uDrew receives $500k AC boost

Inglewood-based startup uDrew is touting its potential for national expansion after receiving $500,000 in funding from the federal government’s Accelerating Commercialisation program earlier this month.

That program, established in 2014, delivers competitive grant funding and commercialisation to startups across Australia.

Notable companies in Western Australia to have received funding under the scheme include Environmental Water Solutions, which received $290,000 in July of last year, and Origo.farm, which received $375,000 in December.

Founded in 2017 by 40under40 winner Tom Young, uDrew achieved rapid success, including being named the state government-sponsored Innovator of the Year in 2018.

The company’s core product offering is a platform that allows users to rapidly submit accurate construction plans to local councils in order to dramatically reduce approval times.

Since then, uDrew has completed pilots and studies within WA and New Zealand, advertising up to a 70 per cent cut in costs due to a reduction in approval times.

The company is now searching for further commercialisation and expansion opportunities nationally.

Speaking with Business News, Mr Young said the additional funding would aid the company's efforts to test its software's scalability and function.

That included working closely with the New Zealand government to see how the software's functioned, compared to in Australia

He said the business was also looking to explore how regulatory differences between the countries affected the software's use.

"Part of the scope is ... checking these things in different regions," he said.

"All the methodology we've built is largely based on studies we do here.

"The AC grant is giving us the extra confidence and validation that it can in fact work anywhere."

Mr Young said that, although the journey up to now had been challenging, he believed the company was on the precipice of widespread success.

“[W]e have been contacted by a number of councils,governments and industry leaders locally, over east and overseas, as well as some of the world’s largest global tech companies,” he said.

“[A]t the end of the day it is our goal at uDrew to make the whole process easier, quicker and more affordable for everyone, which will always be our main focus."