Suppliers

LeapSheep

Kirk Drage is CEO and co-founder of LeapSheep, a startup mentoring, coaching and education organisation that helps founders make better decisions under uncertainty.

Since founding LeapSheep in 2016 with Kathryn Heaton, Kirk and the LeapSheep team have supported more than 350 entrepreneurs and their teams through over 3,000 one-to-one mentoring sessions and 2,000 education workshops. LeapSheep works with founders across a wide range of industries, from early-stage innovators exploring new opportunities through to established businesses pursuing growth and commercialisation.

Kirk's approach combines business strategy, innovation, technology and human psychology to help founders identify risks earlier, validate assumptions faster and focus on the activities most likely to create sustainable outcomes.

Prior to LeapSheep, Kirk spent 12 years with Microsoft, including leading entrepreneurship and venture capital relationships across Asia Pacific. He managed a regional portfolio of startup and innovation programs supporting thousands of entrepreneurs and innovation stakeholders across the region.

As an Innovation Adviser, Kirk works with founders to:

1. Validate opportunities before significant time and money are invested.
2. Test business models, customer needs and commercial assumptions.
3. Conduct customer discovery and user research.
4. Assess product-market fit and commercialisation pathways.
5. Develop growth and execution strategies.
6. Build founder capability, confidence and decision-making skills.
7. Prepare for grants, investment and strategic partnerships.
8. Navigate uncertainty, prioritise effectively and maintain momentum. 

LeapSheep's philosophy is that success is not always about moving faster. In many cases, the greatest value comes from helping founders slow down, gather better evidence and make more informed decisions before committing resources. This often leads to stronger business models, clearer market opportunities and better use of founder, investor and government funding.

Through mentoring, coaching and practical education, founders receive personalised support tailored to their stage of development, challenges and goals.

Amie Prentice is the founder and principal of Tribe Business Advisory, a boutique accounting and business advisory firm based in Darwin, Norther Territory. Tribe Business Advisory offers a range of professional services including:

• financial modelling
• business planning
• strategic planning
• business case development
• financial modelling
• budgeting, costing and financial forecasting
• finance function advisory for small to medium enterprises
• virtual CFO specialisation for start-ups, family groups and not-for-profits
• corporate governance
• financial and management reporting
• reporting to boards
• accounting and tax compliance
• tax structuring and business tax advice.

Tribe Business Advisory's service offerings are tailored to suit small to medium enterprises, not-for-profits and Aboriginal businesses, including those in the innovation ecosystem.

We base our services on a partnership approach, complementing business owners’ skills by bringing practical and solid finance accounting and business planning principles to the equation. We aim to work with our clients as trusted advisors, working side-by-side with our clients organisations towards achieving success in achieving their goals, be it to improve profitability, growth or making a positive impact on their communities through service delivery. We work with businesses, families and organisations that care about relationships, value trust and loyalty and know that we offer more than your typical accounting firm.

As a boutique accounting and advisory practice with a focus on local service delivery, we are open to working with clients for reduced fees in order for funds to be reinvested back into the growth and development of the client's business if they promote and further the economic development of northern Australia.

Translating ideas into commercial ready products and services.

I hold an MBA from the University of Adelaide and have worked with dozens of start ups and scale ups through my roles at the Australia Centre for Business Growth and SBE Australia. I started and scaled my own company in the US (sold to investors in 2018), so I have a deep understanding of the start up journey and empathy for founders. I believe that innovation will change the world for the better, and I love working with purpose driven entrepreneurs to translate ideas into action and purpose into profits.

My specialties are:

• translating ideas into commercial ready products and services
• scale up strategy
• investor readiness
• leadership development
• building teams, and
• governance.

I can provide:

• mentoring
• advisory 
• project based consulting
• serve on advisory boards

Depending on the entrepreneur's needs my availability can be negotiated. I can offer Territory ecosystem members discount on my standard fee structure plus a bonus coaching session.

With 25 years experience delivering ICT solutions and support, Benjamin has worked across a range of industries. Benjamin’s experience involves reviewing existing operations, establishing start-ups, providing digital strategy consultancies, assessing and implementing new technologies, migrating and consolidating disparate IT infrastructures and developing digital solutions from either the combination of existing off-the-shelf products or development from the ground up.

Personal strengths include leadership and management of personnel, high-level attention to detail and a strong ability to solve and overcome complex problems.

Benjamin is an ICT certified professional as recognised by the Australian Computer Society.

Key competencies and skills

• Business development
• Project management
• Business requirement analysis
• Digital solution development and management
• Strategic planning
• Talent identification acquisition
• Proposal development and tender responses
• Account management
• Financial management
• Ease of collaboration with operational staff through to the executive.

Industry awards

• 2021 - Good Design Award Australia - NightKey Biometric Identity Management
• 2018 - SA/NT iAward - Public Sector and Government Project of the Year, Research and Development Project of the Year (Music Solution)
• 2017 - NT Chief Minister’s Award - Innovation (Police Watchhouse)
• 2017 - ACS Digital Disruptor - Gold Award (Police Watchhouse)
• 2016 - National iAward Winner – Public Sector and Government Project of the Year, Infrastructure Platform of the Year (Police Watchhouse)
• 2014 - AIPM ICT Project of the Year - Northern Territory (NT) Government Windows 7 Desktop Upgrade

Key achievements

Solution development and management of the following:

• NightKey - biometric identity management solution for the licenced hospitality sector
• Forensic Face - use of facial recognition algorithms to identify decomposing or bare skulls against photographs
• Police Watchhouse - identity management solution to quickly identify persons of interest, upon arrest, using facial recognition rather than fingerprinting
• NeoFusion - the ability for law enforcement to identify a person of interest, in the field, by using either finger or face
• Music Solution - the provision of a secure content delivery platform for Correctional Services to allow prisoners to purchase music
• increased business activity over 3 years by $30 million by securing managed services, biometric and panel contracts for delivery to NT Government.

Successful planning, coordination and on-time delivery of the following projects for the establishment of IT services at the brand-new ASC Shipyard complex and MSC Training Facility in Osborne, SA:

• office services (multifunction printing devices, facsimile, scan to email / workflow)
• audio visual (tele and video conferencing, presentations, executive board room fit out)
• shipyard mobilisation (relocation of services, assets and staff to new shipyard facility)
• network services (wired and wireless networking and related configuration requirements)
• telephony (Cisco VoIP, digital radios)
• standard operating environment (SOE for the ASC Shipyard and configuration of software)
• miscellaneous facilities requirements (fibre reticulation, security systems, building management system, server room and communication room requirements).

Professional IT Solutions will provide a free, no obligation initial consultation (up to 2 hours) to innovation ecosystem members, which will lead through to either a formal proposal or referral to other industry stakeholders.

True Blue IT Services

True Blue IT Services is a Darwin-based technology company providing professional IT, cloud, cybersecurity, software development, and digital transformation solutions to businesses, government agencies, not-for-profit organisations, and startups across the Northern Territory.

Our experienced team helps organisations leverage technology to improve productivity, security, and business growth through practical, cost-effective, and locally supported solutions. We are committed to delivering reliable services and building long-term partnerships with our clients.

Our services

True Blue IT Services provides a comprehensive range of technology solutions designed to support businesses at every stage of their digital journey. Our services include:

Managed IT Support: Responsive onsite and remote IT support, proactive monitoring, maintenance, troubleshooting, and technology management.

Cyber Security Services: Cyber security assessments, Microsoft security solutions, endpoint protection, email security, backup and disaster recovery, and security awareness guidance.

Cloud & Microsoft 365 Solutions: Microsoft 365 licensing, migrations, SharePoint, Teams, AWS cloud infrastructure, cloud backup, and ongoing management.

Website Design & Development: Professional business websites, eCommerce platforms, website hosting, maintenance, and search engine optimisation.

Custom Software & App Development: Web applications, mobile apps, business automation tools, CRM integrations, and custom software solutions.

Digital Marketing Services: Search engine optimisation (SEO), social media marketing, digital advertising, content creation, and business growth strategies.

AI & Business Automation: AI-powered solutions, workflow automation, customer engagement tools, and productivity enhancement technologies.

Our offer to Ecosystem members

True Blue IT Services is passionate about supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and business growth in the Northern Territory.

We offer Innovation Territory ecosystem members:

• Complimentary initial technology consultation (up to 1 hour)
• Special pricing for startups and early-stage businesses
• Advice on digital transformation, automation, cybersecurity, and cloud adoption
• Guidance on website, software, and technology project planning
• Access to local technical expertise and ongoing support

Our goal is to help innovative businesses leverage technology effectively, scale confidently, and achieve sustainable growth.

Contact details

Name: Rifat Mahmud

Phone: (08) 8943 0602

Email: rifat.mahmud@trueblueit.com.au

Address: 77 Cavenagh Street, Darwin City NT 0800

True Blue IT Services — https://www.trueblueit.com.au 

True Blue Portfolio — https://www.truebluesoftware.com.au 

True Blue Connect CRM — https://trueblueconnect.com/