Tender Relief for Eliza

The Pilbara’s most promising start-ups have been recognised as part of a Shark Tank-style event to foster innovation and develop new business in the region, with local proposal support company Tender Relief taking first place.

The new program, called Launchpad, ran in a similar format to the international TV Shark Tank, in which saw up-and-coming businesses pitch their products to industry experts around Australia, the US and Asia.

The program targeted new and small businesses across the Pilbara to take part in a series of free workshops to learn the skills needed to pitch their ideas, get capital, and organise their companies.

Jewellery designer Binky Clay, electrical and solar company Tic Tag Systems, dispute resolution service Incite Conflict Management, and artisan soap designer Portside Soap were the first four businesses chosen to advance to the finals after the first stage back in August.

They were then joined by renewables specialist Cheeditha Energy, author and filmmaker Chinnock Publishing, proposal support company Tender Relief, and Minecraft engineer Russell Chappelow to round out the final eight.

In the end, it was Tender Relief — a company specialising in providing training, workshops and assistance to clients who wish to bid for tenders across the region — that won first prize.

Tender Relief owner Eliza Carbines lauded her competitors and said she was honoured to win first place after months of preparation and learning.

“State government initiatives like the Launchpad are critical to regional development — funding for workshops that provide high-level learning to us in the North West is so important,” she said.

“These services are available all the time in metro regions so it’s really essential that the same opportunity is championed in regional centres.

“Any amount of funding available for start-ups like mine takes pressure off, even if only for a little while.

“Our prize money will be put towards continuing to develop our tech platform, which we are designing to help modernise support for regional businesses who rely on tendering to win work.”

As part of the prize package, Ms Carbines will be flown to Perth to participate in further pitch nights with metropolitan businesses.

“In the future, I’d encourage funding for these programs to continue and I’d strongly encourage regional businesses to get involved,” she said.

Launchpad was developed by the Pilbara Regional Innovation Network and led by the Port Hedland Chamber of Commerce.