Ignition

Marc Berryman, Rhinohide

“Prior to Ignition I didn’t know where to begin to seek investment in the business and only six months later I have received two rounds of funding.”

Marc Berryman’s invention is a removable paintwork protection system for four-wheel drive vehicles. Aptly named Rhinohide, it’s made from high impact ABS plastic panels that conform perfectly to a vehicle’s surface with Neodymium magnets, allowing drivers to venture off-road without worrying about scratches.

“Ignition was really the turning point for Rhinohide,” he says. “The networks that I managed to create and the confidence that the course gave me to steer my business in the right direction was invaluable.”

Within three months of completing the Ignition program, Berryman received support from two sets of private investors in Perth. He also made waves in 2016 when he appeared on Channel 10’s Shark Tank.

Steve Carolan, CV Check

“The program was really, really good; it ticked all the right boxes for us and accelerated our learning. Raising the capital for rapid high growth was all-important for CV Check and it helped point us in the right direction.”

Before attending ignition, Steve Carolan had funded CV Check for many years from his own pocket. While he thought the concept was right – a screening system for businesses and individuals – he needed a plan to scale the business.

“Ignition was excellent,” Carolan says. “It helped us focus and gave us a good reality check on our ideas. It also helped us develop the elevator pitch that was all-important in the capital raise. The program was really good – it ticked all the right boxes for us and accelerated our learning. Raising the capital for rapid high growth was all-important for CV Check and it helped point us in the right direction.”

In 2016 CV Check was ranked 13th in Deloitte Technology’s Fast 50 Australia and 95th in the Deloitte Fast 500 APAC after achieving 538 per cent growth over three years.

Sharon Grosser, SEQTA Software

“Prior to the program and, in fact, during it, I was full of self-doubt. I had never expected to find myself running a startup and I just didn’t know if what I was experiencing was ‘normal.'”

In 2011, Sharon attended the very first Curtin Ignition program. Sharon was hesitant; SEQTA could not easily afford the program fee and she felt that the weeklong intensive program was just too many days to be away from the business, but she made the decision to attend and has been grateful ever since.

Since Ignition, SEQTA has raised nearly $10M in equity funding; enjoyed compound revenue growth of over 70% over the last four years; increased the number of staff from eight to 75, including internationally experienced and renowned executive and board members; and has acquired another business.