Startup success begins with an idea, but that’s not where it ends. For Melbourne-based medtech startup NanoCube Health, the idea is both miniscule and, potentially, massively life-changing — using nanorobots to diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer. “For an idea of scale, there are a million nanometres in one millimetre, and the technology we’re developing is designed to be 10 nanometres,” says NanoCube Health co-founder Lisa Milani. “The device, which will be powered by AI-driven software, is designed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, enabling early-detection of pancreatic cancer forming at a cellular level.”
Currently, NanoCube Health is working with a prototype, with plans to begin animal studies in the next 12 months. For Milani and co-founder Dr. Shawn Goussous to reach their funding and commercial goals, though, the need to successfully navigate the early stage, deep tech path, including building on a range of existing strategic partnerships and attracting further investment.
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Pitching is something almost all startup founders will find themselves doing at some point in their journey. It’s a brief chance to show a growing business to those with funding, expertise or industry connections and, for Australian startups, there are few more important examples than SXSW Sydney Pitch. Winning the 2023 edition, and then getting the chance to pitch at SXSW Pitch in Austin, has been vital to pushing NanoCube forward.
“For us, the main benefit has been connecting with the US startup and business ecosystem,” Milani says. “We are an early-stage startup, but we have a global vision, so being able to start building relationships with some key international stakeholders has been invaluable.”
SXSW Sydney Pitch gives participants a three minute window to present their startup and make an impact. For startups hoping to make an impact, Milani says that a successful pitch begins with storytelling. “I told the story of Paul Dear,” Milani says, referring to the ex-AFL footballer who died from pancreatic cancer in 2022. “In being able to share the story of a real life person, it ultimately helped to make a human connection with the audience…to put a human face to the problem.”
Clarity, too, is vital when pitching a startup. “No matter how complex the innovation that you’re working on is, it’s really important to be clear and straightforward,” Milani says.“Explaining things simply and without jargon helps to ensure the audience remains engaged.”
Ultimately, there are no shortcuts to nailing a successful pitch. Even if you’ve only got three minutes, Milani says founders should do their best to cover all angles when pitching. “I think you have to get it all across — what drives you, what’s the problem you’re solving, what’s your solution, your value proposition, the market need, why you’ll be the team that’s going to successfully bring your product to market, the traction you’ve achieved, and your call to action — there’s a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time.”
Startup success rarely happens in a vacuum and, between pitching at SXSW Sydney and heading to the big show in Austin, Milani has had some valuable help. Among NanoCube Health’s supporters have been mentors from Melbourne accelerator program MedTech Actuator, and Phil Ore of 25eight — both of whom lent their assistance to help Milani craft her pitch.
Assistance has also come from Dell For Startups, a program from Dell Technologies that, with the help of tech advisors and access to top technology, helps early-stage startups as they scale and navigate the pitfalls of business growth. Displaying Dell’s commitment to innovation and technological advancement – and recognising that startups fuel innovation and economic growth – Dell for Startups helped Milani transition from her successful pitch at SXSW Sydney to SXSW in the US.
As well as offering access to online mentoring programs, Dell for Startups helped Milani network with the global startup community, introducing her to potential mentors, like-minded startups and business leaders. “It’s really beneficial to have strategic advisors and partners like Dell Technologies to help startups like ours to be part of a global startup and business community,” Milani says. “Opportunities to connect with a broad range of people from diverse backgrounds has really been instrumental to our success to date.”
For its part, Dell for Startups is committed to providing the assistance Australian startups need to access the global stage. “Australia is a country with such a rich small and medium business ecosystem,” says William Hasko, Dell Technologies’s Small Business Marketing Director. “Dell Technologies has various programs, resources, and partnerships focussed on reaching and growing this sector tangibly. Whether it’s providing the technology they need to turn their ideas into reality, or support and mentorship on how to evolve their solutions to scale their venture successfully.”
For an early-stage business like NanoCube Health, Milani believes access to global support partners like Dell Technologies will be beneficial in taking important ideas to as many people as possible. “Our current focus is in Australia, but we aspire to have a global impact,” she says. “Having access to programmes like those that Dell provides offers essential support to drive innovation and business growth.”
Dell Technologies startup program is tailored to help startups overcome the challenges of building, rolling out and scaling technology. A free membership program, Dell for Startups offers technology-focused advice, assistance with applying for grants, discounts on products, access to the Dell Technology mentoring program and community networking events. The program offers entrepreneurs and startups access to specialty startup advisors, who can provide insights on a wide range of topics, ranging from, servers to storage, out-the-box technology versus custom-built, end-user-compute and security.
