Built with Biology | Panel Discussion | Cicada x Tech23 2025

Описание: Cicada x Tech23: Australia’s biggest deep tech event
As the biggest deep tech event in the country, Cicada x Tech23 is not just a showcase but a movement. A movement to champion 23 visionary founders, connect them with the right people, and accelerate their journey from lab to market, from startup to scale.

The 2025 Tech23 cohort is tackling challenges from cancer diagnostics and green steel to synthetic biology, precision agriculture, and quantum satellite navigation. These ventures represent the best of Australian deep tech: bold ideas backed by world-class science, and a mission to build a more sustainable, secure, and sovereign future.
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About Algenie
The global industrial economy heavily relies on fossil fuels and traditional agriculture, leading to significant carbon emissions and land degradation. Algenie is fundamentally transforming this by making algae the foundation of tomorrow’s industrial economy. They’ve developed a patented helical photobioreactor that efficiently cultivates cyanobacteria using only light and otherwise wasted renewable energy, requiring no farmland or additional CO₂. The innovative system absorbs two kilograms of carbon for every kilogram of product, and is up to 50 times more cost-effective than existing photobioreactors. By unlocking low-cost, large-scale algae production, Algenie enables sustainable alternatives for fuels, plastics, proteins and lays the foundation for a new, climate-positive industrial economy.
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About Sprout Materials
Polyurethane foam, ubiquitous in packaging and furniture, poses a significant environmental challenge due to its limited recyclability. Sprout Materials directly addresses this issue by developing a chemically recyclable alternative. Their innovative material performs identically to conventional foam and seamlessly integrates with existing manufacturing systems. Built upon patented Australian National University (ANU) chemistry, Sprout Materials’ circular materials enable producers to achieve their sustainability targets without compromising on performance or cost. This is more than just a product; it’s a practical and scalable climate solution ready to revolutionise industries worldwide. Sprout Materials’ tech is set to significantly reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable, circular economy for packing materials.
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About BioCarbon
Heavy industry’s persistent reliance on coal presents a significant challenge to global decarbonisation efforts, contributing heavily to greenhouse gas emissions. BioCarbon is directly addressing this issue by replacing coal with a renewable alternative made from forestry waste. Their patented pyrolysis process ingeniously transforms wet, unprocessed wood into GreenChar, a high-grade carbon product that powers electric furnaces for steelmaking. This innovative technology requires no external energy and has completed industry trials, with a commercial plant underway. BioCarbon is proving that fossil fuels are replaceable and can be outperformed by waste, offering a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable pathway for industrial processes worldwide and reducing the carbon footprint of critical sectors.
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Learn more about Cicada x Tech23
https://www.cicadainnovations.com/cic...

Learn more about Algenie
https://www.algenie.com.au/

Learn more about Sprout Materials
https://sproutmaterials.com/

Learn more about BioCarbon
https://www.biocarbon.com.au/

And a massive shout-out to our ecosystem! To our sponsors, Main Sequence Ventures, Westpac, University of Sydney, Addisons, CFO Plus, CSIRO, Boson Ventures, Dassault Systèmes, IP Australia, Honda Xcelerator Ventures, The Onset, Radium Capital, Techvisa, University of Technology Sydney and City of Sydney, for supporting Tech23.