Startup From University of Sydney Incubate Program Raises $1.13M Before Launch

The entrepreneurship scene seems to be heating up down under, especially at the top universities in the country. Last week, we wrote about university-run Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) launching its second round of applications, thanks to the encouraging results from the first one. And apparently MAP isn’t the only university-run program coming out of Australia.

Incubate is a student union backed startup incubator and entrepreneur program at the University of Sydney. It was founded last year by two students, James Alexander and Mina Nada, with strong support from University of Sydney Union (USU).

First batch of startups and achievements

Recently, Incubate graduated its inaugural batch of startups (pictured right), which includes:

1. WeSit

WeSit is a suite of web and mobile applications that connects parents with trusted babysitters. It taps into a trusted network of people, and parents can schedule babysitters with ease.

It solves one of the biggest issues parents face when they have commitments to fulfill – finding someone to entrust their children in their care. It boasts over 100 pre-registered users and has received AUD$20,000 (US$20,500) from BlackBerry. The fund will be used for the development of WeSit’s BlackBerry app and it will be featured on BlackBerry World.

2. SnapDisco

SnapDisco has developed a web-based, automated image processing technology that traces a clipping path around items. Its ‘computer vision’ has the ability to differentiate background and foreground parts of the photo, and then decides on a clipping path, which eradicates the tedious manual editing process.

It makes it easy for e-commerce sellers to now remove ugly backgrounds. The computer vision technology is also currently in the process of being patented.

3. Edisse

Edisse prides itself as an innovative watch, which has automatically detects when an elderly falls. It allows caretakers to keep track of older folks in real-time, and will receive notifications should the elderly person experience a fall.

4. CloudHerd

Differences between MAP and Incubate