State does Pivot a good turn with funding
THE State Government has doubled down on Geelong’s Pivot Summit with back-toback funding announcements underwriting the future of the event, which is planning to add many new tech experiences in 2018.
Check-in via facial recognition technology, a Big Brother experiential artistic piece and automatic networking interaction technology are among the new features being explored for this year’s event in December.
The two Government funding announcements, which include a four-year commitment, mean the Pivot Summit office will now operate 12 months a year and bolts on a new start-up focused conference, Thrive, which will stretch the event into two days for the first time.
In its fourth year, it has brought in creative director Ian Priddle amid plans for a deeper experience for the more than 1200 people expected to attend.
Mr Priddle, founder of Geelong-based software developer Codeacious, said he wanted to make Pivot Summit more interactive.
“My role is to enhance the entire Pivot Summit experience — it is not just about the people on stage; it is about how you experience the whole event,” he said.
“It is about making this conference feel like more of a festival.”
Mr Priddle said he wanted people to be confronted by technology and experience something new along the way.
“I want people to learn something they can take away and apply to their start-up or business,” he said.
“It is so people can get out on the front foot with something cutting edge and know what the next generation of consumers are going to expect from businesses.”
The State Government has announced it will contribute $160,000 over four years to Pivot Summit through the Connecting Regional Communities Program, with LaunchVic also signing a $175,000 deal to be this year’s “super sponsor”.
The two commitments reflect the Government’s recognition of Geelong’s role in the development of an entrepreneurial and start-up culture in regional Victoria.
LaunchVic’s new Thrive event is a convention for regional organisations, particularly local
Pivot Summit chief executive Leighton Wells said the funding commitments came at a critical time in the event’s evolution.
“Geelong’s start-up and entrepreneurial culture is now well established,” Mr Wells said.
“Pivot Summit has been an important part of the journey and has become a focus for the entrepreneurial community.”
Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy Philip Dalidakis said the Government was proud to be supporting Pivot Summit to connect Geelong with local and international technology leaders.