We embrace innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation as essential pathways to delivering positive impact.
Our innovators work tirelessly to do this; through critical therapeutics that save lives, disruptive technologies rising to meet global challenges, and programs which create safer, more inclusive communities, meaningful impact sits at the heart of innovation at the University of Sydney.
The Venture Investment team brings together the University of Sydney’s venture and investment capability to support the translation of research into scalable, high-impact companies.
We work with staff, students, alumni and affiliates to build ventures grounded in University of Sydney research and expertise, supporting their development from early concept through to commercial growth.
Through the Pre-Seed Fund, we invest up to $500,000 in early-stage opportunities, alongside providing expert guidance and access to the University’s innovation and enterprise ecosystem, which supports business, government, students, staff and alumni to transform ideas into solutions that create value and contribute to the common good.
Our Follow-on Fund invests in University of Sydney–linked companies with early traction and clear scale-up potential. It enables the University to remain an active investor in high-potential spinouts, attract co-investment, and support progression from research discovery to sustainable enterprise and market impact.
We also provide mentoring, strategic support and industry connections to support venture growth. Our focus spans high-potential sectors including AI, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, frontier tech and clean technologies, contributing to a strong pipeline of globally relevant ventures.
Geoffrey Waring
Head of
Research Investment
Geoff Waring is a venture capital investor focused on university research investments. He managed Stoic Venture Capital's seed fund and invested his own funds as an angel investor. He was an academic in the US, HK and at UNSW.
Tyrelle Janae (TJ) Laurino
Portfolio
Investment Manager
TJ is a venture investor focused on helping innovations move out of the lab and into the real world.
She was previously an Investment Principal at a deep tech venture capital fund and incubator, where she backed early-stage startups and supported founders with strategic and board-level guidance.
With a background in biomedical science and commercialisation, TJ brings a practical approach to bridging research and market. She has also founded her own small business and makes angel investments, giving her experience on both sides of the table.
TJ is always on the lookout for founders who are deeply committed to solving meaningful problems.
Noam Pilpel
Venture Lead (Sydney Biomedical Accelerator)
TJ is a venture investor focused on helping innovations move out of the lab and into the real world.
She was previously an Investment Principal at a deep tech venture capital fund and incubator, where she backed early-stage startups and supported founders with strategic and board-level guidance.
With a background in biomedical science and commercialisation, TJ brings a practical approach to bridging research and market. She has also founded her own small business and makes angel investments, giving her experience on both sides of the table.
TJ is always on the lookout for founders who are deeply committed to solving meaningful problems.
Explore investment opportunities across high-potential University of Sydney spinouts and startups, and partner with us to scale innovation with real-world impact.
PlasmaLeap is advancing the decarbonisation of fertiliser production through a scalable, distributed manufacturing model developed in partnership with agribusiness and industry.
Stage: Follow-on
Its modular technology enables on-farm and regional production of fertiliser, reducing reliance on centralised, emissions-intensive supply chains while improving cost efficiency and supply security.
The model is designed for scale across crops, geographies and international markets, supported by strong industry partnerships and early validation with end users.
PlasmaLeap is positioned to capture value at the intersection of agriculture, energy transition and supply chain resilience, with a replicable platform for global deployment.
Baymatob is a maternal and fetal diagnostics company developing AI-enabled solutions to address a major unmet need in obstetric care.
Stage: Follow-on
Its lead product, Oli PPH, is the first technology globally to identify patients at elevated risk of postpartum haemorrhage prior to delivery. PPH affects an estimated 14 million births each year and is the leading cause of preventable maternal death.
By providing clinicians with an early warning ahead of birth, Oli PPH enables proactive intervention rather than reactive response. This supports improved clinical outcomes while reducing the cost and complexity of acute care. Baymatob is positioned to establish a new standard of care in obstetric monitoring, with clear pathways for adoption across hospital systems globally.
A chip-scale quantum sensing platform built with diamond-on-chip technology.
Stage: Pre-Seed
Deteqt is addressing a key barrier to quantum commercialisation: manufacturing scalability.
Current quantum sensors rely on discrete, individually assembled components, which limits their size, durability and cost-effectiveness at scale.
Deteqt overcomes this by integrating a diamond quantum sensor with a custom CMOS chip, combining quantum sensing with established semiconductor manufacturing processes.
The company is building a global partner pipeline across defence, resources and healthcare, and is well positioned to translate Australian quantum research into a globally competitive platform.
Kinoxis Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech company developing first-in-class therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders, including dementia and substance use disorders.
Stage: Follow-on
Its lead candidate, KNX100, is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials, targeting an intracellular enzyme linked to both conditions and addressing significant unmet clinical need.
The company also has an earlier-stage program in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, valued at up to US$273 million, providing external validation and a pathway to global development. Kinoxis has secured over A$25 million in investment alongside substantial non-dilutive funding, and maintains a strong relationship with the University of Sydney to support ongoing pipeline development.
Endo Axiom is a University of Sydney spinout developing an oral insulin delivery platform with the potential to replace injections for people with Type 1 diabetes, affecting more than 8 million individuals globally.
Stage: Follow-on
The company’s technology uses engineered nanoparticles to protect insulin through the digestive system and enable targeted release and uptake via the liver, replicating the body’s natural insulin pathway. Built on two decades of research and developed in partnership with CSIRO, the platform has broader applications across autoimmune and allergy-related conditions.
With early clinical trials underway and a clear pathway to scale, Endo Axiom is positioned to address a significant global market while advancing a new class of oral biologic therapies.
Innowell is a digital mental health platform built for clinicians and backed by research. The platform offers smart triage, rapid assessment and ongoing monitoring.
Stage: IP Spinout
Supporting more personalised and efficient care delivery, Innowell provides accessible 24-hour support, with particular relevance for young people and underserved populations, including those in regional and remote areas.
Innowell is positioned to scale as part of a broader shift toward digitally enabled, data-driven mental health care systems.
Redbelly Network is a high-performance blockchain platform developed through collaboration between the University of Sydney, CSIRO’s Data61 and industry partners.
Stage: IP Spinout
Its formally verified consensus algorithm enables faster, more secure transactions without the need for energy-intensive mining, addressing key limitations in scalability and efficiency across existing blockchain systems.
With the launch of its Mainnet, Redbelly enables the tokenisation and management of compliant on-chain assets, integrating identity and accountability at the transaction layer using zero-knowledge proofs and verifiable credentials. Positioned at the intersection of digital assets and regulated markets, Redbelly provides infrastructure for secure, transparent and scalable financial products, with strong potential for adoption across global asset issuers.
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Explore Sydney’s innovation and enterprise ecosystem and access opportunities to support high-impact solutions.