SPACE TANK
STARTUP FACTORY - Building Space Tank 2.0
Located at the doorstep of Melbourne’s CBD, the Start Up Factory will be part of the growing ecosystem that is aligned with the future Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct. Planned by the Victorian Government, the vision for the Innovation Precinct is to be “an internationally renowned centre of innovation in advanced manufacturing, engineering and design”. Space Tank's work and vision also aligns with the values and goals of the Brunswick Design District and industry organisations such as AMGC, CSIRO, Manufutures, Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions (BAMS), Launch Vic and Breakthrough Victoria.
For innovation in manufacturing sectors to become more than theatre, more than rhetoric, there is an imperative on us to 'walk the walk'. To roll up our sleeves at the grassroots. To plant the seeds and nurture the growth of our aspiring talent - from the ground up.
We are seeking strategic partners and stakeholders to join us at the starting blocks of Melbourne's exciting innovation and investment opportunity. The journey begins now.
Reporting on the state of innovation in Victoria
The right approach to innovation will unlock billion-dollar economic opportunities. But Australia squanders manufacturing innovation at the grassroots of our startup ecosystem. We have a plan to do something about that.
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Space Tank has identified a critical gap in Australia’s innovation ecosystem, particularly in Melbourne, where advanced manufacturing startups lack the support needed to bridge the commercialisation phase, or otherwise known as the valley of death. While incubators and government programs predominantly serve software ventures, those developing physical products and technologies remain largely underserved and disconnected from essential resources.
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The Startup Factory Innovation Report provides a detailed analysis of observations and findings from sector leaders within Victoria’s startup ecosystem. It proposes a course of action to fill this critical gap through a sector agnostic approach that unites government, industry, academia and investors. ​By working together, we can deliver the next wave of homegrown advanced manufacturing innovations.
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ATIP - Applied Technology Investment Partnership is a proposed investment fund for digital-physical startups. ATIP will connect investors with a purpose-built Startup Factory - a support ecosystem for digital-physical startups. Unlike traditional accelerators, the Startup Factory, backed by the ATIP fund, integrates production infrastructure directly into its investment model.​
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We are seeking interested parties who will partner with Space Tank to build the Startup Factory. To achieve excellence, we work with entrepreneurs, innovators, graduates, universities, corporate partners, equipment sponsors, investors, manufacturers and, well, anyone who cares about Australian innovation.
​If you can help give manufacturing an equal standing in our startup ecosystem, please contact us​.​​​​
A new vision for Australian innovation
The Startup Factory will grow from incubator programs into a permanent flagship location. It will become an ecosystem for collaborative innovation that promotes systematic industry support and investment into hardware startups. Leveraging the Venture Studio operating model, the Startup Factory will drive competitive advantage by de-risking the development of hardware startups in fields of physical product technologies.
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Staged program development
​The Startup Factory will be informed by the evolving community and development of advanced manufacturing within the context of Victoria's startup ecosystem. Flexible infrastructure and hands-on programs allow you to collaborate, invest and test your ideas. The development of Startup Factory will progressively accommodate learnings to create a best-fit for Australian conditions and will ultimately, establish a permanent flagship location.
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Collaborative investment
We are stronger and more successful when we play together. This is where you come in. We seek a combination of corporate assets, innovation talent and the strategic value of external capital to create the foundations for an exciting innovation hub in Melbourne, and to also seed new ventures and startups along the way.
Innovation leadership
As an independent innovation facility, Startup Factory will provide leadership and governance for innovation and entrepreneurial development free from bureaucratic shackles found in conventional institutions. Corporate partners, innovators and product developers will have creative freedom to catalyse investment into new technologies and innovative products, creating quality jobs for tomorrow.
Our approach
The Startup Factory uses a Venture Studio model, pulling together the right people and generating out-of-the-box thinking to solve high-value problems, rather than waiting for good ideas to walk through the door. ​​We use our deep experience to get stakeholders on the same page by facilitating seamless collaborations to navigate problems, test ideas and iterate solutions. We negotiate the right business models to suit the project. This pro-active and inventive approach solves wicked problems that fit real-world conditions.
Projects are drawn from high value sectors such as health, smart city, agriculture and clean economy to drive collaboration between inventors, designers, research institutes, entrepreneurs, industry professionals and investors.
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Pillars of development:
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INVESTMENT
ATIP fund channels private, civic and institutional capital into digital-physical innovation emerging from the Startup Factory network.
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FACILITIES
Startup Factory provides co-working space, design studios, advanced manufacturing equipment and prototyping technology.
EXPERTISE
Mentoring supports technical and business growth and skills training in engineering and design.
PROGRAMS
Venture studio programs, accelerators and Bench to Business training drives innovation in specified problem domains.
COMMUNITY
Innovation and entrepreneur community including investors, industry suppliers, manufacturers, corporates, researchers and professional expertise.
...innovate with us
Team
Holger Dielenberg
Manufacturing and creative technology experience spanning 30 years across digital visual effects, product development and construction industries.
Scott Anderson
Engineering, Technology, Operations & Strategy. Over 20 years experience of corporate leadership with multi-national services companies.
Oli Tod
Experienced lawyer and founder working at the intersection of technology, design and law. Herbert Smith Freehills alumni.
FB IDEAs
A not-for-profit organisation that works with Fishermans Bend stakeholders and partners to create and support innovative and iterative activity within the precinct.
We want you
If you are interested in collaborating or partnering with Startup Factory, contact us now.
