Meet RMIT Activator’s newest LaunchHUB cohort of Impact Ventures

This September we welcomed 12 new start ups into LaunchHUB’s 12-week program, themed around Impact Ventures. The successful founders were chosen for their start up’s potential to make a change in the world with ideas based around emerging technologies like blockchain, maximising social well-being, new approaches to support COVID-19 recovery and much more.

LaunchHUB is RMIT Activator’s flagship pre-accelerator program and is now in its eleventh cycle. LaunchHUB is focused on empowering Impact Venture start ups - businesses that have the intention to generate positive, social and environmental impact. This round of LaunchHUB set out to find businesses that have a conscience ingrained in their DNA, to be built on throughout the course.

While it makes sense for RMIT to support founders who are contributing to societal and environmental change for how it impacts the future of humanity, it also makes sense in terms of the business’ potential growth.

Why impact ventures?

As there is more focus on securing the wellbeing of future generations and holding companies accountable for their actions, the business of positive social impact continues to grow. According to Responsible Investment Associate Australasia (RIAA)’s 2020 study, they found that the social impact investing market had grown from $5.7 billion in 2017 to $19.9 billion in 2019 and that the global impact investing market is estimated to grow and mature reaching US$502 billion US$1 trillion by 2024.

Funding opportunities

The September 2021 LaunchHUB program will not only elevate the chosen start ups through hands-on coaching, workshops and business building methodology but will prepare them to become Certified B Corporations.

Throughout the program, the founders will have the opportunity to pitch for the Activator Capital Fund – with a chance to secure up to AUD $3,000 of non-equity stake pre-seed funding during the cohort and then a share in $20,000 at the end of the program, based on their traction

Without further ado, get to know the 12 start ups in the eleventh LaunchHUB - Impact Ventures.

Meet the start ups

Image description: A series of company logos, you can learn and read about these company’s below. Text reads: Weclome, LaunchHUB’s newest cohort, RMIT Activator.

Biophilic Soundscape

Co-founders, Nadine Samaha, Dr Jordan Lacey, Dr Charles Anderson, Professor Jules Moloney and Nadine Samaha created Biophilic Soundscape with the aim to transform motorway noise barriers. Their innovative ‘ecological buffers and corridor’ product is an answer to the rising temperatures, air pollution, and noise pollution in Melbourne caused by exponential growth.

Learn more about Biophilic Soundscape here.

Billy Bubbles

Billy Bubbles provides an online booking service for customers to leave their empty soda gas cylinders by their front door in exchange for full ones - just like a milkman service. Founded by William Sheldon, this service is aimed to solve difficulties customers face with circular products and services.

Learn more about Billy Bubbles here.

Cryptocycle

CryptoCycle are passionate about tackling global waste by keeping products in the circular economy for longer. Their Reward4waste app incentivises re-use and recycling of items - engaging consumers with their environmental impact and accelerating positive change. Use of unique coding and digital intelligence (AI/green blockchain) brings transparency, traceability and rich data insights to organisations. Australian co-founder Samantha Reed (Australia) along with UK co-founders, Anthony McGurk, Steve Clarke and Rachel Warren create solutions and trusted platforms that support sustainability goals.

Learn more about Reward4Waste here.

Enkore

Neel and Satya Bhattacharya (brother and sister team) co-founded Enkore with a singular purpose: to change lives through the power of music. Enkore is a social impact marketplace that fosters a sense of community well-being through shared experience of music in a virtual environment and hopes to contribute to the recovery of the music industry post COVID-19.

Learn more about Enkore here.

Forkful

Forkful's leading the way to a more sustainable society where food that is produced, is consumed. Co-founded by husband and wife team Simone Marini and Natalie Sarau, Forkful provides a solution to food waste in our hospitality industry by providing a platform for venues to list and sell their surplus and unsold food, with consumers collecting it as takeaway.

Learn more about Forkful here.

J Station

Foundered by Justin Byrne, J Station is a wind and wave resistant floating solar system that will be used in water reservoirs with high wind and waves across regions of the world.

laGuapa Outwear

LaGuapa, co- foundered by Zaida Rodriguez, Roser Pie and Jordi Garcia, is a sustainable outwear brand based in Melbourne with a mission to create a circular fashion label that is kind to the environment, supports local manufacturers and educates customers on the negative effects of fast fashion and the importance of going slow.

Learn more about laGuapa Outwear here.

Mountoken

Mountoken is an on-line marketplace for digital art known as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) with particular emphasis on emerging artists and Indigenous communities. Founder Sonia Komaravalli, will enable artists and their galleries to embrace blockchain technology to protect their Intellectual Property and sell their work in a safe and exciting art platform for everyone.

Learn more about Mountoken here.

SingwithFred!

Founder of SingwithFred!, Alfred Zerfas was a Public Health Doctor and Epidemiologist who after ‘retiring’ realised he loved to sing and make people smile. SingwithFred! helps people to connect with their isolated loved ones with songs of gratitude and affection, especially those in aged care and nursing homes.

Learn more about SingWithFred! here.

3D & Circular Design

Co-founded by Nat Stratos and Lena Merrin, 3D & Circular Design is a design agency and consultancy that integrates 3D technology and circular design principles to design out textile waste and create time efficiencies in apparel sampling, development, and marketing.

Learn more about 3D & Circular Design here.

Tribe Finder

Tribe Finder is a platform for young people with autism or social difficulties to find and build safe social relationships. Founded by Michelle Ridsdale, this social media app is focused on finding and building a tribe of people who want to do similar things to you in a safe way to improve mental health and relive a sense of isolation.

Learn more about Tribe Finder here.

Wadoo

Wadoo - short for ‘what to do’, uses augmented reality to gamify Melbourne and reward people to rediscover their city. Fo-founded by Elles Le, Jeddi Kyne, Jacqueline Lee and Justin Choong, Wadoo shows real-time information about events, attractions and restaurants that are near you.

Learn more about Wadoo here.

We are thrilled to have so many great social impact start ups join LaunchHUB for our eleventh cohort, and we look forward to sharing their journeys with you all.

Thank you to our wonderful coaches, Ian Wong from Circular Economy Victoria, Shamila Gopalan from HerWit and Sangeetha Mulchandani from Jumpstart Studio who provide valuable industry support to our founders. Also thank you to our partners and supporters, LUNA, BlueRock, Cake Equity, Circular Economy Victoria and Glow.

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01 October 2021

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Meet RMIT Activator’s newest LaunchHUB cohort of Impact Ventures