Morning Startup - Perth

Morning Startup is honoured to host the official launch of Western Australia’s Innovators of the Year (WAIOTY) Award for 2025

The Western Australia Innovators of the Year (WAIOTY) Award celebrates and supports the outstanding ideas, technologies, and entrepreneurial talent emerging from WA.

Run by the WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, the program recognises local innovators who are translating brilliant ideas into real-world impact—whether that's through startup ventures, cutting-edge research, or groundbreaking products and services.

WAIOTY isn’t just about trophies—it’s a launchpad. Finalists and winners receive funding, exposure, and expert mentoring to help take their innovation to the next level. There are categories for early-stage ideas, growth-stage ventures, and everything in between.

In short: If you're doing something innovative in Western Australia, WAIOTY is the award to go for. It shines a spotlight on WA's best and helps turn local ideas into global game-changers.

What to expect at the launch
We'll kick things off with a welcome from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Science and Innovation, Lisa O’Malley MLA, followed by an inspiring address from Professor Fiona Wood, WAIOTY Patron and one of WA’s most celebrated innovators.

Next, Anna Dixon from BlueSalt Consulting will present on the “Key Success Factors for a Compelling WAIOTY Application”, offering practical advice to help your submission stand out. Anna Dixon has helped businesses secure over $70 million in grant funding by helping translating their unique value propositions into compelling grant applications. Her insights into what makes a project not just fundable—but innovative and scalable—position her as a trusted advisor for those looking to stand out in programs like the WA Innovators of the Year.

Past WAIOTY winners and finalists will also be at the launch to answer any questions you have about writing a successful application and provide candid insights about the entire experience.

Applications for the 2025 WAIOTY officially open at 11:00am on the day, so come along, get inspired, and hear all about how to turn your application into a winner!

Agenda:

• 7:30 am: Morning Startup's "shameless plugs and announcements" — where you can introduce yourself or announce your startup to the Perth startup community!
• 7:45 am: Western Australia’s Innovators of the Year (WAIOTY) Launch 2025
• 8:30 am: Networking & delicious breakfast treats
• 9:00 am: Finish

Calling all startup founders!

On the first Wednesday of each month, let's get together for a tasty beverage or two, celebrate and/or commiserate the month that was, and share plans and ideas for the month yet to be!

You might even meet your future Co-founder, Lead Programmer, or Chief Ninja of Ideation and Crypto Research.

As Elon Musk could have once said, "All my success is due to drinking with other startup founders as often as possible".

This is a very casual, monthly, after-work event, in addition to our fortnightly Morning Startup meetups at Spacecubed. So if you're not a morning person, this is for you!

There will be no speakers or formalities. Just a bunch of startups, in a pub, having fun, and learning from each other.

Pizza will be provided courtesy of our amazing Morning Startup sponsors (see below), but make sure you save up ahead of time to cover the cost of your own exotic cocktails and Perth-priced-drinks.

To find us, ask the bar staff for the Founder Sundowner table and they'll point you in the right direction.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Get around our amazing sponsors!

Morning Startup is a fortnightly morning meetup for WA startups designed to educate, inspire and encourage entrepreneurship in WA.

Agenda:

• 7:30 am: Shameless plugs and announcements. Introduce yourself or announce your startup to the Perth startup community!
• 7:45 am: An awesome presentation on a startup related topic by a speaker yet to be confirmed. Or perhaps we'll have a pitch event, or something else entirely ¯\(ツ)/¯ — Whatever it is, it'll be fun and on-point for Perth / WA startups!
• 8:30 am: Networking & delicious breakfast treats
• 9:00 am: Finish

Event Description:
In the fast-paced world of technology startups, Australian entrepreneurs face unique challenges that can derail their success if not addressed early. While partnering with local app developers and coders may seem like a straightforward choice, the reality of navigating Australia's lightly regulated tech industry often reveals unexpected pitfalls.

Join us for an insightful session where we unpack the three most common risks startups encounter when working with local tech partners and, most importantly, how to protect your business. From financial setbacks to reputation management, learn practical strategies to safeguard your interests and ensure your startup thrives in this competitive landscape.

Don't leave your success to chance—equip yourself with the knowledge to build smarter, safer, and stronger partnerships.

Agenda:

• 7:30 am: Shameless plugs and announcements. Introduce yourself or announce your startup to the Perth startup community!
• 7:45 am: The hidden risks in Australia's startup tech scene
• 8:30 am: Networking & delicious breakfast treats
• 9:00 am: Finish

About Maggie
Maggie Ciobanu is the founder of Yoochooz, an innovative app designed to combat cyberbullying by encouraging young users to pause and reflect before sending messages online. A mother of three, Maggie was driven to action by the rising tide of harmful online behavior affecting children. Combining her entrepreneurial spirit with her personal experiences as a parent, she created a solution that empowers kids to make kinder choices in the digital space.

Maggie’s journey from concerned parent to tech innovator has been fueled by her unwavering commitment to online safety for young people. Yoochooz is now making an impact in schools and communities, demonstrating that simple, thoughtful tools can inspire positive change in the fight against cyberbullying.