Alexander Jannink – Managing Director, Acusensus
Founded by Alexander Jannink & Ravin Mirchandani, Acusensus provides technology to encourage behavioural change to reduce the prevalence of distracted driving.
With over a decade working in the road safety space developing intelligent transportation systems and safety camera systems, Alexander had deep domain knowledge of the sector when he started Acusensus, determined to develop a solution to reduce what he recognised was preventable road trauma.
After decades of improvements in road safety, the past five years have seen increases in the number of people killed and injured on many developed world roads. In the corresponding period there has been a vast expansion in the number of drivers interacting with a phone while behind the wheel. At any given time, 3% of drivers are manipulating a phone, at any point on the road network. Alexander was affected personally by the devastation of senseless road death caused by one of these drivers.
The team joined the Melbourne Accelerator program in 2018, and have achieved outstanding results since, having been awarded the New South Wales contract to supply distracted driving enforcement camera systems, a world first deployment of this new technology.
They also raised a seed stage investment of $600k, and have grown the team to almost 20 people across casual and full time staff, as well as receiving both local and global recognition of their world first technology across some of the largest media networks on the globe.
Dr Evelyn Chan – Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Smileyscope
Dr Evelyn Chan is a pediatric doctor who is passionate about transforming children’s healthcare.
Evelyn is a Rhodes Scholar who studied medical anthropology and public health at the University of Oxford. She then worked at the Boston Consulting Group, specialising in public sector and healthcare strategy. During this time, she led the Young Leaders Program for at-risk teens, and pro-bono work for Jawun Indigenous Initiative.
She’s now a ‘doctorprenuer’, as the CEO and co-founder of Smileyscope. Smileyscope grew out of her own clinical experience. Smileyscope transforms paediatric needle procedures through patient-centred VR. This decreases patient pain and anxiety, makes it quicker and safer for clinicians. Smileyscope has won international awards in healthcare, design and innovation.
Michelle Mannering – Co-Founder, Raine Scooters
Michelle is a Content Producer in the realms of innovation and technology. Known as the “Hackathon Queen”, she runs hackathons and events to solve problems. You’ll often find her on stage MC’ing or speaking on a range of topics from artificial intelligence, to business, community engagement, the future of work, and esports.
As the founder of several tech companies, and a great knowledge of the startup ecosystem, she understands the ins and outs of starting and running a successful tech business. Her latest business is Raine Scooters, a stylish and high-powered electric scooter just for you. Mish also works as the Developer Community Manager for GitHub; enabling community groups and organisations to reach their greatest potential.