University of South Australia’s Venture Catalyst program has allowed Ardant to provide a solution for patients seeking allied health services.
South Australian healthtech start-up Ardant is one of six to complete this year’s Venture Catalyst acceleration program delivered by the University of South Australia’s Innovation and Collaboration Centre.
The Ardant platform uses AI and automation to service a digital marketplace that connects people with verified allied health professionals who are best suited to support their care needs.
Ardant founder and director, occupational therapist Margeaux Bartholomew-Carle, said the technology had the dual-benefit of reducing barriers for vulnerable clients seeking specific allied health services, while enabling therapists to focus on providing care instead of administrative workload.
“Ardant was inspired by a mission to democratise access to top-tier occupational therapy expertise for all Australians,” said Ms Bartholomew-Carle.
“For clients, it simplifies the process of finding and engaging the right therapist, with a quick and easy referral process.
“By outsourcing therapists’ non-clinical tasks, the platform allows them to operate as independent contractors without administrative overheads, increasing efficiency and enabling focus on what matters most: improving lives.
“As a practicing occupational therapist, I’m excited about the genuine impact and empowerment Ardant can deliver for therapists and our clients.”
The Venture Catalyst program bolsters startups with funding, industry mentorship and incubation to help them become investment ready and achieve sustainable growth.
UniSA’s deputy director of business incubation Craig Jones said the growth trajectory for startups in the Venture Catalyst program was extensive.
“Venture Catalyst supports entrepreneurs with the drive to build an impactful business by bringing together a diverse community of like-minded peers, professional mentors and industry experts,” he said.
“In six short months, we see startups making real strides on their journey through customer validation, understanding their markets and building out their growth strategy.
“This goes hand-in-hand with the personal development we see – founders are building their knowledge, networks and confidence, preparing them for the journey ahead.”
Venture Catalyst participants are supported by a pool of global industry experts as well as a purpose-designed co-working space, $10,000 equity-free funding, tailored workshops, access to university resources and one-on-one mentoring.