Start-ups and small businesses are being invited to pitch their ideas for energy solutions to Origin. The company will select those who pitch the best ideas to work with them and trial or launch their idea under their new innovation program, Originate.
Origin are looking to harness the ideas of start-ups and innovators to drive the adoption of data and analytics in the energy sector, and to provide customers with cleaner and smarter solutions. They have gone into partnership with innovation hub Stone & Chalk – who brings start-ups together with potential corporate partners, investors and mentors – to run the Originate scheme and source innovators from outside the energy industry to bring new ideas into it.
“We have a long track record working with start-ups both in Australia and internationally, helping to foster ideas that capitalise on growing trends including the convergence of data and energy, growth in renewables, storage and green fuels,” Tony Lucas, Origin’s Executive General Manager of Future Energy & Technology, said.
“Over the past three years, we’ve reviewed more than 2500 start-ups and ideas, and know what we are looking for in terms of ideas that we can nurture and help to take that crucial next step.
“We’re a founding member of the global Free Electrons start-up accelerator program and have already commercialised ideas such as Origin Spike – our gamified demand response program developed with US start-up OhmConnect,” Lucas added.
Leveraging Australia’s rich heritage in innovation that has produced world-changing technology such as Wi-Fi, ultrasound and cochlear implants, Origin intend to tap into the local technology community for ideas on how to make energy easier, smarter and cleaner.
“The partnership between Origin and Stone & Chalk is a fantastic opportunity for both organisations to help shape the future of energy delivery in Australia,” Stone & Chalk General Manager for Sydney, Marie-Anne Lampotang, said. “We will be connecting our start-ups that offer a range of innovative solutions that can help innovate across Origin Energy’s technology stack.
“Stone & Chalk is focused on shaping the future of emerging tech sectors by catalysing the commercial success across our impact network and helping them on the next stage of their journey to scale their businesses,” Lampotang added.
