Top Australian medtech executives to mentor & judge the 2015 ‘MedTech’s Got Talent’ challenge

MELBOURNE, Australia - March 31, 2015 - PRLog -- MedTech’s Got Talent (http://www.stcaustralia.org/entrepreneur-challenge/) (MTGT) – is a unique program which identifies and accelerates high-potential medical technology concepts developed by Victorian tertiary students, post-docs and recent graduates. Aside from offering the opportunity for skills development and seed funding, the three month program also provides participants with access to mentoring from Australian technology and investment industry leaders.

With the current round due to close to applications on 8 April, STC Australia (the Small Technologies Cluster (http://www.stcaustralia.org/)) today announced the line-up of expert mentors and judges it has assembled to participate in MTGT in 2015, which include senior leaders from across Australia’s medical technology, product development, investment and academic landscape.

“The level of engagement within Victoria’s advanced technology commercialisation networks is impressive. It is humbling how many seasoned, in-demand experts are prepared to give up their time and knowledge to support the next generation of medtech entrepreneurs” said Dr. Buzz Palmer, CEO of STC.

Mentors from Australia’s leading product development companies  are at the heart of Medtech’s Got Talents, actively involved in selecting the Challenge’s 16 semi-finalist teams at the Rapid Fire Round (16 April) and working hands-on with teams to support their preparation for pitching at MTGT’s The Finals gala event (21 May).   Product Development Mentors for the 2015 round are:  Jefferson Harcourt and Grace Lethlean from Grey Innovation, Erol Harvey from MiniFAB, Toby McSweeney and Anthony Skeats from Hydrix, Robert Crowder from Cogent, Alexander Gosling from Capstone Partners, Adam Bilney from Outerspace Design, Luke Martin from Tricycle Developments, Chau Nguyen with Design+Industry, as well as Sam Lanyon and Sacha Dopheide from Planet Innovation.

At The Finals Gala event, a Judging panel comprising a who’s who of Australia’s medtech, investment and corporate landscape will select five finalist teams based on five core criteria, including innovation, market, pathway, sustainability and soft skills.  Judges for the 2015 round are confirmed as: :Amanda Caples from the Victorian Government, Gavin Fox-Smith from Johnson & Johnson Medical, Daniel Arthur from Medtronic, Tim Heasley from Artesian, Rhenu Bhuller from Frost & Sullivan, Tim Piper from Australian Industry Group, David Morris from Cochlear, Laura McKenzie from Scale Investors, Jordan Green from Melbourne Angels and Georgina Baker from Epworth Hospital.

The top five teams receive $20,000 each and entry to the Accelerate Technology Roadmapping program where they will receive regular guidance and support from seasoned entrepreneurs, investors and clinicians, including: Elane Zelcer from BioConsult, Peter Borg and Richard Mendelsohn from Leadership Management Australia and Jordan Green from Melbourne Angels.

MedTech’s Got Talent 2015 is only possible thanks to generous support by the Victorian Government and sponsors: Johnson & Johnson Medical, Grey Innovation, Monash University, MiniFAB, Medtronic Australia, Second Nature, Leadership Management Australia, Frost & Sullivan, Pitcher Partners, Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick, Hydrix, Device Technologies, Global Data, CSIRO, Planet Innovation, Outerspace Design, Capstone Partners, Cogent, Cochlear, York Butter Factory, Ernst & Young, Design+Industry, Avino Media, The Social Science and BioMelbourne Network.

ABOUT STC:

STC promotes commercialisation and entrepreneurship around next-generation innovations with programs that grow new businesses. STC seeds and catalyses new industry opportunities, provides the infrastructure to accelerate commercialization and links SMEs with key stakeholders across industry, government and academia necessary to nurture cross-fertilisation of innovation. For more information on STC programs, please visit www.STCaustralia.org.