Future Tech
Future Technology Program
Startups in intelligent performance
When markets get tough, businesses feel the squeeze—productivity drops, overheads rise, and growth stalls. But emerging technologies could flip that script.
KPMG Australia and Stone & Chalk are on the hunt for startups in intelligent performance for the next Future Technology Program cohort.
This program brings together two powerful forces: the largest innovation community in Australia at Stone & Chalk and KPMG’s deep industry knowledge. Startups get access to everything they need to accelerate growth.
Five standout startups working in intelligent performance will get 12 months of free residency at Stone & Chalk hubs in Sydney, Melbourne, or Adelaide.
On top of that, each startup will be matched with a KPMG mentor who’s there to help them test, validate, and uncover real growth opportunities.
And it doesn’t stop there—KPMG’s mentors and industry leads will open doors to client introductions and conversations that can push startups to the next phase of growth.
Who can apply?
For the fourth cohort, we're looking for early-stage founders developing technology that helps businesses, government, and organisations maximise performance and productivity across their entire operation.
If you're working on solutions in intelligent performance, we want to hear from you. We're especially interested in startups focused on areas like:
Operational excellence and business performance improvement
Reinventing service delivery and customer experience
Next-gen business transformation for front, middle, and back office
Business intelligence, data-driven insights, and smarter decision-making
Digital twins
AI-powered workforce solutions and agents
Intelligent automation
Smart assets
No matter the technology you're building with, if you're solving for intelligent performance, we encourage you to apply.
Eligibility criteria
To qualify for the Future Technology Program, startups must meet the following requirements:
Be Series A or earlier and developing technology within the intelligent performance space.
Be prepared to accept residency at one of Stone & Chalk’s hubs (Melbourne, Sydney, or Adelaide) within 45 days of being notified as a successful applicant.
Already be operating in Australia at the time of applying or set to begin operations by June 30, 2024.
The program kicks off in July 2024, with offers expected to be made in early June.
What program recipients receive
Five successful startups will get complimentary 12 month residency at one of Stone & Chalk’s startup hubs located in the heart of Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide.
See full breakdown of benefits below.
Stone & Chalk benefits
Curated community
Connections through a thriving, unrivalled community of like-minded founders
Thriving ecosystem
Access high-caliber mentors, experts, partners, collaborators and more
Capital & funding
Prepare to raise capital by tapping into an extensive global investor network
New markets & customers
Prepare for entry and reach new markets and customer segments
Physical workspace
Access physical, virtual, and hybrid office spaces located in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, with easy access to public transport
KPMG benefits
Mentor check-ins
Gain a KPMG expert mentor tailored to your business
Industry conversations
Connect with KPMG industry leads for great insights
Client introductions
Leverage client intros to validate, test, learn and explore real opportunities
Demo days
Showcase your business to KPMG and its networks
How to apply
Terms and conditions
Submit your application through the form at the bottom of this page by May 3, 2024.
The five startups selected for the Future Technology Program will be announced 90 days after the promotion begins in April 2024.
Successful applicants will be notified by phone and in writing by early June 2024.
Collaboration opportunities
Throughout the program, KPMG may offer participants opportunities for investment or other collaborations. These offers are at KPMG’s sole discretion and will come with separate terms and conditions. There is no obligation for participants to accept, and acceptance is not a requirement for joining the program.
Cohort winners
Cohort 1
The first cohort of the Future Technology Program features startups tackling supply chain problems.
Susie Jones
Co-founder and CEO, Cynch Security
Cynch Security helps small businesses prevent cybersecurity incidents by working closely alongside them, continuously profiling their business to develop strong and robust cyber fitness.
Fenella Boyle
Co-founder and CEO, Versed AI
Versed AI is an award-winning Natural Language Processing technology to help organisations, of all sizes, identify the true scale of their supply chain.
Richard Savoie
CEO, Adiona
Adiona helps to move people and goods more efficiently in an increasingly urbanised world through the implementation of AI and commercial mathematics in the cloud that can offset the programs urbanisation presents.
Cohort 2
The second cohort of the Future Technology Program includes innovative startups tackling space industry challenges.
Sebastian Chaoui
Co-Founder and CEO, Arlula
Arlula is an Earth Observation (EO) data management platform, enabling users across various industries to seamlessly access, procure and manage EO data.
Taofiq Huq
Founder and CEO, Spiral Blue
Spiral Blue's Space Edge computing technology uses cutting-edge machine learning technology and hardware to improve affordability, lead times, and accessibility for Earth Observation (EO) data.
Christopher Capon
CEO, Nominal Systems
Nominal Systems has developed a unique digital twinning architecture that blends state-of-the-art simulation with the latest in Internet-of-Things, Cloud and Gaming technologies to redefine the way complex systems are designed, tested and operated.
William Jeremijenko
Co-Founder and CEO, Aquila
Aquila is creating the internet of energy. The company’s goal is to build and operate an infinitely scalable energy network by using photovoltaics and directed light beams to transmit energy safely and effectively at scale.
Ben Starkey
Managing Director, Ozius Biome
Ozius Biome brings deep knowledge of the natural environment to commercially accessible earth observation analytics. The company uses data from space, fused with on-ground intelligence to provide a comprehensive three-dimensional overview of the environment to unlock opportunity and knowledge about natural assets.
Cohort 3
The third cohort of the Future Technology Program takes startups tackling a workforce-tech related challenge.
Mark Lewis
CEO, Crewmojo
Crewmojo transforms key HR processes like performance development, onboarding and skill building, into engaging and meaningful experiences. Integrated with the existing payroll systems customers already use, the company leverages data to craft automated, yet personalised, experiences for employees at scale.
Helena Turpin
Co-Founder and CEO, GoFIGR
GoFIGR matches internal talent with suitable opportunities within an organisation based on their skills, experience, and career aspirations.
Matt Dragun
Founder and Managing Director, Matae
Matae utilises a systemised method to engage and activate leaders of employees impacted by organisational changes associated with business transformation programs.
Matt Smith
Founder and CEO, MyPass Global
MyPass Global is empowering the workforce to own and control their competency information using digital Skills Passports which operate as a single source of truth capturing validated training, credentials and licences.
Shey Newitt and Sally Calder
Co-Founders, CEO and COO, RespectX
RespectX is a reporting and case management system to specifically address psychosocial harm including sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination in the workplace by providing recommendations that are compliant, compassionate and common sense.
Cohort 4
The fourth cohort of the Future Technology Program brings together five startups focused on in intelligent performance.
An all-in-one market research and experimentation platform. Heatseeker helps businesses find what customers want, so they can build the right technology. Its software provides Growth-Hacking-as-a-Service. This enables scaleups to test and learn in the market, to identify messaging that resonates, and to empower them to acquire new customers and find untapped areas of growth.
An AI automation company with clients across Asia, ANZ, Europe and the US. Bluesheets builds AI-driven workflows, incorporating IRIS to help companies reach new heights with real-time financial automation. Its technology helps businesses to achieve complete autonomous automation, while building rich, accurate and complete data sets.
An intuitive workspace that makes it easier for people with a non-technical or non-financial background to work with numbers and perform anything from simple calculations to advanced forecasting without an analytical background.
A transformative web platform that simplifies the integration and visualisation of spatial data without the need for GIS specialists. This no-code solution democratises access to complex data sets, merging satellite imagery, photogrammetry, IoT inputs, and live data into a unified, interactive 3D mapping environment. Swyvl facilitates real-time analysis and collaboration, breaking down barriers between teams and data silos.
Provides digital product owners, martech and analytics teams with clear user experience insights so they can prioritise and optimise AB testing and unlock the full potential of their website conversion funnel.
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