Australia’s inaugural AI Sprint has awarded a total of $500,000 in funding to three Aussie artificial intelligence (AI) companies to help them launch their AI-powered prototypes to market.
A collaboration between the National AI Centre, Australia’s largest innovation community Stone & Chalk, and Google Cloud, Australia’s AI sprint aims to recognise and support Australian talent who are creating innovations in the AI space.
Chosen from over 190 participating start-ups, the winning prototypes are:
- Dragonfly Thinking’s complex decision navigator, which enables users to analyse problems from different angles to provide users with clear insights to enhance decision-making.
- Kindship’s NDIS guidance system Barb, which offers instant advice on budgeting, provider selection, and therapy options; and
- Empathetic AI’s tax co-pilot Luna, which provides scenario analysis, real-time ATO private ruling updates, and automated legislation reference checks.
Winner Dragonfly Thinking will be awarded $300,000 worth of research and development support from a leading Australian research institution and facilitation services from CSIRO’s SME Connect, while Kindship and Empathetic AI will each receive $100,000 worth of support. The winners will also be eligible for a range of support services from Stone & Chalk to help them secure the essential capital, customers, expertise and talent for the most successful launch of their business.
National AI Centre Director Stela Solar said Dragonfly Thinking, Kindship and Empathetic AI had demonstrated remarkable potential to solve a critical market need.
“They were chosen for their ability to scale an innovative, responsible, and competitive AI business in today’s market,” Solar said. “They all have exceptionally bright futures ahead of them, and we’re proud to have provided the opportunity to help them transform their AI concepts into real-world impact.”
CEO of Stone & Chalk Group, Chris Kirk, said that the AI Sprint demonstrated Australia’s commitment to nurturing a thriving and successful AI industry.
“The AI Sprint has been an incredible initiative that will undoubtedly propel Australia’s AI ecosystem forward,” Kirk said. “By bringing together the brightest minds, innovative ideas and cutting-edge resources, we have fostered an environment ripe for groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence.”
Michael Langford, Head of VC & Startup Ecosystem JAPAC, Google Cloud, said the calibre of participating teams had been truly impressive, and he was excited to see their solutions showcased.
“Google Cloud is proud to support the AI Sprint, fostering innovation and empowering startups to build a stronger digital future by addressing critical national challenges through AI,” Langford said.
