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WA is where the next big tech idea begins. A fortnight ago, Western Australia welcomed its newest unicorn, as Perth-founded Quoria surpassed a $100 million valuation. Another signal that world-changing innovation is happening right here in Perth. WA’s tech story challenges long-held assumptions about where innovation is born. And it’s becoming less the exception, and more the rule. Last year, almost 100 investors travelled to Western Australia for a week-long festival that is rapidly gaining global attention. VCs from Silicon Valley, Singapore, and London. Family offices traditionally invested in mining and property. East Coast firms looking for what they’re not finding in their usual networks. They came because something is shifting in Australia’s innovation landscape - and it’s happening in the West. A state rethinking its advantages For years, WA’s geography was framed as a liability. Too far from Sydney’s capital. Too disconnected from Melbourne’s talent pools. Too isolated to compete. “That narrative is absolutely being challenged,” says Danelle Cross, Director of West Tech Fest & Entrepreneurship at Curtin University. “What looked like disadvantages are being reframed as strategic positioning.” The time zone that felt disconnected from Australia’s east coast aligns perfectly with Asia’s major tech hubs - Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai. Perth operates in real-time with the region where much of the world’s growth capital is flowing. The state’s traditional strengths are creating unexpected opportunities. Mining tech that improves productivity. Renewable energy systems tested in harsh conditions. Agtech solutions built for scale. Climate technology developed by people who understand industrial operations, not just theory. “We’re leaning into our sectoral strengths rather than trying to replicate Silicon Valley,” Cross says. “Tech talent is returning to WA because you can now build a global business from one of the world’s most liveable cities.” Where the outcomes happen West Tech Fest has become the annual convergence point for this emerging ecosystem. Now in its 14th year, the festival attracts founders seeking capital, investors hunting deal flow, researchers looking for commercialisation pathways, corporates scouting partnerships, and students exploring whether they might start something themselves. The results are increasingly hard to ignore. A local aerial intelligence startup secured investment from Chevron’s corporate venture fund after an introduction at the festival - corporate venture capital backing Perth innovation. When Bill Tai challenged the ecosystem to invest in data infrastructure, it led directly to Curtin investing in a GPU cluster to build capability and transform AI development in WA’s resources sector. A Singapore-based agtech founder relocated her entire company to Perth after attending and experiencing the ecosystem firsthand. 2024 keynote speaker & Purpose Ventures backed Andromeda closed a $23 million Series A - the largest early-stage raise for a female-led startup this year. And the WA Government’s $45 million venture capital injection is starting to flow into local startups, many connected through networks built at the festival. The first conversation between Bill Tai and Melanie Perkins happened in Perth. Not Silicon Valley, not Sydney - Perth. That early connection at what would become West Tech Fest played a role in Canva’s journey to becoming one of Australia’s most valuable startups, now worth over $40 billion. “West Tech Fest has been a catalyst where startups meet investors face-to-face, leading to direct funding conversations,” Cross explains. “We bring 100+ investors to the state so founders don’t have to spend months traveling and seeking meetings.” The festival’s structure reflects this focus. With 32% founder attendance throughout the week - believed to be unique across Australian tech events - the mix ensures genuine connections rather than networking theatre. Structured sessions create intentional introductions. Informal moments on beaches, at riverside venues, and across Rottnest Island enable the serendipitous conversations where real partnerships often begin. Built differently What sets West Tech Fest apart isn’t just the programming - it’s the setting. Investor meetings take place on iconic WA beachfronts. Panels are held overlooking the Swan River, across Perth’s city venues, and in Fremantle’s creative spaces - locations that feel uniquely Western Australian. “We lean into place heavily,” Cross says. “I’m not sure there are many festivals in the world where you hold climate tech talks with your feet in the sand on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.” It’s a deliberate strategy. International speakers and investors are given reasons to visit beyond their stage time - investment opportunities, access to customers, introductions to talent. The approach works: visitors return year after year because their time in WA proves valuable, both professionally and personally. The festival has grown from a grassroots community event to a globally recognised platform. Delegations now come from India, Africa, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, the UK and the US. High-profile VC firms make the annual trip. And crucially, deal flow follows attention. The infrastructure is maturing Behind the festival’s success is broader ecosystem evolution. Universities are commercialising and partnering with industry. Government support through programs and capital enabling startups to scale. For senior executives and corporate innovation leaders, the festival offers what months of vendor meetings rarely deliver: concentrated exposure to emerging technologies in sectors where Australia has competitive advantage, direct access to scalable solutions, and partnership opportunities with startups solving real industrial challenges. “Events outside of major capital cities are very important,” Cross argues. “Convening people to physically come together creates catalysts for collaboration, creativity, and real innovation.” For founders outside major capitals, access has always been the challenge. West Tech Fest inverts that dynamic - bringing Silicon Valley angels, national VCs, and international partners to Perth rather than forcing costly trips elsewhere. For investors, it offers curated exposure to high-growth companies in sectors where Australia has genuine advantage. As West Tech Fest approaches its 15th anniversary, Cross hints at evolution ahead while maintaining focus on what’s worked: founder-first programming and deep roots in the Western Australian ecosystem. The next big tech idea is already taking shape in Perth. The question isn’t whether it could come from WA. It’s whether you’ll recognise it when it does. West Tech Fest runs 8-12 December 2025 across Perth, Fremantle and Rottnest Island. For more information, visit westtechfest.com.au
