Suppliers

Kirk Drage is CEO and co-founder of LeapSheep which offers a personalised support for global innovators. Kirk and his co-founder Kathryn Heaton started LeapSheep in 2016 and have worked with over 200 start-up companies over the last 6 years. Their team has grown to 12 who are based in Australia, US and Thailand, including 5 professional business building advisers who use a world class globally researched methodology to provide mentoring to start-up and established business founders.

Kirk’s career has been driven by 3 keen interests: science and technology, global business models, and human psychology. Kirk spent 12 years with Microsoft, ultimately based in Singapore as head of entrepreneurship and venture capital relations for the Asia Pacific managing a team responsible for a portfolio of 20 innovation centres and 8,000 start-ups across the region. In addition Kirk is the inaugural entrepreneur-in-residence for Innovation and Collaboration Centre at the University of South Australia leading the Space Industry Incubation program. Current board member for the South Australian Not-For-Profit, Women in Innovation. Former advisory board member for science and industry at Flinders University. Former inaugural entrepreneur-in-residence for the City of Adelaide.

LeapSheep (as part of its subscription based Start-up and Business Builder service provide a dedicated business building adviser who will support you with:

• strategic advice to support strategic decisions, priority setting and drive accountability in the execution of your business roadmap

• professional development planning to take on the expanding business responsibilities accompanying growth

• counselling to build emotional resilience and the courage to lead
• personalised education sessions based on world class best practice that focuses on your unique journey as a start-up founder

• leadership workshops where you will learn how to build your business along with other start-up founders from a wide range of sectors and engage in productive peer learning and interactions

• client support who will help you with any queries you have in relation to the sessions you have attended and review your progress outside of the contact time you have with our advisers

• scheduling will work with you to schedule the sessions each month in a rhythm that suits your availability

• targeted introductions to partners, potential customers and investors.

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.

Startup founder, investor, board chair / director, executive.

Services:

• opportunity evaluation
• lean start-up
• customer discovery
• business model validation
• structuring and formation
• business growth services
• board and governance
• due diligence preparation
• valuation investment and exit.

As per my LinkedIn and deanalle.com, I work on a Karma basis. For selected entrepreneurs who I think are capable of executing their business plan, I will provide assistance at no cost, up to 10 hours.

Structuring, marketing, product market fit, organisation structure, and people. Advisory services assisting early stage business to grow.

DNA Innovation has had wide and varied experience in founding, growing, managing and selling several businesses in Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe and Southeast Asia across multiple industry sectors. Doug has also good experience as an investment professional, with seed and early stage VC investment funds, as well as several angel investments. 

DNA Innovation also has expertise in business and organisational structures and developing products fit for market.

DNA Innovation offers very deep networks to aid businesses in their growth.

True Blue IT Services is a leading Darwin-based IT company that offers high-quality IT solutions and services to businesses and individuals across the Northern Territory. With years of experience in the local IT industry, our team of qualified and experienced professionals is committed to delivering reliable, cost-effective, and innovative IT solutions that meet the individual needs of our clients.

Our services

At True Blue IT Services, we provide a wide range of IT services to help you manage your technology infrastructure and ensure that your business runs smoothly. Our services include:

24/7 IT support: Our team of experienced IT professionals is available to assist you with any IT-related issue, whether it's troubleshooting, system maintenance, software installation, or hardware repairs.

Cyber security services: We provide comprehensive cyber security services to keep your data safe and secure. Our services include penetration testing, security auditing, intrusion detection, and firewall management.

Cloud computing solutions: We offer a full range of cloud computing solutions, including private and public clouds, hybrid cloud, managed cloud, backup and disaster recovery services for businesses.

Microsoft 365 training services: We provide customized training across the suite of Microsoft programs, from beginner to advanced.

Web design services: Our experienced web design team will work with you to create a website that is tailored to your needs and goals.

Our offer to Ecosystem members

At True Blue IT Services, we understand the importance of innovation and digital transformation in today's business landscape. As a result, we are offering a free, no-obligation initial consultation (up to 2 hours) to members of the innovation ecosystem. During this consultation, we will assess your technology infrastructure, provide advice on how to optimize your systems, and offer recommendations on the best IT solutions to meet your business needs.

Whether you need help with hardware, software, networks, or any other IT-related issues, our experienced team of IT professionals is here to help. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and let us help you take your business to the next level.

Learn to turn stories into video games.

If you are looking to reach new audiences through the most popular creative medium in the world, Larrikin Interactive can offer strategic guidance as well as development pathways for your project. We consult on games, gamification and the space in between the 2.

Larrikin Interactive sits at the intersection of interactive media development, entrepreneurship and video game design education. Developing engaging and interactive games and learning experiences while supporting the digital game development community through education and upskilling.

Members of the innovation ecosystem receive the initial consultation for free!