Grow Impact, a Perth-based impact startup, is looking to shake up the global research ecosystem with its innovative software that tracks research, funding, and progress toward impact. To learn more about the company’s journey and their plans for the future, we spoke with co-founders Nick Saunders and Tobias Schoep…
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the history of Grow Impact and how the company came to be?
Nick Saunders: Grow Impact was formed in July 2020 after the evolution of a prototype at the Telethon Kids Institute. Tobias and I both have a passion for research and a desire to see it have a real impact on society. We saw a gap in the market for software that could track research, funding, and impact, and improve reporting and knowledge sharing between research organizations and funders.
Q: What sets Grow Impact’s software apart from other research management tools on the market?
Tobias Schoep: What makes our software unique is its ability to track the progress of research toward real-world impacts. Too often, research is judged on how many publications researchers produce, rather than what is done with that knowledge. Grow Impact’s software changes this by tracking research, funding, and impact so that everyone involved can work together to achieve the best results.
Q: How has Grow Impact been supported in its journey so far?
Nick Saunders: In 2020, Grow Impact was selected for the prestigious Plus Eight Accelerator program, which provides funding and support for early-stage startups. We have also been supported by BetterLabs and Spacecubed, two organisations that help foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Western Australia, and local investors including the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and the West Tech Investor Network.
Q: What are Grow Impact’s plans for the future?
Tobias Schoep: We are looking to raise $1.5 million through a pre-Series A capital raise, which will be used to build a funder module, a reporting suite, and expand internationally. With this investment, Grow Impact will be able to continue its mission of improving the impact of research on society.
Q: Who are Grow Impact’s target clients?
Nick Saunders: Our target clients are research organizations and funders of research, and we have already signed up the Telethon Kids Institute, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Notre Dame University, and Cranfield University in the UK.
Q: What advice would you give to other startups looking to make an impact in their industry?
Tobias Schoep: My advice would be to stay true to your vision and be persistent. Building a startup is hard work, and there will be many challenges along the way. But if you believe in what you’re doing and are willing to put in the effort, you can make a real difference.
In conclusion, Grow Impact is a startup that is changing the way research is managed and improving the impact of research on society. With its innovative software, the company is poised for growth and success in the years to come. Investors and research organizations looking for a better way to track research, funding, and impact should definitely keep an eye on Grow Impact.
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You can hear co-founder Nick on the Startup West podcast, and Tobias on the Untitled Perth video.
