Innovation Fund winners named

Freedom Wi-Fi and Triplify have each received $20,000 grants through the City of Joondalup's Innovation Fund, which was established last year to develop entrepreneurial and enterprising business activities.

Freedom Wi-Fi will use its funding to place an analytics wi-fi network in an agreed business area within the City of Joondalup, providing insight into the use of this physical space by visitors carrying wi-fi-enabled devices, while Triplify will use its funding to progress its app Event Radar, which will enable travellers to discover Joondalup-based events and festivals when they arrive or visit Perth.

Joondalup Mayor and Business News 40under40 winner Troy Pickard said he was looking forward to seeing both projects progress.

“These are two perfect examples of the type of business initiatives that will help create new synergies and business development opportunities in our city, which might not otherwise occur, or be attracted elsewhere in the metropolitan area,” he said.

“Advances in technology, including the digital economy, have changed the way businesses, government organisations, consumers and the community work, interact and live.

“Boosting innovation along with increasing productivity and competitiveness will ensure that our local businesses are successful on a global playing field, and this will ultimately generate more jobs locally and provide a boost to the local economy,” Mr Pickard said.

The Innovation Fund enables creative ideas and concepts to be taken to the next stage and implemented as part of the city’s commitment to its digital strategy and the ‘Expanding Horizons’ economic development strategy, which was launched in July last year.

Under the Innovation Fund, grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 are available to foster local initiatives that bring and create new business activities into Joondalup, adding to the city’s business dynamic through innovative or digital-based activities.