Startup Spotlight: SensaWeb
SensaWeb is on a mission to revolutionise real-time radiation monitoring and bring it into the 21st century. Simon Turner, Co-Founder and CEO, first understood this was a critical issue over 10 years ago when he was decommissioning a nuclear reactor — the radiation monitoring units were just not working, leaving staff with no safety alerts, and at risk.
Together with Darren Oliver, SensaWeb Co-Founder and CTO, the team are delivering real-time information on radiation exposure to immediately and automatically identify and alert responsible parties of potential risk. The ATI Boeing Accelerator sat down with Simon and Darren to talk about the SensaWeb journey so far, radiation exposure challenges in aviation and aerospace, and the road ahead for this Australian team.
Explain your product in one sentence
Staff and community assurance through automated real-time Radiation Monitoring and reporting.
What problem is SensaWeb solving in the aerospace industry?
Flight crew have the highest incidence of certain types of cancer across all professions, most likely due to cosmic radiation, yet there is no true understanding of the exposure levels that flight crew and passengers are exposed to. SensaWeb’s solution provides real-time radiation data using its custom-built sensors and data analytics platform, helping airlines and manufacturers gain greater insights into the incidence and impact of radiation exposure, providing meaningful data to help make informed decisions.
With the abundance of “smart” devices and data platforms, the timing is perfect to make use of these emerging technologies to bring the outdated, inefficient, and inaccurate ways of currently monitoring radiation into the digital world.
How did your team first come together, and how did the idea of SensaWeb come to fruition?
In true Australian fashion, we discussed the problem, and came up with a scalable solution, around a barbeque. With the unique mix of a nuclear radiation specialist (Simon) and IT executive and developer (Darren), SensaWeb was born to bring radiation monitoring out of the 1950s into the 21st century.
Why is now the right time for your company to be doing what you’re doing?
With the abundance of “smart” devices and data platforms, the timing is perfect to make use of these emerging technologies to bring the outdated, inefficient, and inaccurate ways of currently monitoring radiation into the digital world. Combined with the increasing focus internationally on clean power solutions, including support and concern for nuclear energy, and the increasing use of radiotherapy for cancer treatments, there is a growing demand for awareness and assurance of radiation use.
The overnight success stories of startups are years in the making.
SensaWeb works across a range of sectors including healthcare, security, and nuclear. How did you choose your initial markets?
Radiation exposure is a concern across multiple industries (including mining, food production, and research) so it was indeed difficult to identify the initial market focus. Ultimately it came back to where the opportunities were to provide the greatest assurance to staff and innovate in ways previously unseen. Focusing on aerospace and health provides SensaWeb the opportunity to showcase our technology in new markets.
As a small team, what is the most important lesson you would share about maintaining a good co-founder relationship?
Communication is fundamental to how we operate. Getting this right from the start sets a solid foundation for scaling. As well as just, be just as willing to disagree as to encourage. Innovation comes from our complementary differences!
Greatest learning from your startup journey so far
The overnight success stories of startups are years in the making.
How has your mentoring experience at the ATI Boeing Accelerator been so far? What were the highlights?
The ATI Boeing Accelerator has linked us with an incredible range of specialists. We have benefited from greater understanding across the manufacturing, defense, and service sectors throughout the Aerospace industry. We love seeing industry specialists get excited by their area of expertise.
Hear Simon share more about SensaWeb and their next steps at the ATI Boeing Accelerator — 2021 Demo Day
Follow SensaWeb on Twitter and LinkedIn as they continue to develop their technology for radiation safety and security across industries.
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For more information about the programme, please contact the ATI Boeing Accelerator team:
Gabi Matic — gm@atiboeingaccelerator.com | linkedin.com/in/gabrielamatic
Wil Benton — wb@atiboeingaccelerator.com | linkedin.com/in/fatkidonfire
Ksenia Kurileva — kk@atiboeingaccelerator.com | linkedin.com/in/kseniakurileva
