Techstars

DMS Creative Curtains & Blinds Pty Ltd stands at the forefront of the soft furnishing business, seamlessly blending traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technologies. Our commitment to innovation is exemplified by the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in our premium-quality products and services. Harnessing the power of modern technologies, we elevate the standard of craftsmanship in the window furnishings industry. Our specialized expertise lies in creating high-quality, custom-made, and luxurious window dressings that redefine the concept of home decor. By incorporating AI and ML, we bring a level of precision and sophistication to our offerings that is unparalleled in the market. What sets us apart is our dedication to providing a seamless and personalized experience for our clients. The use of AI allows us to analyze and understand individual preferences, ensuring that each product is tailored to meet specific requirements and tastes. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also maximizes functionality and efficiency. All our products proudly bear the label "Made in Australia," symbolizing our commitment to supporting local craftsmanship and contributing to the growth of the Australian economy. Operating with pride in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs, DMS Creative Curtains & Blinds is synonymous with quality, innovation, and a touch of technological prowess. Our extensive range of Australian-made window dressing options is complemented by a diverse selection of fabrics, catering to a wide spectrum of preferences. Whether it's classic elegance, modern minimalism, or bold avant-garde designs, our AI-driven approach ensures that every product meets the highest standards of excellence. At DMS, we invite you to explore the seamless fusion of traditional artistry and technological innovation. Experience the future of window furnishings with our AI/ML-infused creations, where each product tells a story of craftsmanship, precision, and a commitment to transforming your living spaces into expressions of luxury and style.

ALPHS is a fast-growing privately held organization with a business valuation of $7 million as of 2023, Forbes estimated. The inspirational success story of the empire redirects to Ashini Gogoi, an ex-Meta employee, who haphazardly started it as a lifestyle community on Instagram in January 2021 as per an investigation by CNN—Forbes declared that he is a young yet enigmatic self-made CEO. Following his vision in August 2020, Ashini managed to take a loan capital of US$40,000 from his friends and family, his company started making headlines in major publications for the first time in November 2022, when the company signed a contract with the American rapper, Wiz Khalifa. The company is listed as a high-profile organization on Crunchbase and is actively offering its services in Tier 1 countries as of 2023—a statistical analysis showed that 87% of its customer base is women from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Italy. The company's website gets active during major festivals only and consumers can purchase for a limited duration of seven days, hence selling out very quickly—their most affordable models that hold their value start between $850 and $1,200. "ALPHS Inc. is one of the most secretive young companies in corporate history next to the giant Rolex," says the American business newspaper, The Wall Street Journal. Reports suggest that Ashini took down several notable articles including Forbes, CNN, WSJ—while his organization was under suspicion by April 2023—the company claimed that their products were meticulously made and they had consistently maintained their values. The company has drawn criticism from multiple sources, with questions raised about its secretive nature, and faced numerous allegations on whether their business was legal—including a handful of law firms in the financial investigation—a rigorous background check was done which publicized that they operate as an online retailer—with the approval of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee—the materials used by the company were declared legitimate in October 2022. The company also produces high-quality films titled, "Inspired by best-selling novels" for customer retention and is investing enormous funds in the development of artificial intelligence. ALPHS headquarters were officially shifted from Hyderabad, India to Milan, Italy in March 2023 under the guidance of Y Combinator, the lead investor of the company. As of 2023, the company has reportedly signed agreements with eleven prominent stars and models for endorsing its products.

Approveit is a software platform that specializes in end-to-end workflow automation for various departments within an organization, including Finance, HR, and IT. The platform integrates directly with Slack or Microsoft Teams, allowing users to manage business tasks on the go without needing additional applications. This integration enables Approveit to streamline approval processes, potentially speeding them up by up to 80%. The company serves over 50 clients across the United States, Europe, and Australia, managing more than 100,000 customer requests. Notable clients include Blade, Midokura (a Sony Group Company), and EasyGo. Approveit's platform is designed to boost productivity by automating repetitive tasks and optimizing business processes through a subscription-based pricing model.

Equatorial Space is a startup focused on developing innovative rocket propulsion and launch systems aimed at making space access as safe and affordable as commercial air travel. The company specializes in simplifying the propulsion segment of launch vehicles, which is often the most failure-prone and expensive aspect of space missions. By employing a proprietary solid fuel formulation, Equatorial Space's systems are designed to be non-explosive and eco-friendly, significantly reducing component requirements and enhancing potential reusability. This approach not only addresses key risks associated with space access but also lowers costs for various civilian and military applications. Since its inception, Equatorial Space has garnered recognition through awards and participation in prestigious accelerator programs, solidifying its presence in Singapore, Australia, and the United States.

Blink is an enterprise communication platform that enhances the digital experience for frontline workers, such as nurses, bus drivers, construction personnel, and supply chain operators, who play a crucial role in the economy. Designed for users who are often away from traditional computer settings, the app has been adopted by over 60,000 individuals in more than 100 companies across the UK, US, and Australia. Users engage with the Blink app frequently throughout the day, addressing a significant gap in support and resources for the 70% of the workforce that comprises frontline employees. Blink aims to improve employee morale and retention, having achieved a 26% reduction in staff turnover and doubled employee satisfaction within its client organizations. The platform provides an all-in-one solution that digitizes frontline operations, ensuring that essential information and tools are readily accessible. With a strong recommendation rate among users, Blink is committed to empowering and equipping frontline workers to enhance their productivity and engagement.

Section is a technology company that provides an Edge Compute Platform designed to optimize the orchestration and delivery of applications across a global infrastructure. Founded in 2012 in Australia and later relocating its headquarters to the United States, Section enables engineers to run various workloads flexibly and efficiently, adhering to modern DevOps principles. The platform utilizes a container-based approach, allowing for intelligent management of HTTP traffic delivery through a library of high-performance edge compute modules. This system adapts to developer preferences regarding performance, cost, and reliability, ensuring optimal application functioning. Section’s offerings include tools like ModSecurity, a web application firewall, and Varnish Cache, an HTTP accelerator that enhances page load performance. Operating in both Sydney and Boulder, Colorado, Section is dedicated to providing solutions that extend beyond traditional content delivery networks.

Yellowbox is a company specializing in smart locker systems that offer seamless and flexible access and management solutions. Its technology-first approach allows users to access lockers via their phones or existing swipe cards, enhancing usability. The Yellowbox system includes a mobile management app, a custom analytics dashboard, and multiple integrations to fit various environments. The smart lock is wireless, enabling installation on any locker without the need for servers or a network. Yellowbox operates across Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and North America, with installations in diverse settings, including corporate offices, public libraries, gyms, and employee-oriented facilities. The company focuses on providing on-demand locker solutions that facilitate convenient storage options for users.

Equity should be a piece of cake. We’re on a mission to simplify companies issuing and transferring shares, options and notes, and keeping your owners sweet. Started in Australia, we now help startups in Singapore, US, UK, India, UAE, New Zealand and growing fast!

Daitum is an Australian-based company specializing in the development of cloud-based software for decision analytics, harnessing artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. The company aims to make decision analytics accessible and user-friendly, focusing on applications such as supply chain planning, asset management, production planning, and workforce management. With over 25 years of combined experience in designing enterprise AI solutions for complex business challenges, Daitum is committed to delivering grounded and practical solutions that help organizations realize the true value of their data. The team comprises renowned computer scientists with extensive expertise in artificial intelligence, ensuring the provision of high-quality, customized analytical tools. Daitum operates with a clear vision to simplify decision-making processes for businesses across various sectors.

Omnio Group, founded in 2018 and headquartered in London, is a provider of banking-as-a-Service solutions designed for banks, building societies, credit unions, and various corporate clients. The company specializes in digital banking, managed services, and digital payment solutions, enabling its clients to offer innovative and reliable financial services. Omnio's platform incorporates features such as loyalty programs and back-office services, allowing clients to enhance their product offerings and generate new revenue streams through embedded financial services. With a presence in Europe, Australia, North America, and Africa, Omnio supports over 130 small financial institutions and collaborates with leading businesses and government organizations to deliver effective financial products tailored to meet evolving customer needs.

Section is a technology company that provides an Edge Compute Platform designed to optimize the orchestration and delivery of applications across a global infrastructure. Founded in 2012 in Australia and later relocating its headquarters to the United States, Section enables engineers to run various workloads flexibly and efficiently, adhering to modern DevOps principles. The platform utilizes a container-based approach, allowing for intelligent management of HTTP traffic delivery through a library of high-performance edge compute modules. This system adapts to developer preferences regarding performance, cost, and reliability, ensuring optimal application functioning. Section’s offerings include tools like ModSecurity, a web application firewall, and Varnish Cache, an HTTP accelerator that enhances page load performance. Operating in both Sydney and Boulder, Colorado, Section is dedicated to providing solutions that extend beyond traditional content delivery networks.

Flux is a political movement which aims to replace the world's elected legislatures with a new system known as issue-based direct democracy (IBDD). Flux originated in and is most active in Australia, but it is also active internationally, with groups existing in the United States and Brazil. IBDD is similar to liquid democracy, though there are differences. In IBDD, voters would still have the right to vote directly on every issue or delegate their vote to someone else, but unlike in liquid democracy, voters can choose to forego votes on one issue to use on another issue. This creates opportunity cost between issues and allows voters to specialise their votes on the issues that are more important to them. This specialisation of votes allows citizens to participate effectively in issue-based direct democracy without having to focus on every issue as they would in regular direct democracy. Software to implement IBDD is being developed by SecureVote, a startup company set up by Nathan Spataro and Max Kaye to bring Blockchain-based voting to Governments, Businesses and Token Ecosystems.

Section is a technology company that provides an Edge Compute Platform designed to optimize the orchestration and delivery of applications across a global infrastructure. Founded in 2012 in Australia and later relocating its headquarters to the United States, Section enables engineers to run various workloads flexibly and efficiently, adhering to modern DevOps principles. The platform utilizes a container-based approach, allowing for intelligent management of HTTP traffic delivery through a library of high-performance edge compute modules. This system adapts to developer preferences regarding performance, cost, and reliability, ensuring optimal application functioning. Section’s offerings include tools like ModSecurity, a web application firewall, and Varnish Cache, an HTTP accelerator that enhances page load performance. Operating in both Sydney and Boulder, Colorado, Section is dedicated to providing solutions that extend beyond traditional content delivery networks.

Section is a technology company that provides an Edge Compute Platform designed to optimize the orchestration and delivery of applications across a global infrastructure. Founded in 2012 in Australia and later relocating its headquarters to the United States, Section enables engineers to run various workloads flexibly and efficiently, adhering to modern DevOps principles. The platform utilizes a container-based approach, allowing for intelligent management of HTTP traffic delivery through a library of high-performance edge compute modules. This system adapts to developer preferences regarding performance, cost, and reliability, ensuring optimal application functioning. Section’s offerings include tools like ModSecurity, a web application firewall, and Varnish Cache, an HTTP accelerator that enhances page load performance. Operating in both Sydney and Boulder, Colorado, Section is dedicated to providing solutions that extend beyond traditional content delivery networks.

VirtKick, Inc. is a software company that specializes in a virtual private server cloud management panel, founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company primarily serves hosting providers in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, New Zealand, and Australia. VirtKick's platform enhances the operational efficiency of independent hosting companies by simplifying server management and improving conversion rates. It offers a user-friendly interface that enables software developers, designers, and software houses to manage their hosting needs effectively, including features such as automatic billing. By providing these tools, VirtKick empowers smaller hosting companies to compete with larger industry players while enhancing the overall customer experience.

VirtKick, Inc. is a software company that specializes in a virtual private server cloud management panel, founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company primarily serves hosting providers in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, New Zealand, and Australia. VirtKick's platform enhances the operational efficiency of independent hosting companies by simplifying server management and improving conversion rates. It offers a user-friendly interface that enables software developers, designers, and software houses to manage their hosting needs effectively, including features such as automatic billing. By providing these tools, VirtKick empowers smaller hosting companies to compete with larger industry players while enhancing the overall customer experience.

Blink is an enterprise communication platform that enhances the digital experience for frontline workers, such as nurses, bus drivers, construction personnel, and supply chain operators, who play a crucial role in the economy. Designed for users who are often away from traditional computer settings, the app has been adopted by over 60,000 individuals in more than 100 companies across the UK, US, and Australia. Users engage with the Blink app frequently throughout the day, addressing a significant gap in support and resources for the 70% of the workforce that comprises frontline employees. Blink aims to improve employee morale and retention, having achieved a 26% reduction in staff turnover and doubled employee satisfaction within its client organizations. The platform provides an all-in-one solution that digitizes frontline operations, ensuring that essential information and tools are readily accessible. With a strong recommendation rate among users, Blink is committed to empowering and equipping frontline workers to enhance their productivity and engagement.

Blink is an enterprise communication platform that enhances the digital experience for frontline workers, such as nurses, bus drivers, construction personnel, and supply chain operators, who play a crucial role in the economy. Designed for users who are often away from traditional computer settings, the app has been adopted by over 60,000 individuals in more than 100 companies across the UK, US, and Australia. Users engage with the Blink app frequently throughout the day, addressing a significant gap in support and resources for the 70% of the workforce that comprises frontline employees. Blink aims to improve employee morale and retention, having achieved a 26% reduction in staff turnover and doubled employee satisfaction within its client organizations. The platform provides an all-in-one solution that digitizes frontline operations, ensuring that essential information and tools are readily accessible. With a strong recommendation rate among users, Blink is committed to empowering and equipping frontline workers to enhance their productivity and engagement.

Voxon Photonics, founded in 2013, specializes in the development of advanced three-dimensional (3D) volumetric displays, notably the Voxon VX1. This innovative device creates a holographic viewing experience without the need for glasses, allowing users to visualize digital content in a collaborative manner. Using cutting-edge technology, the VX1 projects an array of points of light onto a rapidly oscillating screen, generating high-definition, genuinely three-dimensional images that can be viewed from any angle. The company's volumetric displays provide an engaging experience that captivates audiences of all ages, transforming the way people communicate, learn, and entertain themselves by making the futuristic concept of 3D holography accessible and tangible. With teams in Australia and the United States, Voxon Photonics continues to push the boundaries of display technology, merging science and art to create mesmerizing visual experiences.

MiniMonos is a virtual world designed for children aged 8 to 12, where they can create monkey avatars, make friends, decorate treehouses, and engage in games. The platform emphasizes fun while subtly embedding messages of sustainability, generosity, and community. Every purchase made on MiniMonos contributes to providing clean water for children in India and supports wildlife conservation efforts, such as adopting orangutans and tigers. Since its launch in April 2011, the site has seen a consistent growth rate of over 20% per month, amassing more than 300,000 registered members. Revenue is generated through subscriptions and microtransactions, primarily driven by natural traffic from word of mouth, online advertising, and promotions on children’s television. MiniMonos has expanded its marketing efforts with TV commercials in the UK and plans to introduce branded prepaid cards in Sainsbury's. The company is led by CEO Melissa Clark-Reynolds, who brings over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, and has operations in New Zealand, the US, and the UK.