Tech Startup Award: The 2024 nominees

Alexandre Chavotier (NSW) is a Franco-Australian tech entrepreneur and founder of Upworth, a company that plays a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion in Australia.

After contributing to the economic and financial development of Australia as a Manager at McKinsey Sydney for many years, he chose to apply his expertise in finance, analytics, and technology for the benefit of the public. His research in AI and data analysis at Quantum Black (McKinsey's AI branch) has earned him global accolades and investments. However, Alexandre is primarily a man deeply rooted in both his French and Australian communities, having helped thousands of people better understand their personal finances, build their wealth, and take control of their futures.

Through his free platform, Upworth, he enables all Australians without financial advisors to finally access personalised support through technology. As a highly engaged mortgage broker, particularly within the Franco-Australian community, Alexandre passionately dedicates himself to providing the residents of his adopted country with a better, more prosperous, and enlightened future.

As the CEO and Founder of Aona AI, Bastien Cabirou (NSW) has over seven years of experience in leading the development and delivery of innovative AI solutions that enhance business performance and security. With a strong background in computer science, data analytics, data protection, data optimization, and conversational technology, he has created a unique AI transformation platform tailored for businesses.

Bastien’s mission is to empower organisations in their AI adoption journey, ensuring it is executed in a secure, compliant, and reliable manner. Aona AI offers a comprehensive three-step integration process that provides insightful analytics for data risk assessment, robust data protection mechanisms, and strategic guidance for effective AI implementation across departments.

Believing in collaboration, innovation, and integrity, Bastien is dedicated to helping businesses achieve their objectives while ensuring customer satisfaction. He looks forward to connecting with like-minded professionals who share his vision and passion for AI transformation.

Enguerrand Vidor (aka Angus Down Under) is a serial entrepreneur and innovator (My Gig & Workforce Technologies, NSW), recognised for his contributions to the tech and startup ecosystem. With over a decade of experience in founding and leading successful ventures, Enguerrand has consistently demonstrated his passion for technology, innovation, and creating impactful solutions and software.

Currently based in Sydney, Australia, Enguerrand has held key roles across multiple industries. His journey includes being a Digital Consultant, an Entrepreneur in Residence at Rocket Internet, a founding employee at The Iconic, and the Founder and CEO of Leezair—a platform connecting travellers with unique experiences across 182 countries via distributors.

This venture was backed by prominent VCs and investors in Sydney and was part of the Qantas Avro Accelerator. He has also advised an online luxury goods retailer and co-founded Trustlux, a blockchain platform combating counterfeiting and enhancing supply chain traceability. Additionally, Enguerrand served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Antler VC and co-founded Reach Alternative Investments, which revolutionises access to blue-chip private equity for Australian investors. He later became the founding CEO of Sven Global, a labour app connecting backpackers with hospitality shifts. His most recent venture involves founding Workforce Technologies (trading as Workforce Tech and MyGig), focusing on award interpretation, automated payroll, and casual employee management for SMEs and enterprises handling contingent workforces.

Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Enguerrand has advised on fashion tech, travel tech, fintech, HR tech, and digital transformation projects, contributing his expertise in scaling businesses and driving innovation. As Community Lead for La French Tech Australia, he fosters connections within the French-Australian tech community.

He holds an MBA in Business Information Systems and Project Management from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and a Master’s in Computer Science, Finance, and International Project Management from SKEMA Business School (Programme Grande École). He was awarded Outstanding Young Entrepreneur in 2017 and nominated for Best Travel Innovations in 2017 and 2018.

Enguerrand is also a proud father of three boys, all attending the Lycée Condorcet in Sydney. He volunteers at the school and supports Let’s Create Your Startup, a project nurturing entrepreneurial skills among students.

As a French-Australian entrepreneur, Enguerrand continues to leverage his unique background to build strong bridges between the French and Australian business communities, creating opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Geoffroy Henry (Ofload, NSW) is an experienced entrepreneur with significant expertise in the trucking industry.

In his role as Founder & CEO at Ofload, Geoffroy continues to grow a maturing scale-up, defining and overseeing the execution of the company vision. He has previously led up operations at HelloFresh and managed last-mile start-up, BeCool.

Geoffroy is passionate about value-based decision making, fostering positive employee experiences and pioneering sustainable business practices.

Germain Briand (Urban Canopee, VIC) is on a mission to reconnect people with nature by bringing it into our cities in innovative and impactful ways. He uses entrepreneurship and business as his vehicle for change.

He believes in the following principles:

- We must look to nature's workings and its timeless wisdom to resolve the many challenges we collectively face.

- We must reconnect with nature to truly understand our unique human role on our beautiful blue spaceship.

- Real change will only occur when we engage in this journey with our hearts and emotions, not just our rational minds.

- Business is a powerful lever for economic and societal change at scale.

Germain's Australian journey began 17 years ago. After 12 years in the petroleum industry, he made a drastic career shift into entrepreneurship. He founded Urban Canopee, which brings the benefits of trees to urban environments where actual trees cannot be planted by installing living shade structures. This venture has led him to spearhead the concept of nature-based tactical urbanism in Australia.

More recently, he has embarked on a brand-new adventure in the fascinating world of bioluminescence, adding two new business activities to his portfolio. Aglae creates magical events by turning living plants into luminescent beauties when night falls, while Glowee seeks to re-enchant the world by illuminating our cities with biological light. Germain now lives at the crossroads of environment, art, science, innovation, and business, where cross-disciplinary actions are at the heart of his everyday endeavours.

His professional journey is just beginning, and he is excited to see where it leads.

Guillaume Ang (Upflowy, NSW) is an experienced Chief of Operations and startup Director with a robust background in e-commerce, peer-to-peer marketplaces, and logistics, focusing on data-driven growth and agile operations. His extensive expertise in scaling businesses and driving innovation positions him as a prominent figure in the tech startup landscape.

As the Founder and COO of two Rocket Internet ventures, Guillaume successfully raised over $3 million, achieving nationwide market fit and securing more than 10,000 recurring customers. His entrepreneurial spirit and strategic vision were pivotal in establishing and scaling operations, leading to significant growth.

Guillaume's career also includes launching a B2B SaaS business, where he served as Head of Sales, overseeing a team of 40 employees and driving the company’s growth over three years. He played a critical role in piloting an e-commerce project for the Australian branch of the world’s largest sports retailer, developing an online fulfilment strategy that has set new standards in the industry.

In addition to his founding roles, Guillaume has acted as virtual COO and Head of Growth for various funded startups, including ConXJobs.com, where he has effectively harnessed his operational expertise to foster growth and innovation.

Guillaume's commitment to delivering positive change is evident in his achievements across multiple domains, including: - Scaling a shopping app to over 10,000 customers, achieving a monthly growth rate of 15%. - Developing the fulfilment strategy for a leading global sports retailer in Australia. - Creating a peer-to-peer contractor network that grew from zero to over 300 service providers. - Conducting competitive analyses for a large assortment of products, including over 50,000 SKUs. - Implementing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems for 10,000+ customers. - Successfully fundraising and reporting to venture capital stakeholders, raising over $3 million.

With a strong foundation in technical skills, Guillaume excels in business intelligence, automation, and data science, with proficiency in Customer Data Platforms, Full Stack JavaScript, SQL, and API design. His diverse experience equips him to drive operational excellence and foster innovation within the tech startup ecosystem, making him a valuable asset to any venture.

Jason Macey (NSW) is the founder of Imagine If Health, a med tech startup dedicated to helping as many people as possible benefit from life-changing medicines by making technology an enabler, not a barrier.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Science degree with First Class Honours and an Executive Master of Business Administration. With a distinguished background in the pharmaceutical industry, he has held senior positions at large multinational pharmaceutical companies and has launched many novel medicines in areas of high unmet medical need.

Imagine If Health embodies an action-driven ethos, constantly asking, "Imagine if?" and turning possibilities into reality. The company has created the first specialised Software as a Service (SaaS) model for delivering medicine access programs for the pharmaceutical sector. Companies can take advantage of this "off-the-shelf" system, which can then be branded and customised to suit their needs. The idea for the platform arose from the question: “Imagine if patients could access innovative medicines quicker than ever before, using technology that is quick to implement and enjoyable to use?”

Since its inception in 2022, the platform has won numerous innovation awards for speed to market and overall user experience, and it continues to grow, helping patients in diverse therapeutic areas access highly innovative and specialised medicines.

Jean-Marie Guitera (MyCoach AI & Cognent AI, NSW) is a visionary entrepreneur dedicated to leveraging technology, particularly artificial intelligence, to enhance human well-being, with a focus on psychology and coaching. His passion for AI drives him to develop innovative solutions that empower individuals to achieve personal growth and mental wellness.

Beyond his enthusiasm for technology, Jean-Marie is deeply committed to addressing the climate emergency, viewing it as a collective mission that everyone should embrace. By integrating sustainability into his entrepreneurial ventures, he strives to create impactful solutions that not only advance AI but also contribute to a healthier planet.

Through his unique blend of passion and purpose, Jean-Marie Guitera is at the forefront of the tech startup landscape, championing the transformative power of AI while advocating for urgent action on climate change.

Mickael Roger (NSW) is the co-founder and co-CEO of PropHero, a data-driven digital platform revolutionising property investment by helping users find, buy, and manage the best investment properties. Under his leadership, PropHero leverages advanced data analytics to empower investors with informed decision-making.

Before launching PropHero, Mickael served as an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he led the Data & Artificial Intelligence practice. He worked with clients across the Telco, Media, Tech, Private Equity, and Financial Services industries. In 2017, he pioneered an AI-powered commodity price forecasting capability at McKinsey, assisting major commodity producers and traders in predicting prices and developing advanced trading strategies.

Mickael's professional journey began as an M&A investment banker at UBS in London in 2011, followed by a role as a Senior Consultant at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants in Paris and North Africa. There, he specialised in strategic and restructuring topics while expanding M&A and financial advisory services.

Mickael holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering from Telecom ParisTech and an MSc in International Finance from HEC Paris. His extensive experience in data-driven solutions and strategic consulting uniquely positions him to drive innovation in the property investment sector, making a lasting impact on how individuals approach real estate investment.

Founded in July 2021, PropHero is Australia’s leading PropTech platform, revolutionising property investment through cutting-edge Big Data and AI technologies. Leveraging our proprietary data model, portfolio management app and vetted local experts, we help investors find, buy and manage high-return, low-risk investment properties through a simplified process and data-driven approach.

French-Australian entrepreneur Sylvain Mansotte (NSW) founded Whispli in 2015 to address the need for improved whistleblowing solutions. His inspiration stemmed from his own experience uncovering a fraud exceeding $20 million, which highlighted the necessity for better compliance tools.

Sylvain’s background as a whistleblower, compliance officer, and investigator has shaped the development of Whispli. The platform features a cutting-edge case management system and an easy-to-use interface, designed to make reporting concerns and managing cases effortless.

Since its inception, Whispli has become a key player in the whistleblowing solution market, serving a diverse range of clients around the world.

Notable clients such as Veolia, Qantas, Westpac, CBA, ASIC, the ACCC, Decathlon, Lenovo, BPCE Group, and LVMH utilise Whispli to manage reports and cases, promote a culture of openness, and ensure compliance with various regulations. The platform’s adaptability allows it to meet complex needs, including managing international teams and high-security requirements.

Sylvain Mansotte’s work with Whispli has significantly advanced the field of whistleblowing and compliance, benefiting both the French-Australian community and global industries.

Thibault Henry (Bazaa, NSW) is the exited founder of Balto, a last-mile delivery startup, and the former founder of VOLY, a quick commerce venture backed by Sequoia Capital.

He is currently building Bazaa, a marketplace dedicated to sustainable homewares.

Doctor Xavier Hadoux (Enlighten Imaging, VIC) is at the forefront of medical technology, merging hyperspectral imaging with artificial intelligence to develop diagnostic tools for early disease detection. As co-founder and CEO of Enlighten Imaging, a spin-out from the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Dr. Hadoux leads a platform aimed at addressing key diagnostic challenges in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, as well as degenerative eye conditions and ocular melanoma.

A core innovation of this platform is a novel non-mydriatic retinal hyperspectral camera, designed and engineered from the ground up by Dr. Hadoux using his engineering expertise. Hyperspectral imaging, originally developed for satellite imaging, allows the camera to capture images using multiple wavelengths of light, far beyond the conventional colours seen in typical imaging technologies. This enhanced vision provides unprecedented detail and depth, making it possible to detect subtle biomarkers that are invisible to standard imaging.

The camera was built with continuous feedback from optometrists and ophthalmologists, ensuring it meets clinical needs. Five prototypes have been tested in research studies across four countries, providing data that has helped refine the platform. These insights have advanced the technology toward a commercial product, developed under strict ISO 13485 regulatory constraints.

A groundbreaking feature of the platform is its ability to securely transmit data to a cloud-based infrastructure, enabling continuous improvement of the biomarkers detected using the technology. By pushing regulatory boundaries, Enlighten Imaging aims to demonstrate the value of continuous data-driven improvement, ensuring that diagnostic accuracy increases over time. While pioneering and facing regulatory hurdles, Dr. Hadoux and his team are committed to making this a reality, believing that more data will lead to better outcomes for patients.

The platform also addresses the challenge of over-referring common ocular naevi to ophthalmologists, which often causes patient stress and strains resources. By providing a more precise method of identifying ocular melanoma, Enlighten Imaging’s technology can improve patient care and reduce unnecessary referrals.

With a background in hyperspectral imaging, computer vision, and AI-based analysis, Dr. Hadoux holds dual master’s degrees in Signal and Image Processing and Complex System Engineering, along with a PhD in Computer Science. He is the lead author of two granted patents and a Nature Communications paper reporting the first retinal biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease using hyperspectral imaging.

As CEO, Dr. Hadoux is focused on scaling this technology and bringing precise, non-invasive diagnostic solutions to clinics worldwide.