WA Startup Stories
The founders building from Western Australia
WA is home to a growing community of founders, innovators and changemakers building bold ideas across climate, health, AI, biotech, social impact and more. These are the journeys behind their ventures.
Latest stories
Founder journeys, told candidly
The challenges, breakthroughs, lessons and ambitions shaping WA’s innovation ecosystem, shared to inspire and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Latest story
Driving Innovation: How Shiine is reimagining outdoor advertising
When Nathan Wipane and Sean Wharton launched Shiine Media in 2024, they brought a bold vision to the out-of-home (OOH) advertising market: a dynamic network of mobile, rideshare-based digital...
18 June 2026 · Charlie Gunningham
Every Drop Counts: How SWAN Systems Turned a Remote Irrigation Problem Into a Global Platform
Have you ever driven past a park and seen the retic going off all guns blazing while it was tipping down with rain?
12 May 2026 · Isabel
How Uluu Is Building a Plastic-Free Future From Seaweed
In the quiet Perth suburb of Watermans Bay, overlooking the very ocean they are fighting to protect, Dr. Julia Reisser and Michael Kingsbury are perfecting what can only be described as "modern...
27 March 2026 · Charlie Gunningham
A Medtech in the Right Vein: Nik Bappoo’s Journey Building VeinTech
For some people, the sight of a hospital needle is a sign that help is on the way. But for many others, it’s a source of dread. The most common invasive procedure in healthcare - inserting an IV -...
23 February 2026 · Isabel
SavvyWise Raises Oversubscribed Seed Round, Seven Months After Incorporating
SavvyWise, an AI platform built for Australian tax research (and more), has officially raised an oversubscribed Seed round at a $10 million valuation, just seven months after incorporating.
13 January 2026 · Charlie Gunningham
From Hollywood, in space and time: Lucy Cooke’s Spacedraft story
Lucy Cooke grew up in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, a farm girl encouraged by practical parents who instilled a strong work ethic and curiosity. She combined a childhood passion for theatre and...
25 November 2025 · Charlie Gunningham
From Theatre to Tech: Dr Kath Giles’s Rise as a Med‑Tech Trailblazer
Dr Kath Giles has carved a remarkable path from the surgical theatre to the cutting-edge of medical innovation. As CEO of Nedlands-based company OncoRes Medical, Kath has shown how world‑class...
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21 October 2025 · Charlie Gunningham
Volting into a Fashionable Startup
There are times when you may notice a problem somewhere, and wonder why no one has sorted this out before. While most people may walk on by, the entrepreneur looks to dream up an elegant, perhaps...
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30 September 2025 · Charlie Gunningham
From Banker to Fintech Trailblazer: Ruth Hatherley’s Stryd Toward Open Banking Innovation
Ruth Hatherley, founder and CEO of Moneycatcha, transitioned from a 22-year career in banking to become one of Australia’s leading fintech entrepreneurs. Along the way, she focused on transforming...
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25 August 2025 · Charlie Gunningham
Katie Liew’s Journey: Building a Social Enterprise from the Ground Up
Katie Liew never imagined she’d find herself at the helm of a social enterprise - let alone one that tackles the challenge of homelessness by creating employment pathways for women escaping domestic...
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