Hundreds of start-up companies founded on University of Sydney-developed intellectual property are demonstrating the power of Australian research and attracting serious interest from global investors keen to commercialise these opportunities.
Since 2015, 259 start-up companies have emerged from the University’s ecosystem, including 66 official spinouts. Together, they have raised more than $180 million in the last two years alone.
Across the world, universities are playing a growing role in turning research into real-world solutions. At the University of Sydney, this work is backed by a strong focus on impact, with research that tackles major challenges and contributes to the common good.
For investors, this creates an opportunity to partner early in ventures built on proven research, said Professor Julie Cairney, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Enterprise).
“Through our Commercialisation Office and Venture Investment team, the University of Sydney supports high-potential ideas to grow into companies with global reach, and we invite investors to collaborate with us along that journey,” Professor Cairney said,
“Our approach combines deep research expertise with practical support, from intellectual property development to incubation and co-investment. The result is a pipeline of spinouts tackling challenges in health, technology and sustainability.”
Improving outcomes in women’s health
Baymatob is developing a wearable device to help predict postpartum haemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal death. The technology was created by Dr Sarah McDonald, a University of Sydney alumna and mechatronic engineer, following her own experience of childbirth.
Led by CEO Tara Croft, Baymatob’s leading product, Oli PPH, is the first technology globally able to identify individuals at elevated risk of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) well before birth. PPH affects an estimated 14 million births each year and is the leading cause of preventable maternal death worldwide. Unlike current approaches that rely on reactive monitoring after birth, Oli PPH provides clinicians with an early warning at least one hour prior to delivery, enabling timely preparation and intervention and reducing the risk of severe outcomes such as emergency hysterectomy.
Baymatob was one of the largest investments by the University of Sydney Pre-Seed Fund and Venture Investment Team, supporting the company’s progression through pivotal clinical and regulatory milestones.
Oli also received Breakthrough Device Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration, with clinical validation underway in Australia and the US. Patient recruitment for Baymatob’s pivotal clinical trial commenced at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney in 2025, followed by recruitment in the US later that year.
The company has recently closed a $6.5 million Series A3 funding round and is further expanding into the US. This progress highlights the growing demand for innovation in women’s health and demonstrates the global potential of university-led ventures.
We have numerous pathways for innovators at the University, including our student and alumni community, to access targeted support and advice that will help get their idea off the ground and into the markets where they’ll make the biggest difference
Professor Julie Cairney
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Enterprise)
Advancing quantum sensing
Deteqt is applying quantum technology to detect and measure magnetic fields with high precision. Based on University of Sydney intellectual property developed at the Sydney Nano Institute, the company is part of our on-campus incubator, Sydney Knowledge Hub.
Founded by Adjunct Professor Jim Rabeau and Professor Omid Kavehei, Deteqt blends tried-and-tested CMOS semiconductor chips (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor chips – the kind found in all manner of electronic devices around the world), with quantum nitrogen-vacancy (NV) diamonds.
This hybrid sensor architecture combines the robustness of semiconductor technology with the delicate-yet-powerful sensing capabilities of quantum devices, without the need for extreme sub-zero temperatures and shielding typically seen with quantum computers. The result is a device with applications in geolocation and navigation in GPS-denied environments such as underground mines, undersea exploration, and in contested regions.
Beyond navigation, demand is emerging across defence, space, mineral exploration and next generation medical imaging. Partners including the Australian Defence Force, Fleet Space and OneScan are already advancing early applications, and the same platform is being pulled into adjacent markets where precise magnetic sensing unlocks entirely new capabilities.
Deteqt has secured $5 million seed funding led by Main Sequence Ventures, signalling strong investor interest in this emerging field.
The Deteqt team at the Sydney Knowledge Hub. L-R: Jim Rabeau, Rupal Ismin, Omid Kavehei, Adam Stewart and David Katzmarek. Image: supplied.
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LinkEarly treatment for heart disease
Kardiomics and ProKardia are two related spinouts working to diagnose and treat early heart inflammation, which can lead to unexpected heart attacks. The work builds on research from the University’s BioHEART program and associated intellectual property.
Cardiovascular disease remains the world's leading killer, often striking people who lack traditional risk factors like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. ProKardia is tackling this threat by treating chronic inflammation within the blood vessels. Kardiomics is the companion diagnostic, and the company has achieved a major milstone in isolating the aptamers that identify early cardiovascular inflammation.
ProKardia is developing small-molecule drugs that block a specific cell receptor responsible for triggering dangerous, tissue-damaging inflammation. Unlike broader anti-inflammatory treatments that can dangerously weaken the immune system against infections, ProKardia’s therapy selectively stops the inflammation driving heart disease. This breakthrough approach aims to protect heart tissues, improve patient survival rates, and offer a crucial new lifeline for individuals facing life-threatening cardiac conditions.
ProKardia was founded by Professor Gemma Figtree, Head of the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance and Professor Michael Kassiou, Academic Director of the University of Sydney’s Centre for Drug Discovery Innovation.
The teams are making progress in validating their approach and are currently seeking investment to support the next stage of development. This is an opportunity to back research with clear clinical potential.
Professor Gemma Figtree, Kardiomics founder and ProKardia co-founder. Image: supplied
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LinkSustainable fuels and fertiliser for industry
PlasmaLeap Technologies is developing a process to create fertilisers and fuels from air and water, with zero emissions at the point of production.
Using a plasma-based method that mimics lightning, the company synthesises ammonia from air, water and renewable electricity, offering a low-emissions alternative to the Haber-Bosch process, which accounts for around two percent of global carbon emissions.
This technology also presents a potential solution to global disruptions in the production and supply of both fertiliser and fossil fuels. Ammonia is essential to modern agriculture, supporting nearly half of global food production. Conventional fertiliser production relies on fossil fuels and highly centralised infrastructure. PlasmaLeap’s technology uses plasma to excite nitrogen and oxygen molecules to form nitrogen based fertilisers. This enables decentralised, on-demand fertiliser production, with applications ranging from on-farm use to regional fertiliser manufacturing hubs, as well as future pathways in sustainable fuels and energy systems.
Field trials are underway in Australia, including horticultural applications in Tasmania.
The company has raised a $30 million Series A round, with investment alongside global investors including the Gates Foundation, Investible and Yara Growth Ventures. This demonstrates both commercial confidence and strong alignment with net zero goals.
Professor PJ Cullen producing ammonia in the PlasmaLeap lab. Image credit: University of Sydney / Fiona Wolf
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LinkAn ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurs
At the University of Sydney, our innovation and enterprise ecosystem supports business, government, students, staff and alumni to transform ideas into solutions that create value and contribute to the common good.
“We have numerous pathways for innovators at the University, including our student and alumni community, to access targeted support and advice that will help get their idea off the ground and into the markets where they’ll make the biggest difference,” Professor Cairney said.
From the INCUBATE startup program to opportunities like Inventor Mentoring and the PERIscope research commercialisation program at the Sydney Knowledge Hub, there are many pathways for entrepreneurial researchers and students to access networks, advice and resources to grow their ideas.
Industry can also apply to collaborate directly with the University’s researchers, or to licence our IP.
Importantly, the University is also backing its own spinouts and startups through its targeted Venture Investment team and the Pre-Seed Venture Investment Fund. Discover more about our innovation ecosystem and how to invest alongside our Venture Investment team.
A workshop at the Sydney Knowledge Hub's Inventor Mentoring program, part of the University's innovation and enterprise ecosystem that prepares our community to develop their ideas into successful, market-ready innovations. Image credit: University of Sydney
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LinkHero image: ProKardio co-founder Professor Michael Kassiou. Image credit: University of Sydney.
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