Penrith businesses shine at Urban Futures Demo Day

The innovative thinking of Penrith New West businesses was on show last week at the inaugural Urban Futures Property Industry Technology Accelerator Demo Day.

Delivered through a partnership between Landcom and Western Sydney University’s Launch Pad, the virtual Demo Day saw businesses pitch their ideas to deliver innovation in urban living design and development to 140 participants.

Among the presenters was Olga Voronina, Co-Founder of ArtOn Lab. The studio, based in Werrington, specialises in 3D visualisations, virtual and augmented reality applications. ArtOn Lab can offer the property industry photorealistic renders and fly through videos. In a step beyond visualisation, ArtOn Lab’s virtual reality tours make it possible for developers to take prospective buyers through a future development in a more immersive way. As Olga describes "it’s the closest thing to actually being there". The panel of judges noted the appeal of this technology would be high in the current context where travel is greatly reduced.

 Aquacell, an end-to-end provider of water recycling systems whose design and engineering headquarters are based in Werrington, also made their pitch to the panel of judges and the virtual audience. Head of Business Development Hugh Fisher spoke about the need to change our mindset about water, using the term "single-use water" and urging industry to consider the environmental benefits of water recycling. Hugh pointed to the potential of Aquacell’s decentralised water recycling systems to deliver increased greenery in urban environments, and in regional areas where traditional sewer connections aren’t cost effective.

Innovation is nothing new to Aquacell, with CEO Colin Fisher recently developing an idea for a reusable face mask to be manufactured locally.

The Demo Day is the culmination of the 2020 Urban Futures Accelerator program. The program seeks to grow innovation within the property development industry by providing up to $50,000 of in-kind support to start ups and SMEs to fast-track product development and commercialisation opportunities.

Image: Olga Voronina from ArtOn Lab making her pitch at the Urban Futures Property Industry Technology Accelerator Demo Day.