Top 12 Takeaways from Inspire 2024: The Future Is…

It’s been a little while since Inspire, and we’re still buzzing with excitement! Set at Sydney’s Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) on May 22-23, 2024, the groundbreaking event was exclusively for Innovation Bay’s founder and investor members and special guests – 250 of the most influential people in the Australian startup industry. 

Set under the overarching theme ‘The Future is…’, Inspire was a platform for the exchange of revolutionary thoughts and ideas about what the future holds for the startup ecosystem across the next 5-10 years.

The audience heard from inspiring speakers including Dylan Alcott, AO, The Hon. Ed Husic MP, Minister for Science & Industry, Melanie Silva, Managing Director & VP of Google Australia and New Zealand, Craig Blair, Partner & Co-Founder, Airtree, Anna Wright, Founder & CEO, BindiMaps, Chris Jewell, CEO & Co-Founder Zepto, among many other distinguished voices. 

Ready to relive the magic? Let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore some of the key takeaways of those amazing two days.

1. Quantum Leap: The recent $1 billion investment in quantum computing showcases the game-changing potential for Australia’s innovation landscape, highlighting key sectors like AI, space, health, and energy transition.
2. Global Innovation Leadership: Recognition by the OECD for Australia’s advancements in the commercialisation ecosystem emphasised the importance of positioning founders at the core of the innovation ecosystem and leveraging strategic industry engagement.
3. AI Revolution: The shift from ‘what could we do with AI’ to ‘what are we doing with AI’ underscored Australia’s potential to be a leader in tech innovation, particularly within climate and environmental sectors.
4. Inclusivity Matters: Emphasising the social model for inclusivity, it was highlighted how modifying environments benefits everyone and the importance of compliance with accessibility standards.
5. Strategic Partnerships: The discussions on partnerships revealed their substantial benefits and strategic importance in driving business growth and efficiency, providing actionable strategies for effective collaborations.
6. Health Simplified: Simplifying approaches to health and technology was a key theme, with a focus on the importance of sleep, physical activity, stress management, and the significant impact of our environment and community on health.
7. Media Influence: The powerful role of media in shaping ventures and public perception was explored, with examples illustrating how media framing can act as a catalyst for policy and legislative changes.
8. Real-time Payments: The future of payments is real-time, with the government’s plans to retire the direct entry system by 2030 marking a significant shift in the payment ecosystem towards more efficient and immediate processes.
9. Space Tech Impact: The transformative potential of space technology in solving global problems and driving innovations across sectors like communication, healthcare, and energy was highlighted.
10. Sustainable Protein: Innovations in sustainable protein production and autonomous farming technologies were discussed, emphasising the importance of diversity in the AgTech sector to tackle climate-related challenges.
11. Tech Adaptation: Businesses must adapt to rapid technological changes and evolving consumer behaviours, with a vision for individuals harnessing technology to become superhuman.
12. Accessible Employment: The introduction of The Field jobs platform highlighted the importance of inclusive employment opportunities for people with disabilities and shared impactful personal experiences and statistics.

Inspire saw investors, VCs and founders participate in a lively exchange of ideas – emphasising the importance of cultivating diverse perspectives as well as a sense of camaraderie and fun in our ecosystem. 

Innovation Bay extends a huge thank you to everyone who came along, we’ll see you next year! 

Inspire was proudly supported by Innovation Bay’s official media partner Forbes Australia and event partners IAG Firemark Ventures, Google Cloud, the Field Jobs, and the Dylan Alcott Foundation.  

More Innovation Bay content

Podcast Insights News

Join the Innovation Bay community

Founders Investors