Get rid of your keyboard and your mouse, begin using LeapMotion.

This simple, elegant device allows you to control your computer in three dimensions with your natural hand and finger movements. This isn’t just for gaming.

We started with keyboards, then the mouse began a revolution in pointing and clicking.

Now, we have LeapMotion. It’s the size of a flash drive. It looks like something Steve Jobs designed himself. It can distinguish the movements made by individual fingers down on 1/100th of a millimetre. It’s that accurate.

This is as a big a revolution in human-computer interaction. It’s as big a revolution as the mouse was, back when it was created . Except, you don’t have to learn how to use your hands.

Before you know it, we’ll all be looking like Tom Cruise in Minority Report.

How much? At the risk of sounding like Steve Ballmer, it’s not $1,000. It’s not even one tenth of that. It’s RRP is $USD70 plus shipping.

Backed by some of the biggest names in VC in Silicon Valley, LeapMotion really is looking like a great leap forward.

Leap motion for human computer interaction

That is when Aussie Farmers Direct got its thinking cap on and shepherded a campaign that cut farmers’ losses and won it the marketing innovation award from AUSVEG, the national farm group that last week presented its National Awards for Excellence in Hobart.

Aussie Farmers Direct also won the Best Customer Experience award in the BRW AMPCSC Australian Retailer of the Year Awards.

Aussie Farmers Direct called last year’s crisis sooner than most. A supply glut cause by a bumper season and limited demand in overseas markets, not to mention the strong Australian dollar. With prices so low that didn’t even cover the cost of picking them, the Australian home delivery food group came up a plan to sell the oranges at steep discount — $3 for 3 lbs including delivery.

That campaign helped Australian farmers eventually sell one million more oranges than they sold in 2010, perhaps winning a lot of goodwill from consumers as well.

“Australia grows the best fruit and vegetables in the world, and we’re proud to deliver quality Australian produce to our customers each day,” said Braeden Lord, the chief executive of Aussie Farmers Direct. He said award recognises Aussie Farmers Direct’s commitment to Australian farmers;

The AUSVEG Marketing innovation Award was based on the below criteria:

• Creation of an innovative marketing solution, process or program

• Creation of new market opportunities for vegetables/potato products

• Significant impact on the industry and potential for long-term positive effects through sales, awareness, reach etc.

• Tangible and measurable results

Over the past four years, Aussie Farmers Direct estimates it has delivered more than 20,000 tonnes of Australian fruit & vegetables to urban households. The seven-year-old group has a customer base of 130,000 across the country.

AUSVEG represents the interest of growers to government and assist growers by making sure the National Vegetable Levy and National Potato Levy are invested in research and development that best meets the needs of the industry.

For those who’ve yet to experience running or managing a business, it would be difficult to appreciate just what it takes to launch a new venture or to successfully run a profitable organisation.

The traditional rules of an employee do not apply to business owners; idealistic expectations are replaced with realistic goals and challenges.

Once upon a time…

A number of years ago, aged 19, I decided to launch headfirst into a business venture. I knew nothing about business, nothing about management, and very little about financial planning.

What I had were dreams of business riches, of success at a young age. I would often imagine my life a few years down the track, when I’d head my self-started company, now a national success story. I would drive an expensive sports car and people would recognise me as that young guy who made millions from his first business.

Suffice to say, the realities of business were quite different.

Don’t get me wrong, dreaming is important. We must have goals to strive towards and dreams to keep us going during the tough times. Similarly, we must ensure we also keep check of what’s possible and realistic. As I’ve experienced over the years, reality can be a cruel teacher. However, with the right approach and the right attitude it’s possible to become successful in business.

The highs and lows of business

Having started two companies from nothing, turning ideas into profitable ventures that eventually failed, I have experienced both significant highs and lows.

At times I was on top of the world, at the head of a business with several employees, money was coming in the door and I had commitment from clients.

Then there were moments of anger and frustration, spiralling into depression and self loathing that encroached on my personal life and relationships.

Despite all the crap that goes with running a business, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you’re determined, persistent and strong willed, business can give you a rush and excitement that compares with the adrenaline of extreme sports. It can give you control of your destiny and set you up financially for life. The key is to be patient, to not rush, and to plan your moves strategically and with intent.

The ‘if onlys’ of business

I often think to myself ‘If only I knew what I know now back when I was 19, my life and ventures would have, most likely, turned out very differently’.

But alas, one cannot turn back time. All you can do from failure is to reflect and learn. And make sure that, next time round, you don’t go down the same path and make the same mistakes.

Failing in business has made me acutely aware of my knowledge and capabilities, and has given me more valuable lessons than a university degree in business ever will.

The harsh reality is that most businesses fail within a few short years of starting up. As such, the first rule I have in business is to embrace failure. You’ll no doubt go through some tough times that will test your commitment, and eventually you’ll be faced with two choices:

1. Get frustrated about the situation, magnifying your failure and causing you to experience significant stress and pressure or;
2. Embrace the situation, use it to fuel your drive to challenge and conquer the problem facing your business.

And you know what? Even if you can’t conquer your problem and the business folds, you will have learnt valuable lessons that will help you succeed in your next venture.

In the words of the wise Buddha: ‘Let failure be a lesson, let suffering be your strength, let love overcome all your barriers’.

Peter Spinda is an entrepreneur and business writer. He runs an online blog at www.realitiesofbusiness.com and teaches others about business principles and skills.

It’s the stunning process that IDEO used to design these, well sort of, every day items. Some people may have a need for an every day killer whale. Granted, not everyone.

IDEO is one of the hero companies of Silicon Valley. It has turned design and innovation into an art form that many envy, but few can copy. Unless you are a designer or work in customer based research, you may not have heard of this remarkable company.

This one company has designed many of the every day products that we use, so technically it is an industrial design business. But one that has become the envy of many an entrepreneur.

In this video, ABCNews in the US, challenged IDEO to redesign the shopping cart in just five days. At a high level, you will get to understand the design process. It can be applied not just to designing products, but also solving problems and testing theories.

This video is about three years old. Some of the design features IDEO created in this made-for-television challenge are now incorporated into newer shopping trolley design. So, it goes to show how a group-think approach, a no-holds barred creative thinking process coupled with real-life customer observations can create true innovation.

One of the mantra’s at IDEO, sums it up nicely:
Enlightened trial and error succeeds over the idea of a lone genius.

If you’re feeling inspired, you could do worse than to read Tom Kelley’s book, The Art of Innovation.

How IDEO redesigned the shopping cart

The brand new Australian employer review website is offering a voice and a platform for past and present employees to air their deepest feelings and honest opinions, based on their experiences.

“Prior to WorkplaceFit, employees had no way to preview a workplace and its culture, except from discussions directly with employers and recruiters, who naturally have biased views,” said WorkplaceFit co-founder Keryn Donald, who still works for the Swedish telecom firm Ericsson as a migration specialist.

“People need to know they can talk about their workplace without fear of reprisal, and WorkplaceFit provides this by keeping things anonymous,” she added.

WorkplaceFit is the result of the personal experiences and motivations of its founders — Donald and Fabian Mendes, an IT consultant. Both, separately, discovered in unnamed jobs that the “workplace cultures were not what we had expected, resulting in a frustrating and un-motivating working experience.” This inspired the duo to create an “unbiased information source on Australian companies and workplace culture, to help others avoid the same experience.”

The site, of course, is not intended merely as a forum for rants. Donald expects it to provide anonymous reviews — both good and bad — of Australian companies by former and current employees. You could consider it the equivalent of GlassDoor.com, though this American site focuses quite a bit on salaries.

WorkplaceFit allows employees to rate any company on their benefits, work culture, job security, management and other important issues. Ultimately, the site is intended to be a source for future employees to find out about the current culture and employee benefits at a workplace they may be looking to move to, according to Donald.

This is important, considering the fact that people, typically, change jobs more frequently than in the past.

“Being a part of a labor force that changes employers approximately every two years, we feel transparency regarding workplaces and their cultures is a necessary tool for job seekers,” said Donald, who has previously worked for Rio Tinto and Boeing, among others. “With today’s technology and level of social interaction, the days of whispers over the water cooler are over, and the time to start sharing our workplace experiences, in a safe environment, is here.”

From the employers’ point of view, WorkplaceFit may serve as a good sounding board, helping management understand if they are loved or hated — and why.

The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

Name of SMART 100 Innovation (State/Ter)

This innovation initially came to life when…

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

It does this by…

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

Its predecessors/competitors include…

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

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Synaptor Observations (WA)

This innovation initially came to life when…

A large consulting client asked us to build yet another mind-numbingly boring and inadequate paper-based safety tool.

Enough is enough, we decided.

We founded Synaptor to free workers from the tedium of OHS paperwork and to enable supervisors to manage risk in real time.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Synaptor Observations helps companies ensure the safety of their people and the environment.

It does this by…

Site workers use the Observations app to record the details of unsafe acts or conditions, including photos. The observations automatically sync to a secure database. The Maps app gives workers a live, interactive map of observations on their site, and receives automatic site-specific safety alerts. Supervisors use a web module to manage data, see trends, and communicate with workers.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

Existing systems have significant delays between observation of an unsafe act or condition, and an organisation’s ability to act. It can often take a company using a paper-based system three weeks to learn from what employees are seeing in the field.

With Synaptor Observations this is reduced to minutes or seconds.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

Synaptor helps companies:

• Demonstrate safety leadership to clients and regulators.
• Get supervisors back into the field where they can make a difference.
• Reduce their OHS paperwork burden.
• Manage risks on work sites in real time.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

Existing observation programs typically rely on site workers filling out little pre-printed paper cards or forms. These are then collected, brought to a central office, and entered by hand into a spreadsheet.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Competing solutions include those that require machine scanning of standardized cards (STOP, Scantron), or those that offer a standalone mobile app with no data gathering or communications (TR).

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

Our broad market is small- and medium-sized enterprises that have operations in hazardous industries.

We will initially focus on resources companies — those in mining, oil & gas, and construction.

Companies around the world face broadly similar safety compliance obligations. Our product therefore has an international market.

We expect initial adoption of our product to be greatest in areas where resource industries are booming, including Australia.

As an indication of the domestic market size, there are more than 300,000 construction companies in Australia according to the ABS.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

Free mobile apps distributed via iTunes App Store and Android Market.

Subscriptions to paid web management modules available directly from our website: www.synaptor.com.au.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Use the following channels:

• Inbound marketing: make valuable resources available for free via the Internet to build credibility and generate referrals (work instructions, presentations, training).
• Paid marketing: search and social network advertising, paid placement in key industry publications.
• PR: cultivate relationships with key industry publications and pitch articles. Get listed with Anthill SMART 100.
• Commission Marketing Agreements: others sell for commission.

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

Building Site Safety Game (ACT)

This innovation initially came to life when…

Our company, Transformed, held a creative brainstorm to extend our e-learning offering. We realised that we needed something that was exciting, engaging and different. Transformed has been working to help solve training issues in the construction industry by breaking down barriers. This market is experiencing a skills shortage impinged further by more stringent building licensing requirements. This initiative was developed to assist in the experiential learning of safety risks in a construction environment. It also allowed people to learn anywhere, anytime and capitalised on the massive growth of tablets and smartphones.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Provide an interactive and fun experiential learning opportunity in relation to construction site safety. Students can apply safety assessment techniques without the potential for injury that is present in a high-risk construction site.

It does this by…

It does this by the use of a construction site safety game. The game generates a number of safety hazards at commencement. As learners navigate the 3D world with a keyboard and mouse, they identify risks, undertake a risk assessment and report their results to the site foreman. The results are scored with feedback being provided throughout the game.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

Site safety is traditionally taught in a classroom. Students often lack the experience in translating the theory learned into practice. The simulator provides a photo-realistic look and immersive audio and provides students with the opportunity to learn in a fun way and make mistakes without risking injury to themselves or others.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

An immersive, realistic and fun way to learn and apply skills in safety risk management on building sites as part of the Diploma of Building and Construction (Building).

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

Training theory within a classroom or via distance learning training materials. When participants then visited a construction site they would be less prepared as they had only been taught theory verbally. This product helps to put the theory into context before the participant is exposed to a high-risk environment.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Classroom-based lectures or PowerPoint slides of building site safety hazards. Boring! Serious games are not new; however, none have been applied to this context. This product will be a completely new way of operating. A game changer!

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

Construction workers studying for the Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) initially. However, this application has potential to address national skills shortages in other industries by catering for a wide range of learning styles providing opportunities for regional and remote learners to bridge geographical distances. The product and associated course is targeted towards building trades or site managers wishing to upgrade their qualifications or attain a higher-level building licence. The students are largely male, aged 25-45, operating in the building industry. The game has been specifically designed for this target market and demographic.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

Through our accredited training course, the Diploma of Building and Construction (Building). When clients sign up for this course, they will get access to the game.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Use this product to reinforce Transformed’s innovative ethos, support its virtual learning strategy and create a “game changer” within the industry. A demo of this game will be used for marketing communication purposes. We want to create a marketing buzz, via word of mouth and an interactive social media campaign.

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

PaperAct Electronic Filing Cabinet (VIC)

This innovation initially came to life when…

PaperAct’s innovative approach to electronic filing came to life due to the frustration of the co-founders and the limitations of current scanning and filing of all business documents.

Document filing practices (physical and electronic) don’t take into account the current need of consolidating all your online and offline filing systems.

Businesses are “forced” to use and maintain separate filing systems while spending wasted hours in searching for files and documents.

PaperAct incorporates your paper documents, important e-mails, attachments and faxes, securely filing all your documents so you never have to waste time or money searching through filing cabinets again.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Provide a state-of-the-art filing solution for storing, organising and accessing all business documents anywhere, anytime. PaperAct consolidates your paper, e-mails, attachments and electronic documents saving you time, money and space. Delivered in easy to use plug-and-play appliance.

It does this by…

Delivering a plug-and-play appliance (with high-speed double-sided scanner) that can replace tens of fully populated, physical four-drawer filing cabinets saving considerable floor space, filing time and money!

This amazing piece of equipment (not bigger than your office printer) securely stores and files all your documents. There is no software to instal on computers, networks or servers!

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

PaperAct improves on what exists in the market because it allows SMBs and SOHOs to use functionality that was traditionally available to the “big end of town”.

With no software to instal (browser-based) and no hardware to procure, a plug-and-play solution is ideal for every business that needs to file paper, e-mails, attachments, electronic files and more.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

PaperAct provides:

• Consolidated view of all documents
• Accessibility from anywhere at any time using any device
• No software to install
• “Google-like” search engine, including optical recognition of paper documents
• Smartphone apps for capturing documents
• Saves time, space and money

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

In the past, businesses that wanted to replace their filing cabinet had to buy a scanner, software, hardware, licenses and “stitch these together”.

Although the basic technology building blocks required to significantly improve this process have existed for a long time, the absence of an integrated, purpose-built, turnkey solution has significantly impeded the obvious end-benefits that can be realised.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

PaperAct competitors or programs that offer filing-like capabilities are SHSU, SimpleIndex, PearlDocx, PSIGEN, FabSoftReform, DocPoint, Vscan, EMC ApplicationExtender, PaperPort, DOCS2MANAGE, DocuCabinet, FileSphere and even sharepoint. Lower-end cloud solutions might include billeo.com, dropbox.net, everNote, scanr.com, expensr.com and shoeboxed.com.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

PaperAct is made available and specifically designed for Small Office/Home Office and Small-to-Medium Business. PaperAct is a state-of-the-art solution which leverages the power of the Internet and cloud computing to deliver mobility, portability, scalability and pay-as-you-go access. PaperAct is being used by many organisations such as: Medical practitioners, Medical Clinics, Hospital Departments, Dentists, Bookkeepers, Real Estate Agencies, Audio Testing Clinics, Contracts Office, Body Corporate, Small-to-Mid Manufacturers, Despatch Departments, Accounting Departments Legal, Business Executive Home Office, Project Management Companies Property Developers, Builders and more. (See: http://www.paperact.com/paperact-customers-case-study/)

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

PaperAct Electronic Filing Cabinet Appliance is currently available for sale directly from PaperAct Solution or through authorised resellers. The appliance is sold as a subscription (rent) service, fully supported.

PaperAct Cloud Solution is currently in beta and available online.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Our marketing strategy is to take PaperAct to market by extending our resellers base and ultimately use resellers in Aus/USA/UK as the main channel to market, while we focus on the support, maintenance and technology.

PaperAct is now in the process of formalising a go-to-market strategy in the USA working with partners and investors in Silicon Valley.

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

DriftProof Sprayer (QLD)

This innovation initially came to life when…

Technigro CEO Nick Bloor realised that traditional commercial boom sprayers — which are unuseable in even moderate winds — created a lack of predictability for when our spraying activities could be carried out and, ergo, a lack of predictability for our clients. He therefore put the challenge to Technigro’s R&D department to develop a solution that would allow spraying to be undertaken in all kinds of weather conditions, and thus make it easier to let clients know when work would be carried out.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Traditional commercial boom sprays are heavily affected by weather factors — particularly wind. The DriftProof Sprayer (DPS) utilises a specialised design to overcome such issues, allowing spraying to be undertaken in most weather conditions and significantly reducing off-target spray drift.

It does this by…

The DPS utilises a patented shield that encloses spray droplets resulting in a safer application for spray operators and the general public. Because the products reach the ground directly and spray drift is largely avoided, product use can be reduced by up to 70%, delivering major environmental benefits and cost savings for clients.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

Traditional boom sprayers can ultimately achieve the same end-results, but in the process waste large amounts of product through drift. In addition to being wasteful, this can be dangerous as chemicals end up in locations where they’re not intended. The DPS completely eliminates these issues by ensuring that spray droplets hit their intended targets directly.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

Significantly lower costs — less product is required to achieve comparable results, while productivity efficiencies are gained.

Increased service reliability — the DPS can be used in weather conditions that traditional sprayers can’t.

Increased safety — products reach only their intended targets.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

Previously, use of commercial boom sprayers was only viable on days where weather conditions where perfect. Spraying becomes increasingly dangerous in light wind, as it results in high levels of product wastage and safety issues due to off-target spray drift and chemicals reaching unintended targets. This unpredictability makes traditional sprayers far less convenient and less sustainable than the DPS.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Boom sprayers have been the only other viable alternatives to spraying large tracts of turf.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

There is growing aversion to spraying, particularly in public spaces. With greater environmental awareness it’s clear the DriftProof Sprayer is a valuable tool with global market potential.

In the U.S. alone, there are over 132,000 schools and over 6,000 post-secondary title institutions. The U.S. also has over 17,000 golf courses and over 87,000 government authorities. In Australia there are over 9,500 schools and 393 universities, many with several campuses. In addition to this, Australia hosts over 1,800 golf courses and countless sporting fields. There is significant global market potential for a product that makes spraying in open spaces safer.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

While not currently commercialised, the DPS will most likely be distributed through major herbicide and pesticide producers, who are currently looking for new delivery mechanisms to make their products safer to use.

Our marketing strategy is to…

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is responsible for ensuring that off-target spray drift does not harm human health, the environment or international trade; they are currently considering enforcing further spraying restrictions to assist in controlling off-target spray drift. If enforced, Technigro will have an incredible opportunity to leverage these new rules in order to promote the DPS.

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

Tibouchina Fantasy Flowers (TAS)

This innovation initially came to life when…

A dedicated plant breeder in Queensland joined forces with horticultural marketing company. Over 20 years in the making, Tibouchina Fantasy Flowers Collection represents true innovation in horticulture. An investment of passion, time and energy coupled with breakthrough pollination and propagation techniques have delivered one of most successful plant collections seen in modern times.

Tibouchinas are typically subtropical trees and shrubs enjoyed for their large flowers. Fantasy Flowers allows a much wider audience to enjoy them. We have developed specialist dwarf varieties, new colour ranges and increased cold tolerance. This means there is a variety to suit all climatic zones.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Deliver the beauty and performance of the Tibouchina genus to a much wider audience both domestically and globally. Through years of perfecting new pollination techniques, the Fantasy Flowers Collection is the first to deliver compact varieties with superior garden performance.

It does this by…

Delivering groundbreaking performance on a number of levels. The collection includes the world’s first dwarf Tibouchina and five other varieties that offer a range of cold tolerance characteristics, flower colour and climatic applications. The collection provides a variety suited to each climatic zone in Australia. Enjoy the sheer “wow” of flower power that the collection offers wherever you live!

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

Tibouchina was a genus confined to subtropical climatic zones. Horticulturalists and garden lovers based in cool and very warm climates could only admire them from afar. The key developments in breeding include breakthroughs in cold tolerance, improved compact habits and increased flower volume and colour range. Some varieties offer flowers that change colour as they age — simply breathtaking.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

• True dwarf Tibouchinas for pots and small gardens.
• Large, vivid blooms for outstanding impact.
• Outstanding cold tolerance — vastly extends climatic range.
• Multicoloured flowers on the one plant.
• Increased flower volume and improved lengthy flowering season.
• Improved compact habit.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

Limiting the Tibouchina market to appropriate climatic zones. Until now Tibouchinas have been limited to subtropical zones. They also are typically very “leggy” and not meeting market demand for a tidy, compact plant. Flower colour has been limited and one tone per plant. Tibouchinas for container gardening have been rare and we see opportunity in this market.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Creating beautiful displays that wow with Tiboucinas has been limited to subtopical zones. There have been a very limited number of varieties that have enjoyed success in Australia, most of which have purple flowers, for example Tibouchina “Jazzie”.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

Our extensive network of quality growers around the country. Our network supplies all good garden centres and larger chain stores. We will also be launching the collection in the USA, UK, Europe, South Africa and New Zealand.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Deliver an innovative campaign to capture the imagination of not just consumers, but also our growers, retailers and the horticultural media. The collection will be supported by full branding and support including labelling, point-of-sale, fact sheets, multimedia support, print advertising and television coverage.

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

iasset.com (NSW)

This innovation initially came to life when…

The innovation came to life whilst building another of my companies — Distribution Central Pty. Ltd. (which by using the engine went from 1.7m to 220m in three countries). When other people saw the system, they realised they needed it for their markets around the world so in 2008 it was incorporated as its own company.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Change the way channels to market (supply chains) work to give everyone in the channel — Manufacturer, Distributor, Reseller or End-user — equal access to a single source of truth (think Facebook for channels).

It does this by…

Connecting all parties mentioned via SaaS (cloud delivery) and through its four main modules — Product Lifecycle, Channel Enablement, Learning Management and Knowledge Delivery — makes the channel significantly more efficient and more importantly drives revenues of all parties up, and gives the end user a better service outcome. A side benefit is the BI gained from the data flows.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

There was nothing before, maybe Excel spreadsheets? Once a manufacturer shipped product out the warehouse, the only thing they knew was which distributor they had sold it to (generally speaking). They had no idea who the reseller or end customer was, nor where the product actually went (important for servicing).

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

Increases attachment of maintenance contracts revenues (best example of one manufacturer from 22% to 98% = approx. $22m), software renewals, end-of-life communications and upgrades, education and training of channels.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

It generally wasn’t solved. Registration data might have told the vendor who the end user was if they were lucky. They also had no idea where or how highly skilled their channel partners training was or whether they met their reseller status level (channel enablement) for which they get extra discounts.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Excel at a long shot.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

Any supply chain.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

Per-user licensing, cloud-delivered, so no software implementation required.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Complex to describe here but direct salespeople in Australia, Singapore, Beijing, San Jose today, sponsored Aberdeen report on Partner Resource Management (PRM), “iasset.com index” published in channel mags, some ads, SEO.
 

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

Mozo Travel Money Hub (NSW)

This innovation initially came to life when…

One of our community members asked us, “What’s the best way to access money while overseas?” We didn’t know the answer and immediately put the Mozo Rate Chasers on the task to find out. Within eight weeks of being asked that question, the Mozo Travel Money Hub was born. That person got the answer they needed for their trip and now everyone else going overseas can too.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Put an end to Lonely Planet-sized bank statements by helping the average Australian traveller find the cheapest holiday money options for their needs.

It does this by…

As a one-stop travel money hub that compares all the major travel money options available from debit cards, prepaid cards, credit cards and foreign exchange. We answer the question, “Which way to get money overseas is best?” Users can also read independent product reviews, compare exchange rates and absorb helpful travel money guides that explain overseas money do’s and don’ts.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

Never before has anyone compared all the different options to get money. Mozo’s travel money hub shows that just as Aussies shop around for flights and accommodation it pays to shop around for travel money. On a $5,000 holiday spend you could overpay as much as $315 in fees — that’s a lot of poolside pina coladas!

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

No more panoramic credit card bills or bank statements full of overseas ATM fees, foreign exchange surcharges and foreign currency purchase fees.

We expose the travel money tricks and traps and help Aussies get a better a holiday money deal.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

It wasn’t. You could take a few extra holiday days before your trip to visit every bank branch and wade through T’s & C’s to find the best deal. Or like most people, you just accepted you would pay through the nose to access your money when overseas and wait for the bank statement to come in after your trip, then panic.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

There aren’t any. Mozo is the first Travel Money Hub that has all the travel money providers, fee info and options in the one place, for all the different ways possible to access money while overseas.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

The 7.1 million Australians who go overseas each year and the $1.4 billion we are being charged for the privilege of spending our money overseas. It also helps the thousands of Australians who are now shopping online internationally with their credit cards and being ripped off by paying high foreign currency exchange and conversion charges.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

Australians are already paying too much to access their own money. All of Mozo’s travel money comparison tools and information are available freely to anyone who visits our website at mozo.com.au/travel-money. We’re open 24/7, 365 days a year!

Our marketing strategy is to…

Spread the word about Australia’s travel money rorts and gems through PR, social media and word of mouth via our online community. We’re in soft launch and so far we’ve had over 50,000 visitors to the Travel Money Hub. We’re getting jittery thinking about the results we can expect once advertising kicks in the coming months — mango daiquiri anyone?

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

Scrubba Wash Bag (VIC)

This innovation initially came to life when…

Ashley Newland was preparing for a trip to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. He realised that with all his cold weather and camping gear he would only be able to take a few changes of clothing and would have to wash them regularly. While waterproof bags can be used to soak clothing, they lack efficiency. It was then that he had the revelation that washboards have been around for centuries and they work! If he could incorporate a flexible washboard into a sealable bag, he could change the way people wash clothing when they travel.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Provide travellers or environmentally conscious urban dwellers with a compact and lightweight device for washing clothing that doesn’t require electricity and can be used anywhere.

It does this by…

Virtue of the Scrubba wash bag’s highly flexible internal washboard. A user simply: adds water, detergent and dirty clothing to the Scrubba wash bag; seals the bag and expels air through a valve; rubs the clothing against the flexible washboard for 20-40 seconds; empties the bag and rinses the clothing. Clothing is clean in minutes!

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

There has never been a device for washing clothes that is compact, lightweight and efficient enough for people to take travelling. The Scrubba wash bag weighs around 180g and is almost pocket-sized.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

Being able to wash their clothes for free whenever and wherever they want. As the Scrubba wash bag doesn’t require electricity, it is an environmentally friendly method for washing clothing and its size means it will fit in anyone’s pack.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

Travellers paying to use a Laundromat or washing service or soaking their clothing in sinks or plastic bags. However, Laundromats and washing services can be hard to find and/or are expensive when abroad. Sinks may be dirty or unavailable for soaking clothing and plastic bags lack washing efficiency.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Sinks, Laundromats, traditional washing machines and plastic bags.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

Anyone that needs to wash clothing on the go. This includes backpackers or other travellers, campers, military personnel, aid workers, etc. Literally, millions of people around the world! There is also a large market for urban dwellers or college students who may not have easy access to a washing machine or may only want to quickly wash a few items of clothing or delicates. As the Scrubba wash bag doesn’t require electricity, it should also appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

Our website (www.thescrubba.com) from early May 2012 with worldwide shipping available. We also plan to engage retailers in our major markets to stock the Scrubba wash bag.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Continue promoting the Scrubba wash bag through social media campaigns as well as online and in-print travel, camping and gadget magazines. For a product yet to be released, the Scrubba wash bag has already had over 80,000 YouTube views in 154 countries and online news coverage in more than eight languages.

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

Microcell Arrays (VIC)

This innovation initially came to life when…

We realised that we could not track the position of certain types of biological cells for more then one hour without losing sight of them under the microscope. The research that was being conducted relied on infecting a specific cell then waiting for 3-5 days to see if the cell was infected, died, divided or nothing happened. In the end there could be no direct correlation between how many cells we infected and the outcome five days later, except for the development of assumptions and statistical probabilities.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Allows the cells to be placed under a microscope multiple times over multiple days and you know exactly which cells you are tracking without having to rely on assumptions and statistics.

It does this by…

Confining the cells, like a farm paddock confines how far animals can roam. As the design incorporates multiple arrays, or paddocks, a significant number of highly precise tracking results can be obtained from the one experiment.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

Now large populations of cells can be continuously monitored at the single-cell level over multiple generations — the “Big Brother” of the biological cell world. This was achieved in a simple self-adherent plastic insert that does not require any procedural modifications to the research.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

The ability to see the effects of external chemical, pathological or environmental signals on the target cell but also on the following generations of cells in a continuous live cell environment.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

Fixing, or “freezing” the cells in time, at certain times after the inclusion of the external signal. This requires the experiment to be repeated many times with different batches of cells to produce a “time course” of the effects of the signal with statistical analysis used to correlate the results.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Traditional plastic and glass cell culture ware which has not evolved in the last decade. Cell culture ware was designed for culturing large populations of cells rather than as a screening or investigative platform.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

Biologists interested in studying the effects on live cells from external signals in a continuously monitored environment. This has applications in cancer research, molecular biology, stem cells, drug discovery and high content screening. The global market for high content screening platforms is predicted to reach $5.86 billion in 2012 and grow at a rate of 22% per year. This market includes academic researchers and industry based R&D and manufacturing.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

The company website, www.microsurfaces.com.au.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Grow the sales and brand of the product through collaborative interactions with the customers to ensure the highest-quality results are achieved and promoted. This will be a result of direct contact with identified potential customers and promotion at industry and academic conferences.

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