The all-day event, held on 27 October, showcased Casey’s commitment to innovation, and shone a spotlight on ideators, thought leaders and entrepreneurs who are turning Casey into a hub of innovation, economic vibrancy, and inclusiveness. The event also sought to position Casey as a magnet for new business investment.

The Innovation Summit featured an array of events, workshops, panels, and networking opportunities. Among other interesting events, we announced the recipients of the Casey Future Mobility Living Lab grant, and hosted an exciting session for aspiring entrepreneurs to take the stage to present their groundbreaking ideas and startups to investors at the Pitchfest.

Casey food startup wins Pitchfest

Congratulations to Casey business Deewishus Foods for winning the Pitchfest and being selected to receive a $5,000 prize pack, which included marketing and launch support from the event sponsors, The Hype Society and Assertive Media.

Deewishus Foods manufactures and delivers a 100% nut-free hazelnut flavoured choc spread that was safe to eat for children and adults with nut allergies, and was lunchbox safe, Australian made, gluten free, and did not contain palm oil. Franco Schena, founder of Deewishus Foods, made the pitch that the nut-free and delicious choc spread would give consumers peace of mind and promote inclusivity.

“I was quite surprised and humbled to win the Pitchfest. It was an acknowledgment that a product I've been working on and devoting so many hours to had received some objective validation.”

“The real work begins now. It's time for us to leverage off this with genuine excitement and enthusiasm to see what the next step brings and where we can take our product,” said Mr Schena.

Students design solution for global problems at the Hackathon

At the Hackathon that followed later in the day, teams from schools across Casey explored obstacles to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and devised solutions for our local community. DREAMr and SPADES were selected as the top projects providing excellent solutions to global problems that may be managed locally.

Through the DREAMr project, the team of students offered a virtual reality solution designed to help students with mental health by creating a space based on digital phenotyping to encourage relaxation and stress management. SPADES is a gamified augmented reality solution built using Microsoft Azure AI tools to allow users better choices for sustainable packaging when shopping.

At the Hackathon, the students showcased not just their problem-solving abilities but their immense potential as Casey’s future workforce. Their innovative solutions, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, proved that the next generation is ready to tackle the world's challenges head-on, ensuring Casey's future remains as bright as ever.

Showcase of innovation and a glimpse into the future

The Open Data exhibition on the day explained how the City of Casey leverages data to make informed decisions for enhanced service delivery and also helps community members, including businesses, benefit from it too. The Community Innovation Exhibition highlighted how the Casey fosters a culture of innovation among residents and entrepreneurs.

It was evident that Casey businesses and community members were tuned towards the future judging from their engagement and participation in the Emerging Trends discussion, which centred around artificial intelligence and the challenges and opportunities it presented.

Casey is open for investment

The City of Casey is a future-focused city that supports innovation and entrepreneurship, and one that is pro-business, actively supporting investors to get new projects off the ground.

If you are considering investing in Casey, you will have access to a designated concierge partner from Council’s Economic Development team. They will guide you through the entire investment journey.  Contact us today to discuss your investment proposal.