What does ambition look like in Australia’s space sector?
It looked like a packed room at the National Space Industry Hub Showcase - full of founders, investors, industry leaders, and partners all backing bold, homegrown innovation.
Startups including Spiral Blue, Deneb Space, Crest Robotics, Aquila, DeteQt, MP Space, and ANT61 pitched and demoed technologies tackling real-world challenges, from smarter satellites and orbital autonomy to robotics, quantum sensing, and sustainable energy. It wasn’t just a showcase. It was a glimpse into the future we’re building together.
“At Cicada, we see space not as a destination, but as an enabler, a platform to solve some of the most pressing problems here on Earth, from connectivity to climate resilience. The Space Hub has shown what’s possible when you back ambitious founders with the right support.” — Sally-Ann Williams, CEO, Cicada Innovations
Investment NSW Executive Director Maroun El Khoury said the National Space Industry Hub has created a melting pot for space activity in NSW, where entrepreneurs can collaborate and advance their cutting-edge technology.
“The NSW Government is committed to fostering a thriving environment where space-related companies can innovate, scale, and commercialise their ground-breaking products and services. Initiatives like the National Space Industry Hub are ensuring businesses and entrepreneurs are empowered to reach their full potential,” — Maroun El Khoury, Investment NSW Executive Director
Spotlight on the startups who pitched:
Spiral Blue: Defence and Intelligence agencies today struggle to see vehicles and structures beneath tree canopies with existing spy satellites. Spiral Blue is launching a constellation of LiDAR satellites to provide detailed situational awareness within forests anywhere on Earth. Their data also has applications in urban planning, disaster management, coastal erosion, agriculture, carbon accounting, and financial services. Their patented LiDAR technology builds on our Space Edge Computer, with 9 in orbit to date.
Deneb Space: As our reliance on satellites grows, from GPS and telecoms to disaster response and national defence, the risks of failure, drift, and in-orbit collisions are climbing. Deneb Space is developing advanced satellite manoeuvring systems to ensure these critical missions stay on track. Their autonomous Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) are delivering real-time agility and course correction in space. The result? Fewer mission failures, less fuel usage, and higher quality data, all without constant intervention from Earth.
Crest Robotics: Crest Robotics is tackling the high cost and danger of maintaining Australia’s ageing energy grid. Their robotic assistant, Poly, supports workers during high-voltage tower repairs by safely holding live transmission lines, reducing risk without replacing human labour. Piloted by Transgrid, Poly is the world’s first robot of its kind, cutting maintenance costs by over 70%. By removing workers from the most hazardous tasks, Crest is reshaping how we care for essential infrastructure, making the job safer and the network stronger.
Aquila: Aquila Earth is challenging the limits of today’s energy grids with a bold alternative: wireless power transmission. Their system uses lasers, orbital mirrors, and specialised solar receivers to beam energy across vast distances, enabling clean, dynamic power delivery without wires or poles. They recently completed Australia’s first in-flight drone charging trial at 50 metres, proving their tech can deliver power mid-air.
DeteQt: Redefining the limitations of GPS with portable quantum sensors that map magnetic fields in extraordinary detail. Their diamond-on-silicon technology makes it possible to navigate without satellites, using the Earth’s magnetic signature like a fingerprint. Compact, rugged, and power-efficient, these sensors are designed for real-world use in submarines, autonomous vehicles, and aerospace. DeteQt’s approach opens new possibilities not only for navigation, but also for advanced mineral exploration and medical imaging.
MP Space: Solving the outdated satellite supply chain with high-performance power systems built for scale. Instead of custom builds with long lead times, they deliver turnkey battery systems that are lighter, last longer, and arrive faster, all at lower cost. Founded by ex-Tesla battery engineers, the team brings scale-up experience to space hardware, continuously improving designs through real-world flight data. As launch costs plummet and constellations grow, MP Space is filling a critical gap: fast, affordable, industrial-grade power systems for the booming satellite economy.
ANT61: As satellite missions grow in cost and complexity, even minor faults can lead to major losses. ANT61’s autonomous Beacon system tackles this by monitoring satellite health in real time and enabling robotic in-orbit repair. Deployed on Space Machines Company’s Optimus-1, it operates independently to capture critical diagnostics and radiation data, helping prevent failure before it occurs. Now included in Sompo Risk Management’s satellite insurance offerings, the Beacon is fast becoming a go-to tool for sustainability and risk mitigation.
Since launching in 2021, the Hub has supported 82 startups, helping them raise capital, secure partnerships, and launch into orbit. It’s also a place to grow as a founder. Through our six-month coaching program, founders like Ruby Jones (Aquila), Clyde Webster (Crest Robotics), and Mikhail Asavkin (ANT61) built the skills, momentum, and connections to reach mission-defining moments and step onto the stage to share what’s next.
Applications for the next Fast Start cohort are now open.
Congratulations to Tim Parsons from the National Space Industry Hub for taking home Mentor of the Year, and Anne Bettens from Deneb Space for taking home Rising Star of the Year – SME at the Australian Space Awards - a well-deserved recognition for your leadership and innovation. And huge congratulations to all our other residents, alumni, and university shareholders for their award wins - you can read the whole list here.