advice around things like:

We'll be providing lunch, please click attending for catering numbers.

Hardware Lunch - 2023

Save the date, World Pride 2023 is coming to Cicada! 

Let's bring the Cicada community back together and celebrate Mardi Gras with Bingo, cocktails, food, music, and some surprises in the Atrium.

​The festivities will kick off from 4:00pm.

Mardi Gras Community Party

Join us for an evening of celebrations to mark the first anniversary of the National Space Industry Hub.

Discover how space entrepreneurs are transforming their industry, learn about the new collaborations formed across the ecosystem, and hear from leaders on the opportunities for adjacent sectors to join the space race.

We'll also celebrate and learn more about the groundbreaking technologies of 

, and other space ventures at the National Space Industry Hub.

 will be joining us for this special occasion. Represented by the UK Government, the UK Space Agency, and executives from 29 UK space companies, this will be a unique opportunity to create international space relationships and facilitate collaboration between the UK and Australia.

National Space Industry Hub Expo 2023

The aim of the C-suite events is to create greater connectivity across leadership teams in the building. Your businesses are unique, but there are lots of common challenges you all face growing a company. We want this to be a forum to share those challenges, and hopefully find solutions through helping one another with advice, resources and contacts.

​On occasions we'll invite guest experts to deep dive on specific topics.

​If you'd like to attend please RSVP to the calendar invite. We are ordering lunch so would like to know the numbers. 

C-Suite Lunch 2023

Join us for this online masterclass on analysing geospatial datasets with cloud tooling delivered by Mahesh Kandhare, Data & AI Cloud Solution Architect at 

The masterclass will expand on the foundational overview covered in the online seminar hosted on the 31st of January: Building and scaling your geospatial analytics solution. You will deep dive into the architectures for storing, processing and visualising geospatial data. 

The masterclass will include hands-on lab sessions delivered as demos to demonstrate accessing and transforming geospatial datasets, use of tools and libraries such as geopandas and Power BI. It will be an opportunity for you to ask questions and get hands-on with data and the analytics tooling.

 Suitable for startups and organisations looking to utilise geospatial data, and deep dive on the technology tooling to access and transform data sets.

We look forward to seeing you in the masterclass.

Online Masterclass: Analysing geospatial datasets in a cloud analytics pipeline

 is a 2 day workshop and online course designed and delivered by experts at 

, to help deep tech startups take their business to the next level on the commercialisation journey.

The virtual floor will also be open for you to ask all your burning questions.

You'll hear from Cicada's Head of Deep Tech, Hebbat Manhy, our Program Coordinator, Hela Zargouni, and a representative of the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer.

NSW Deep Tech Program - Info Session

Join us for a unique online seminar on geospatial analytics at scale using powerful cloud capabilities. 

The session will provide use cases and real-world applications including a demo. It will be delivered by the 

We’ll follow up this session with a deep-dive masterclass on 14 February 2023 for those looking for specialist data and implementation details.

The seminar will be valuable to startups and businesses looking to utilise or commercialise geospatial data, project management and data roles, and anyone interested in space borne data analytics and extracting maximum insights.

Microsoft Online seminar: Geospatial Analytics at scale

It's time to celebrate the beginning of the festive period and the end of another big year with the Cicada Community.

Let’s celebrate the end of 2022 and welcome the festive period with team trivia, cocktails, food, and music in the Atrium.

The festivities will kick off from 4:00pm.

SAVE THE DATE: Cicada Christmas Party

Save the date in your calendar, last Women's Lunch of the year!

with a yoga teacher from Egg of the Universe! 

We host these monthly lunches to bring together the women residents of Cicada. We want this to be an opportunity to connect with the hugely diverse women's community of Cicada, and build your network.

Occasionally, we'll invite guest experts to dive into specific topics.

If you'd like to attend, please RSVP. We are ordering lunch so would like to know the numbers. 

Women's Lunch

An event for the Sydney hardware startup community hosted by hardware entrepreneurs and engineers.

Hardware Connect of the year at Cicada Innovations

 as we discuss the keys to a successful process from prototype to production and listen to the viewpoints, challenges, and lessons learnt from entrepreneurs and industry experts.

Taking a hardware product from prototype to production is a long, challenging, and expensive process that impacts and requires a transformation in every startup area. To understand how to prepare for production and choose the right partners throughout the journey, we are convening a panel discussion with an entrepreneur that is scaling right now, a startup that has successfully crossed the chasm to join the world of full-scale production, and two industry experts.

Hebbat Manhy, Cicada's Head of Tech, will lead the conversation, joined by: 

This event is hosted by Cicada Innovations 

Hardware Connect 

Join us for our last Space Hub Connect of the year at Cicada Innovations!

Moderated by our Space-Expert-in-Residence 

, and through the viewpoints and lessons of two successful space entrepreneurs and key players, we'll learn diverse pathways to building a space business, explore the rising career opportunities in the Australian Space industry, and discuss opportunities in the sector for future workforce in the startup world. 

Annie works in product management, policy and innovation for 

, an Australian space start up which does space-based imaging and on-orbit inspection.

She also works as an Associate Lecturer for the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Science, is on the Advisory Council for the Space Industry Association of Australia, and is a member of the Space Generation Advisory Council ‘Ethics and Human Rights in Space’ Project Group and the Space Law Council of Australia and New Zealand. In addition, Annie is a program consultant to the 

, and is also the host and creator of the Space Junk Podcast.

, developing advanced space robotics in Australia to help humans explore space. Prior to this, he led software product development as Head of Engineering & Product at Atlassian, Australia’s first tech unicorn, for 15 years. 

Space Hub Connect - November 2022

We're bringing the community together for our first 'Health Tech Connect' event.

Join us for an evening with the Australian health tech ecosystem - to collaborate, reconnect, and share knowledge, and socialise with peers.

We'll kick off the Health Tech connect series, which aim to bring together Australia's health tech community, with a fireside chat with 

a Silicon Valley and Sydney-based company applying neuroscience into AI platforms and working on building assistive AI and robotic technology for the home. Right now, her assistive technology is being rolled out in Australia to some 10,000 people with disabilities – and their caregivers.

Join us as we discuss Liesl's journey as a serial entrepreneur creating technology breakthroughs with three past successes and deep dive into the U.S. and Australian entrepreneurial ecosystems.

After the fireside chat there will be an opportunity to reconnect and network with the health tech community.

Liesl Yearsley is the CEO of aKin, an AI company building assistive AI and robotic technology for the home.

aKin delivers robotic technology to NASA, is expanding rapidly in the disability sector, and will ultimately take on the 25 hour a week task of running the home, with its empathic AI and a range of intelligent devices. Prior to aKin, Yearsley was founder of Cognea, an AI platform which was acquired by IBM and now powers Watson. Prior to that, Yearsley was founder of a search engine company she took public. She has 4 patents in AI with over 600 citations. 

Cicada's Health Connect series aims to bring together Australia's health tech community to meet with key players in the ecosystem, share knowledge and opportunities, and listen to guest experts.

THE EVENT IS SPONSORED BY TECH CENTRAL, AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER INNOVATION DISTRICT.

​It brings together six neighbourhoods in Sydney which are already home to some of Australia’s most exciting startups and innovative institutions. The NSW Government is working collaboratively to catalyse this innovation ecosystem – Tech Central – connecting organisations to create a globally renowned community that pulses with inspiration and draws top tech talent from across the world to do their best work. Tech Central is on Gadigal country. 

​Keep up to date with Tech Central, Australia’s Innovation Engine on 

Health Tech Connect - November 2022

Hardware Lunch

On Wednesday, 19th October we will be opening our doors to give new deep tech startups the opportunity to tour our facilities, meet our team and connect with our resident innovators building amazing technologies at Cicada.

As part of the Open House, we'll organise Cicada's Community Drinks to bring the community together as we network and reconnect with Sydney's deep tech startup ecosystem. ​

Cicada Open House Community Drinks

 is an opportunity to tour our world-class facilities, meet our dedicated team of experts, and connect with our community of deep tech innovators. 

If you are deep tech startup transforming lives and industries through new technology and you are looking for:

On Wednesday 19th October we are throwing open our doors to Australia's most ambitious deep tech startups who want to find out what Cicada has to offer. 

Register your interest and tell us about your deep tech venture. 

, where you will have the chance to meet our startup residents and connect with Cicada's deep tech community.

 is the home of deep tech in Australia with a 22 year track record supporting deep tech ventures including; Canceraid, Invertigro, Morse Micro, Propeller, Regrow, SpeeDx. 

Our specialist incubator is award winning and dedicated to the unique needs of deep tech ventures. We offer affordable and flexible office and lab space, specialised facilities, tailored support, and a community of brilliant minds to help you grow.

Cicada Open House

​Save the date in your calendar for a new Women's Lunch!

​We host these monthly lunches to bring together the women residents of Cicada. We want this to be an opportunity to connect with the hugely diverse women's community of Cicada, and build your network.

​If you'd like to attend, please RSVP. We are ordering lunch so would like to know the numbers.

 as we discuss the current Space economic climate and what challenges and opportunities this presents for the sector.

Australia is shaping its future as a leading Space nation with record levels of public investment into the sector. To understand 

how this massive public funding boost is transforming the current landscape and impacting the private funding sector

, we are convening a panel of local investors to deep dive into the current funding landscape for Australian Space startups.  

Martin Duursma joined Main Sequence Ventures in June, 2017. Martin has over 25 years experience as a Senior Executive, Technologist, Business Founder, Angel Investor and Mentor both in Australia and the US. Prior to joining Main Sequence Martin was a senior executive with a range of global responsibilities at Citrix. 

Martin continues to be active as an angel investor as well as in various advisor and mentor roles at Macquarie University, Sydney University and ON, Australia’s national science technology accelerator and as board trustee at the Computer History Museum, CA USA. Martin holds a Bachelor of Computer Science and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Sydney University.

 (BSc, MBA), Commercialisation Facilitator at 

Tamara comes from a background of Quantum Physics and pursued business instead of a career in research. Whilst studying an MBA (Executive), she worked across academia (Sydney Nano Institute), Government (Ministry of Health) and Industry (Cochlear) and has found herself within the nexus between these tripartite capabilities. 

Tamara has grown networks across the Engineering, Science and Defence sectors in the role of Industry and Innovation Manager at the UNSW and has been committed to supporting startups from the academia space with offering consultancy and grant application support. She has recently completed a secondment with the Naval Shipbuilding College leading the Education and Training team. 

Ian is a senior executive with over 30 years’ experience and an excellent track record of results as a change agent. He has held senior executive roles in several large media organisations, recently as Managing Director, Telstra Television (35% owner of Foxtel).

Over the last seven years, Ian has been increasingly involved with tech start-ups – as mentor/advisor and angel investor. Ian is also a mentor in our 

and has a portfolio of 16 companies, of which he is on the Board of 5. Currently, Ian splits his time between his start-up activities, investing in and advising young tech companies, including his 5 NED roles.

i4 Connect is a startup and commercialisation practice providing advice and guidance to entrepreneurs via the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme. Empowering entrepreneurs to build the businesses of tomorrow, it delivers the Entrepreneurs’ Programme Accelerating Commercialisation service nationally.

Its team of 26 facilitators have real-world business and entrepreneurial knowledge along with the skills to help founders on their commercialisation journey through to first sales and beyond.

Leveraging their own start-up experiences, networks and contacts to help grantees, i4 Connect guides each applicant down the pathway to receive up to $1m in matched funding grant support. Over the past two years, i4 Connect has helped over 100 start-ups in a wide range of cutting-edge technologies with global market potential, helping them secure over $60m in grant funding. 

Space Hub Connect - September 2022

Space Elevate is a series of workshops for Australian researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs looking to develop a space-tech idea into a business.

You'll hear from Cicada's Head of Space Tech, Julie Autuly, our Space Expert in Residence, Tim Parsons, our CEO Sally-Ann Williams, and a member of the National Space Industry Hub.

Sian Priest

Events

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