Fremantle Seaweed

Harnessing the pristine waters of Western Australia, Fremantle Seaweed is growing the red seaweed, Asparagopsis, that has been proven by CSIRO to reduce climate change causing methane emissions from cattle and other ruminant livestock by 80%. We are taking positive climate action by supporting cattle farmers to reduce methane emissions. By growing Asparagopsis at scale in the ocean, we’re working with nature to move the dial on climate change.

Website: fremantleseaweed.com

Biotome

Perth-based Biotome has developed a breakthrough peptide technology that significantly outperforms current serology diagnostics. Our proprietary platform delivers superior accuracy with fewer false positives, all while leveraging existing lab infrastructure. Since 2017, we have established a strategic IP position in preparation for entry into the high-growth global diagnostics market. Our lead product, Helitope, offers non-invasive testing for gastric cancer risk – one of the world’s most prevalent and deadly cancers.

Website: biotome.com.au

Cytophenix Pty Ltd

Patients, and the doctors that treat them, need certainty that they are receiving the most appropriate antibiotic for their condition, and they can’t wait days to get it. At Cytophenix, we are passionate about developing innovative technological solutions to meet this need. Our mission is simple: provide doctors with the guidance they need to deliver the right treatment, at the right time, every time. We are developing FloCAST™: an AI-enabled antimicrobial susceptibility test platform. FloCAST™ provides the features end-users require: quantitative, comprehensive, phenotypic susceptibility results in just hours, not days.

Website: cytophenix.com

Lixa

Lixa is an Australian biotech company developing scalable universal antibiotic resistance breakers (uARBs) and antibiofilm agents to solve the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis expected to result in 39m deaths and US$100t loss by 2050. Lixa’s lead compounds are in clinical development as concomitant resistance-breaking therapies to first-line antibiotics, having shown in preclinical studies to turn “untreatable” bacterial infections into simply treatable with the lowest antibiotic dose. The technology is easily integrated into standard of care, is pathogen-, resistance mechanism- and antimicrobial-agnostic. As the Lixa technology is not evoking resistance, is not a biocide or antibiotic, they can be deployed across multiple markets, including human health (US$500b), microbially-induced corrosion (US$2.7t), biofuel filtration, livestock management, desalination, waste water, household hygiene, and ship hull fouling. If successful in next trials, the Lixa technology could shift the needle of the AMR pandemic by decades.

Website: lixa.life

Pretect Devices

Pretect Devices is a medtech company focused on improving the safety of IV therapy in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Our flagship product, Vedette, is the first continuous electronic monitor designed specifically for neonates to detect IV infiltration in real time. Extravasation injuries from IV therapy are a significant risk for preterm infants, leading to severe tissue damage, infections, and long-term complications. Vedette provides early detection, enabling timely intervention and reducing harm.

Based in Western Australia, Pretect is leading NICU-focused innovation, with all research, product development, and clinical trials conducted locally. Vedette is being developed in partnership with major NICUs in WA, ensuring its design meets the highest clinical standards.

Pretect has established strategic partnerships to accelerate commercialization. We are conducting clinical studies in Australia, the UK, and the USA, with collaborations at Gloucestershire NHS Foundation Trust (UK) and the New England Medical Innovation Center (USA). Our go-to-market strategy includes alliances with infusion pump manufacturers and securing investment from healthcare-focused venture capital and private equity funds.

Recognized as a WA Innovator of the Year finalist and a MedTech Actuator investment recipient, Pretect Devices is transforming neonatal IV therapy to improve patient outcomes worldwide. 

Website: pretectdevices.com