Now in year 11, the partners in this swipe card door locking system have unlocked a whole lot of new possibilities by participating in Startup Shakeup programs. They now know how to start a company and have increased confidence and networks to take this knowledge with them on their solution-finding journey.
While we had a good idea, we had no idea what we were doing. How do you start your own company? It sounds impossible when you are in year 11. Now we know it’s easily possible.
– Lachlan & Ryan
Tell us about your idea or startup.
We developed a locking system that you install in doors. It is connected to a website. To access the room, you go to the website, create an account then select a time you want to book the room and use the online payment options. The system then gives you a code you enter into the door keypad.
It provides public access to spaces without organisations having to have someone there to let you into a room and it records who is using rooms and when.
We were developing the idea for GOTAFE Wangaratta. They got a grant through Summer Tech Live Challenge and were paying us do develop it. We were halfway through building it for them when we took it to the Startup Shakeup program. We have built a portable demonstration door (the door is 30cm high) to show people how it works
What were you looking for when you came to Startup Shakeup?
Lachlan loves networking and we have a passion for coming up with ideas and creating solutions, so it was a good fit for us.
As we had the idea to turn it into our own company, but didn’t know how, that’s the information we were looking for.
Please describe what Startup Shakeup did for you?
It allowed us to network and meet some great people. As well as learning about starting our own company, we learnt a lot of other things we can use in different aspects of our lives. An example was developing the pitch.
What has changed in your business and/or life as a result of Startup Shakeup?
While we had a good idea, we had no idea what we were doing. How do you start your own company? It sounds impossible when you are in year 11.
Now we know it’s easily possible. We do want to be company owners, but Lachlan wants to work in the space industry. Maybe at NASA but there are now many private space companies that are starting up, so if others can do that, surely, we can do it as well. Lachlan’s always been interested in tech and building stuff. Doing Startup Shakeup has shown us we can take it on and it’s built our confidence.
Where to next for you?
We’re doing year 11 this year. Lachlan is then planning to go to Monash University to study mechatronics. He’s super into battlebots and would love to go to a big competition in the US. That’s more his hobby. But a career in the space industry, with a company on the side, would be nice.
What would you like to do next with Startup Shakeup?
We would love to see them get more involved with students. Most of the programs they offered, we were the only students. We think it is really important that as kids are working out what they want to do with their lives, they learn and know they can start up their own companies.
What is your advice to other people in startup mode/other entrepreneurs?
We’d definitely encourage them, especially if they already have an idea, to give it a go. If you are trying to research it on the internet, it’s too much to get your head around. A great part of the course is that you can ask as many questions as you like. We wish we’d known how easy it was! It is challenging, but there are steps to go through that are logical when they are laid out for you.