The greatest advancement in the wine industry since the treading of grapes University of Adelaide - 2002 Champions
" Winning the 2002 Competition gave us the confidence and focus to kick-start the venture, the credibility to secure the COMET grant and the tools to move forward into capital raising ," said Conor McKenna.
Since the Adelaide University team presented ZORK in 2002, the founders Conor McKenna & John Brooks have been heavily involved with the commercialisation of the venture. Significant effort has been directed to protecting the Intellectual Property with patents developed and lodged internationally. Commercialisation funding was secured through a Comet grant for a $65,000.00 project to prototype tooling and commercialisation with an intensive development and testing program underway. Support from strategic partners has expanded with activity focused on product development and testing as well as work up for commercial battling trails. A direct market effort targeting industry leaders has generated 100% endorsement for ZORK. In the 10 months to November 2003, ZORK raised $3,000,000 in private equity investment, successfully launched the product in the global market place and achieved first sales with production orders exceeding capacity. ZORK has been described by two leading industry figures as "the greatest advancement in the wine industry since the treading of the first grapes" and " the greatest innovation in wine I have seen in the last 25 years".
Profiled on The New Inventors (ABC) 7 September, 2005
Plasvacc awarded top honours by Queensland Government
Media release
Caniplas will be the first product of its type to be approved for sale in the world. Plasvacc is gearing to export its product to the United States : they are currently seeking US regulatory approval to sell the product. The company estimates that, if approved, more than 42 million of the estimated 69 million dogs in the US will use their product in the next five years. Caniplas plasma - produced by removing blood cells from dog blood - was only registered in Australia in May last year. Plasvacc recently signed a groundbreaking agreement with CSL's pharmaceutical division to provide horse plasma for snake anti-venom products in human and animal applications. They're raising $5 million to buy the leading plasma supplier in America . Plasvacc's revenues have grown at an average annual rate of more than 30 per cent in the four years to June 30, 2004 . The company currently sells to more than 400 veterinary clinics in Australia and New Zealand . Visit the Plasvacc website.
Profiled on The New Inventors (ABC) Episode 18