CommBank Innovation Awards Name 15 Business Finalists

Fifteen finalists have been chosen from applications across every state and territory in the first CommBank Business Innovation Awards.

Some are changing everyday jobs, like moving house, running a truck fleet or checking the quality of building work. Others are working on technology that sounds like science fiction, from spacecraft technology built in Australia to materials made from algae.

CommBank launched the Awards in June to recognise small and medium businesses putting new ideas, technology, products and services into practice.

Meet the 15 finalists

A panel of five judges, from CommBank, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Deloitte, Square Peg and the University of Melbourne, chose five finalists in each category. Entry was open to eligible businesses whether or not they bank with CommBank.

Emerging Innovators (annual revenue up to $3m)

• Contour3D designs and builds its own 3D concrete printers, software and sustainable materials, and has already delivered homes and public infrastructure. Its Australian-developed technology offers a faster, more scalable approach to housing, enabling energy-efficient buildings and architectural designs difficult to achieve through conventional construction.
• Lactamo has developed an innovative, IP-protected, clinically validated medical device for the common breastfeeding challenges. Inspired by its founder's personal experience, the soft silicone device supports lymphatic drainage and combines temperature, movement and compression.
• Orbit2Orbit is an Australian space company developing reusable spacecraft to move cargo, refuel satellites and service infrastructure in orbit. Its goal is to help customers maintain and upgrade spacecraft rather than replace them. Through its Lab2Space program, Orbit2Orbit also helps businesses and researchers test their technology on stratospheric, suborbital and orbital missions, building flight experience on the path from concept to commercial use.
• Other Matter is a materials research studio making algae-derived bioplastics for signage, interiors, and upholstery, including OM Signage Film and Other Matter Leather. Petrochemical-free and non-toxic, the materials are designed to be taken back and remade into new material at end of life. Founding Director Jessie French developed the material as an alternative to PVC, and it has been used in Aesop stores and in projects spanning New York, London and Australia.
• Renovatio Bioscience is an Australian biotechnology company transforming apples into science-backed supplements and skincare using patented antioxidant extraction technology. Founded on groundbreaking PhD research undertaken after its founder came to Australia to study, the business is now taking Australian innovation to the world.

Scaling Innovators (annual revenue over $3m and up to $15m)

• Greenroom Robotics is an Australian software company on a mission to modernise maritime operations for safer, cleaner, protected oceans. Its autonomy software, GAMA, lets ships and vessels be controlled remotely or run autonomously, with or without crew on board.
• IMRA Surgical designs, develops, and manufactures lifelike synthetic torsos and organs so surgeons can practise complex robotic procedures before they operate on patients. Its models are designed to replace the need for cadavers or animals in surgical training.
• Janus Electric is an Australian innovator in heavy vehicle electrification, offering a turnkey solution through its patented battery swap platform, truck conversion kits, charging infrastructure and integrated fleet management software. Janus delivers a zero-emissions, full-service electrification model for the freight and logistics sector, supporting operations across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, with international deployments active in the United States and Canada. Its Central Coast-based production facility underpins its national and international deployment strategy.
• MX3 Diagnostics manufactures the world's first handheld electrochemical device that measures hydration status using a saliva sample collected directly from the tongue, delivering immediate results. Its technology is used across professional sport, aged care and demanding workplaces, including mining, oil&gas and construction..
• Visibuild is a construction quality management platform built by builders. It gives the whole project team one place to verify work on site as it happens and catch problems before they become rework. The result is less waste, faster delivery, better buildings and a trusted record of exactly what was built.

Proven Innovators (annual revenue over $15m and up to $50m)

• Hysata manufactures electrolysers, machines that split water to produce green hydrogen, using technology designed to make green hydrogen cheaper. The business grew out of research at the University of Wollongong and manufactures in Port Kembla, NSW.
• Mudex manufactures environmentally responsible, high-performance drilling fluids for mining, exploration, HDD, water well and geotechnical drilling, and supplies them globally. Its founder, Dave Williams, also developed Enviro Pack. It's sustainable cardboard packaging, built tough for the rigours of mining and made with 90% less plastic than the plastic drums it replaces.
• Next Level Racing designs and manufactures cockpits, stands, and motion platforms for racing and flight simulation. Founded in Australia in 2009, the company has grown into a global brand, with products stocked in more than 60 countries and partnerships with leading names including Ferrari, Boeing, SONY, Microsoft and the FIA.
• TAXIBOX delivers a storage unit to customers' doors, lets them pack at their own pace, then stores it or moves it wherever they need. The business started in 2010 and offers storage in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast.
• Textor Technologies makes nappy materials in a highly automated factory that runs 24 hours a day. Its latest innovation is a zinc-enriched material designed to help reduce nappy rash..

What's next for the finalists

Two representatives from each finalist will attend a boot camp in Melbourne on the day before and the day of the awards night, hosted by the Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship.

Finalists who are not named winners also receive access to US$10,000 in AWS service credits, and those in the Emerging Innovators category get an online financing session with Square Peg.

One winner will be named in each category on the night.

• The Emerging Innovators winner receives a $30,000 cash grant and three mentoring sessions with Square Peg
• The Scaling and Proven Innovators winners will spend five days in Seattle, including visits to AWS and CommBank's Seattle Tech Hub
• All three winners also receive AWS credits and a workshop co-hosted by Deloitte and AWS

Businesses with an idea of their own can start with free online training through the Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship, available to business owners, employees and aspiring entrepreneurs across Australia at commbank.com.au/innovation .