Defence Trailblazer hosted the Entrepreneurial Foundations for Defence (EFD) 2025 Showcase on 1 August, the culmination of the three-month program for defence industry innovators.
The event featured 20 early-stage ventures from across the country, spotlighting the innovators behind cutting-edge technologies with promising applications for Defence. Attendees experienced an impressive display of diversity and ingenuity across key areas such as energy, survivability, advanced materials, autonomous systems, surveillance, cyber technology, logistics, and training solutions.
Below, several EFD innovators share how the program has helped accelerate their venture’s progress and their experiences of the Showcase, which was hosted at the UNSW Australian Defence Force Academy.
Dr Jesse Laeuchli – Founder, Quantum Lock (NSW)
UNSW researcher Dr Jesse Laeuchli is a certified ethical hacker whose research encompasses cyber security, linear algebra and quantum computing. His venture, Quantum Lock, uses the power of quantum mechanics to provide protection for hardware in mission critical infrastructure, such as in power plants, telecommunications, and data centres.
“The EFD has really helped Quantum Lock prepare to engage with industry and defence by linking us up with a great mentor who has helped polish our strategy and material, while providing great advice on our business plan and who to engage with,” said Dr Laeuchli.
“At the EFD Showcase, we demonstrated Quantum Lock’s technology for securing remote devices as well as the team that we’ve put in place to help the company reach our goals of securing Australia’s critical infrastructure.”
Dr Sonja Frolich – Founder, DefenSight (South Australia)
NHMRC grant-funded researcher Dr Sonja Frolich from the University of Adelaide has developed DefenSight, an AI-guided microscopy platform for biosecurity preparedness. Ideal for military medical and veterinary units, biosecurity and health intelligence teams, DefenSight provides high-resolution insights into potential biological threats.
“DefenSight is turning deep-science imaging into real-world Defence solutions, and this accelerator program has provided me the roadmap and allies to get there,” said Dr Frolich.
Dr Frolich said of the EFD program: “Defence Trailblazer has been a game-changer for me as an academic researcher, helping me evolve from a basic scientist to a Defence-focused founder. The intensity and structure of the program, from business model canvas to tech stack planning and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) mapping, gave me the tools and mindset to push my advanced imaging and AI expertise into a Defence venture.
“The connections I have made with experienced mentors here and internationally have helped me refine our strategy and align DefenSight’s capability with real defence needs, and I am engaging with Defence end-users for future trials and deployment.
“At the EFD showcase, I demonstrated how DefenSight’s AI-powered imaging capability can deliver faster, more precise detection and diagnostics for complex CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) scenarios, supporting better situational awareness and decision-making. I’m looking forward to building new partnerships to take this technology to the next level.”
Sylvia Tokic, CEO & Co-founder, Electro Base (Western Australia)
Established by Sylvia Tokic and Alishan Aziz, renewable energy venture Electro Base provides off-grid power and energy needs for commercial and industrial entities, and fast e-mobility charging. The venture supports the Australian Defence energy transition – particularly the Defence Renewable Energy and Energy Security Program and upgrades to the northern bases network – by improving infrastructure resilience.
“The EFD program has been instrumental in two crucial areas for Electro Base: re-evaluating our market fit and investor readiness; and understanding the complex Defence landscape,” said Ms Tokic.
“Firstly, the program’s rigorous seminars, frameworks and mentorship helped us recognise the strategic importance of energy resilience in Defence applications. Secondly, the mentoring provided practical insights into Defence terminology, procurement processes, and relationship-building protocols.
“Our mentors helped us understand the difference between Defence’s immediate operational needs (like backup power for critical systems) and longer-term strategic programs (like microgrid integration for renewable energy). This guidance was crucial in helping us identify where our technology fits within the Defence capability framework. We now present ourselves not just as a renewable energy tech company, but as a sovereign capability provider.”
Sam ‘Bones’ Rathbone – Business Operations Manager, Aquila Space Technologies (NSW)
Aquila develops scalable wireless energy systems to power drones, remote infrastructure, and more. The venture’s long-range optical power transfer technology solves endurance bottlenecks for Defence, border security, and industrial drone operations.
Bones and Aquila CEO Ruby Jones both took part in the EFD program in 2025. “EFD gave incredible insights into how to make our business not only ready for Defence, but also how to supercharge our current business practices so that we can really deliver,” said Bones.
“At the EFD Showcase, we shared how optical power beaming can deliver persistent, silent energy to untethered autonomous systems and enable operations in denied environments. This is more than a prototype, it’s the foundation for a scalable, sovereign, wireless energy backbone built for Defence.”
Associate Professor Gérrard (Eddy) Poinern – Co-Founder, Frontier Materials Technologies (Western Australia)
Associate Professor Poinern and his co-founders, all from Murdoch University, designed their technology Kineti-Shield for use with explosive charges to aid in military demolitions, explosive methods of entry, and domestic counter terrorism.
“Frontier Materials Technologies will be demonstrating Kineti-Shield—our cutting-edge solution designed with dual-use capability in mind,” said Associate Professor Poinern. “This sovereign Hydrogel Tamper Material represents a breakthrough as it is a unique blend of safe grade material with superior tampering characteristics, and it addresses the needs of both Defence and civilian sectors.
“Engaging with this year’s EFD cohort has been both inspiring and energising. We look forward to engaging with Defence stakeholders to explore opportunities for Test & Evaluation, deployment, and collaboration.”
Event information
The EFD Showcase is the culmination of the three-month EFD program, that gives innovators the tools they need to master defence markets. The program is part of Defence Trailblazer’s DINAMIC pathway, an 18-month journey that enables founders to quickly deliver innovations and technologies that increase Australian Defence capabilities.
View the EFD 2025 cohort, including participant profiles.
