Main Sequence

It’s no secret that robotics can play a transformative role across all industry sectors. 🤖 The robotics industry in Australia is in a growth phase, and at Main Sequence, we believe Australia has a huge opportunity to be a global leader. Over the past 7 years, we’ve invested $90M across 9 innovative companies, spanning sensing and systems, computer vision, and robotics-as-a-service. 🇦🇺Why Australia? • We rank in the Top 10 globally in robotics research • We have several world-class centres: CSIRO’s QCAT, QUT (Queensland University of Technology)’s Centre for Robotics, University of Sydney’s ACFR, University of Adelaide’s AIML, and ARIAM Research Hub • We have unmatched expertise in UAVs, sensors, computer vision AI, autonomy, and field robotics 🔍Key lessons from our journey for startups looking to build in this space: 1️⃣ Customer focus: • Narrow focus initially • Deeply understand the problem you're solving • Build your moat in data, algorithms, and operational integration 2️⃣ Business model: • Align with customer buying preferences • Identify additional value streams • Consider trusted partnerships 3️⃣ Product development: • Continuously reduce hardware cost and complexity • Incorporate experienced manufacturing into R&D • Master supply chain management Reach out to Mike Zimmerman to learn more. 👀 #RoboticsInvestment #AustralianInnovation

Today, Cut Through Venture released its Q3 report, sharing insights into the challenges and growth areas in Australia’s funding landscape. Our very own Phil Morle was a guest contributor to the latest report, delving into the Australian opportunity in deep tech. His key takeaways include: 🔄Remember the life cycles of deep tech🔄  Deep tech startups are expensive and time-intensive but this is what venture capital was invented for. Deep tech ventures can be exponential in their real-world impact. 🌏Deep tech is everywhere🌏  It’s not just about robots and quantum computing. Deep tech involves everything from AI and advanced materials to biotechnology, and it is infiltrating every sector imaginable — from agriculture to climate and health. 🦘Australia’s advantage🦘  Our deep tech ecosystem is uniquely placed to meet the challenges that come with a changing climate and rapid technological advancements. Our world-leading research and engineering talent and close bonds with the US and Asia put us in a strong position to grow our capabilities. #Startups #DeepTech #VentureCapital

This just in: Cauldron Ferm is launching the first and largest end-to-end precision fermentation facility in APAC! Located in Mackay, this automated powerhouse will leverage Cauldron's hyper-fermentation technology, significantly reducing costs compared to traditional production methods for food, animal feed, fibre and fuel. With an anticipated annual output of 1,000 tonnes, this facility will serve sectors ranging from food and nutrition to beauty, personal care, chemicals, and biofuels. Pictured is the Cauldron team on-site at what will be the new facility in QLD. Congratulations on redefining the scope of #biomanufacturing! #DeepTech #BioTech

We know what it’s like to raise capital as a founder, and often the opaque focus of investors can make targeting or curating investors tricky. That’s why we’ve published our Humanity Scale Healthcare Thesis — so it’s clear about what we're on the lookout to invest in. We are on a mission to fund high impact medtech, healthtech and biotech research based startups that will decrease mortality and improve quality of life for millions of humans. Based on our domain expertise, we’re honing in on sectors like women’s health and femtech, ageing, autoimmune diseases, neurotech, as well as preventative and disruptive treatments. To help us reach humanity-scale healthcare, we’re already proud backers of our portcos including Coviu Global, Pending AI, Prospection, Inventia Life Science, Psylo and Cylite. Read the full blog for more on the ideas that excite us, and how we can help scale your vision. #DeepTech #HealthTech

Sneak peak into the lab of one of our portcos, Endua. 👀 Endua is Australia’s leading company developing advanced hydrogen electrolysis technologies. After three years of learning and research and development with CSIRO, Endua’s V2 Hydrogen PEM Electrolyser is a plug and play, power-to-gas solution designed for on-site generation of hydrogen. This is game-changing because the on-site production of hydrogen removes the challenges associated with transportation and bulk storage of hydrogen and protects against supply chain disruption. Expected to progress from prototype to production in 2025, Endua is imagining the renewable energy of the future. Watch this space! #DeepTech #Renewables

Last week, Ed Husic MP headed to Orange to visit one of our portcos, Cauldron Ferm, and tour its novel 25,000-litre demo facility. 🌏 Cauldron Ferm has recently been celebrated as a recipient of the government’s Industry Growth Program grant, which helps startups as they commercialise and scale their ideas. Cauldron’s passion for biomanufacturing is fuelled by over three decades of continuous R&D and 10+ years of hands-on experience in hyper-fermentation manufacturing. We’re proud to support the Cauldron Ferm as it charts the path for a brighter future for the biotech industry. #FutureMadeInAustralia #DeepTech

BluGlass Limited (ASX: BLG) has teamed up with the Semiconductor Sector Service Bureau (S3B) and ShareCafe to host the Semiconductor Australia Conference 2024 on 24 October. ✨ This one-day event in Sydney will spotlight some of Australia’s brightest innovators in the semiconductor, quantum, and photonics sectors. Mark Luo, CEO & Co-Founder at Quantum Brilliance, one of our portfolio companies, will be speaking at a panel about Australia's role in the quantum future. Our Partner, Mike Nicholls, is also running a semiconductor pitch competition for new startups in the sectors with local and international investors on the panel. Reach out to Mike to register your startup. Interested in participating in the conference? Find more details in the comments below.

One of the key focus areas at Main Sequence is investing in companies working towards building an equitable, quality healthcare system. 🌏 That’s why we’re proud to sponsor the Future Leader Award, as part of NSW Medical Research’s Commercialisation Training Program. The program helps to fast track novel medical devices, diagnostic/ therapeutic products and digital health solutions into the market. Last week, a ceremony was held for graduates of the program, with award winners,  ShanShan Wang, Danielle Fisher GAICD, and Veysel Kayser being celebrated for their contributions. #HealthTech #Startups #DeepTech

Quantum Brilliance has secured a strategic partnership with ParityQC to develop the world’s 1st mobile quantum computer by 2027. 💻 Quantum Brilliance continues to set itself apart from it’s global counterparts, with their cutting-edge technology thats paving the way for for defence, cybersecurity, and beyond. To read more about this project from Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit GmbH (Cyberagentur), check out the link in the comments. 👇 #QuantumComputing #TechInnovation #DeepTech

What is AI? Depending on who you ask, you will get a different answer. Danielle Haj-Moussa recently spoke with AI Australia Podcast about the importance of upskilling in #ArtificialItelligence. To find out more on why AI #upskilling is important for venture capital and beyond, listen to full episode in the comments below. 👇