Strong Room team [L-R] Christopher Durre, Kieren Start and Mix Mito from  

By using artificial intelligence (AI) and face-recognition technology to help dispense medication, startup company Strong Room is changing how we access healthcare.

Max Mito and his business partners, Christopher Durre and Kieran Start, were university students in Victoria in 2018 when they started Strong Room. Now their product is in more than 700 pharmacies and hospitals across the country.

That product is called 'Stronger' (strong electronic register). It is a digital medication management solution that uses facial recognition and digital processes to improve pharmacy workflows, mainly for mediations listed on the drug register.

Max says the product makes the dispensing process a lot quicker for pharmacists, particularly for opiate-based medications where there is strong regulatory compliance. 

"The facial recognition feature in particular speeds up identification, so pharmacists can spend more time with patients rather than on processes and paperwork."

Victoria at the forefront of AI investment

Last year, there were more than 300 AI startups in Australia and at least 65 of those in Victoria. In the past 12 months in Victoria, investment in AI has grown from $20 million to $80 million. By 2028, AI is expected to be worth $315 billion in Australia's economy and will require more than 160,000 new workers.

The Victorian State Government is eager to harness the potential of transformative technologies including those collectively known as AI technologies such as voice, image and facial recognition, robotics and autonomous systems, augmented and virtual reality and machine learning.

With leading innovation, technology and education sectors focused on new digital advancements, Victoria is suited to be the state at the forefront of AI investment.

"Victoria is well placed because we have world-class universities that are rigorously testing AI models, which plays a huge part as AI is still in its infancy"  says Max.

By supporting startups in their efforts to grow and attract investment through the Victorian Government startup agency, LaunchVic and supporting the Boab AI's Scaleup Program - the country's first accelerator for high growth AI companies, the state government is committed to building the technology skills of Victoria's workforce. 

Artificial Intelligence Scaleup Investment Program

Boab AI, is a scaleup investment program based in Melbourne, investing in Victorian and international AI companies ready to expand globally.  

Their mission is to connect an ecosystem of entrepreneurs, government organisations, universities/research institutes, corporations/industry groups and investors working to grow AI opportunities in Victoria and around the world.

Boab is backed by Artesian Venture Partners, Australia's largest and most active early-stage VC firm. Boab offers an investment of $300,000 capital and best-in-class support services for companies selected to participate in the scaleup program, with potential follow on investments of up to $5,000,000. Find out more at Boab.ai.

AI Pitch Night

Startup Victoria presented AI Pitch Night in October 2020 teaming up with Boab AI to bring you AI Pitch Night, where 4 AI startups pitched to win The Startup Vic Prize Package. Startup Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to create more founders and better founders. We’re a grassroots founder community of over 19,000 people working together to foster a world-class startup ecosystem. 

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