Pepfactants® won $100,000 to progress their materials science breakthrough at the UQ Business School Enterprize competition last week, Friday October 13.
The technology, a peptide surfactant that can reversibly make and break emulsions and foams, is expected to bring new functionality to a range of products and industrial processes, especially where the biodegradability and safety of the product is valued.
Andrew Malcolm, member of the Pepfactants management team, said the technology not only outperforms commonly used surfactants to make stable emulsions and foams but the product’s stability can be controlled.
“Our Pepfactants have exciting new properties. They are the first truly reversible, switchable surfactants for both emulsions and foams,” Mr Malcolm said.
“This means when you use our Pepfactants to make an emulsion or foam, you can control when it will be stable and when it will be unstable.
“We are very excited about winning, and we know the $100,000 will accelerate the commercialisation progress,” he said.
Winner of the i.lab technology incubator prize, GetCracking™, has a working prototype machine that will control the problem of concrete cracking for highways, airport runways and industrial buildings.
Anne-Marie Birkill, CEO of the i.lab technology incubator, said the prize of 12 months mentoring and support with i.lab was worth more than money alone.
“If the winner uses the prize as it is intended, and works with i.lab using its resources, meeting other start-up entrepreneurs and using i.lab’s networks, I believe the prize is of considerable value,” Ms Birkill said.
BioShield won the People’s Choice award, an SMS vote by the audience on the best pitch. With all Thailand team members flying into Brisbane (only one team member is based in Queensland), BioShield has developed a new vaccine to boost shrimp immunity to the deadly white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). The virus has decimated aquaculture industries across the globe.
Head of UQ Business School Professor Tim Brailsford said all the finalists should be congratulated for making it this far.
“This group of finalists have come through a rigorous selection process, and each one now has a winning business plan, has prepared for interviews, and has a pitch ready for potential investors,” Professor Brailsford said.
“It is very exciting to be in at the beginning of so many future success stories.”
For more information, contact Fiona Sutton: 07 3365 6748, f.sutton@business.uq.edu.au, 0423 637 699.
Photos are available.
