Perth Biodesign

What Perth Biodesign does

Perth Biodesign is an educational training program in healthcare innovation, established in 2016 and administered by The University of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth, Western Australia. It operates as part of the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub (WALSIH), a partnership between MTPConnect, the Western Australian Government, and UWA. The organization is co-founded by Dr Matthew Oldakowski, a graduate of Stanford Biodesign's Global Faculty Training program, and Dr Intan Oldakowska, and is led by co-Directors Chloe Goodred and Oliver Bazzani. Its mission is to bridge clinical need identification with commercially viable healthcare solutions by training multidisciplinary teams of engineers, clinicians, researchers, and business professionals.

The core technology is the Stanford Biodesign methodology — a prescriptive process covering need identification, solution invention, and implementation strategy tailored for the Australian biomedical environment. The product portfolio includes: a 7-month part-time Flagship Program producing 3-4 multidisciplinary teams per cohort; the award-winning iPREP Biodesign program pairing PhD candidates with industry-defined healthcare problems; Biodesign Bootcamps (2-day intensives); a UWA Biomedical Engineering Capstone; a 4-month Digital Health program launched in 2022; and a US Market Access Program in partnership with Philadelphia's University City Science Center. Since inception, the organization has trained over 900 innovators and its alumni companies have collectively raised tens of millions in funding.

Perth Biodesign operates as a university-administered, grant-funded initiative rather than a commercial enterprise. It does not publicly disclose revenue; programs appear to be funded primarily through government sources including MTPConnect, the X-TEND WA program, the New Industries Fund, and the WA Department of Energy and Economic Diversification. The organization has 11 employees and its alumni have spawned companies including VeinTech, Earflo, VitalTrace, Pretect Devices, Matilda Health, Velora, Diag-Nose, OncoRes Medical, and others — several of which have gone on to win awards including TIME Magazine Best Inventions 2025 (Earflo) and the 2025 Prime Minister's New Innovator Prize (VeinTech co-founder).

Name

Perth Biodesign

Legal name

Perth Biodesign

Website

https://perthbiodesign.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Perth Biodesign is a Perth-based educational program, administered by the University of Western Australia, that trains multidisciplinary teams in healthcare innovation using the Stanford Biodesign methodology. It serves engineers, clinicians, researchers, and business professionals seeking to develop medical technology and digital health ventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Innovation Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Life Sciences (EDAAAPAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology (EDABALAU)

Keywords

• Healthcare innovation training
• Biomedical entrepreneurship education
• Medtech accelerator programs
• Digital health training
• Clinical needs identification

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Educational Program Fees: Perth Biodesign is administered by The University of Western Australia and is supported by government funding from MTPConnect, X-TEND WA program, New Industries Fund, and other government partners. The organization appears to be grant-funded rather than generating direct revenue from operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Perth Biodesign delivers educational training programs in healthcare innovation using the Stanford Biodesign methodology, bringing together multidisciplinary teams of engineers, clinicians, researchers, and business professionals to identify unmet clinical needs and develop medical technology or digital health solutions. Programs include a 7-month part-time Flagship course, the iPREP Biodesign PhD-industry engagement program, intensive Biodesign Bootcamps, a UWA Biomedical Engineering Capstone, a Digital Health program, and a US Market Access Program delivered with the University City Science Center in Philadelphia.

Product overview

Perth Biodesign offers a portfolio of educational programs in healthcare innovation based on the Stanford Biodesign methodology. The core offering is the Flagship Program (a 7-month part-time course where multidisciplinary teams develop medical technology and digital health solutions), supplemented by iPREP Biodesign (an industry-PhD engagement program), Biodesign Bootcamps (intensive 2-day workshops), and the UWA Biomedical Engineering Capstone (academic Biodesign units). Specialized programs include the US Market Access Program (for companies expanding to the U.S. market) and the Digital Health program (focused on digital health innovation). The organization is administered by The University of Western Australia and is part of the Biodesign Australia network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flagship Program A 7-month part-time course in which multidisciplinary teams of engineers (including software engineers), clinicians, researchers, and business professionals find unmet clinical needs and create a medical technology or digital health solution. Designed for professionals seeking hands-on biomedical entrepreneurship training.
• iPREP Biodesign An industry-PhD Research Engagement Program in which PhD candidates spend 7 weeks or 3 months working closely with organisations on industry-defined healthcare problems, applying the Biodesign methodology in a real-world setting.
• Biodesign Bootcamps Two full-day intensive workshops that take participants through the entire Biodesign process, from need identification to implementation, designed for those considering extended courses or time-poor professionals unable to commit to the full program.
• UWA Biomedical Engineering Capstone Academic Biodesign units within the Biomedical Engineering specialisation of the Master of Professional Engineering and Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at UWA, forming a capstone experience where students integrate knowledge to address real-world design challenges.
• US Market Access Program A high-touch program delivered in partnership with Philadelphia's University City Science Center for growth-stage medtech, diagnostics, device, and digital health companies ready to expand into the U.S. healthcare market, combining strategic market entry guidance and expert mentorship on operations and legal frameworks with virtual programming and in-person immersion.
• Perth Biodesign for Digital Health A 4-month program exploring how technological advances revolutionise patient care while teaching the Biodesign needs-driven innovation process to improve patient outcomes, with a focus on digital health solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 900 innovators trained since inception
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and strategic.

• WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub (WALSIH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWALSIH is a partnership between MTPConnect, Western Australian Government, and UWA to accelerate growth of WA's health and medical life sciences sector. Perth Biodesign delivers its Flagship Program and iPREP Biodesign as part of WALSIH. Located in Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research Building, Nedlands.
• Biodesign AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork allowing Biodesign programs across Australia to share resources, speakers, and best practice. Programs are based on Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign methodology.
• WA BioZonesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative program at UWA assembling researchers from various disciplines to foster transdisciplinary research and development for complex local and global challenges.
• Texas Medical Center (TMC)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced May 2022 between TMC and Biodesign Australia aimed at advancing health and medical life sciences through commercialisation, innovation, and research.
• The Bridge ProgramsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in collaboration with consortium partners including Biodesign Australia, pharmaceutical companies, universities, and industry affiliates.
• AstraZeneca A.Catalyst NetworkstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAstraZeneca's innovation hub collaboration with UWA and affiliated programs including WALSIH, Biodesign Australia, and Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program.
• APAC Biodesign AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative effort between Biodesign programs in Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, India, and Israel, promoting healthcare innovation education based on Stanford Biodesign methodology.
• New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMIC)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced March 2024 to provide associated start-up companies with expanded resources and connections through the Perth Biodesign-NEMIC BioBridge.
• MTPConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTPConnect is a partner in WALSIH and provides national coordination for medical technology and pharmaceutical sector growth in Australia.
• WA Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department supporting Perth Biodesign and healthcare innovation initiatives in Western Australia.
• University of Western Australia (UWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWA administers Perth Biodesign and provides academic infrastructure, faculty, and institutional support for all programs.
• Harry Perkins Institute of Medical ResearchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical research institute providing facilities and collaborative opportunities for Perth Biodesign and WALSIH.
• Curtin UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner contributing to Perth Biodesign programs and biomedical engineering education.
• City of JoondalupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner supporting Perth Biodesign initiatives.
• South Metropolitan Health ServicesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWA public health service providing clinical environments and innovation opportunities for program participants.
• The Kids Research InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's medical research institute collaborating with Perth Biodesign on healthcare innovation.
• Perron InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical research institute partnering with Perth Biodesign for innovation initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign: The original Stanford Biodesign program at Stanford University whose methodology Perth Biodesign is built upon. They share the same need-driven innovation framework and serve as the intellectual parent of Perth Biodesign through the Global Faculty Training program.
• SPARK Global: Stanford-origin translational research and education program for biomedical innovation, with affiliates at multiple global universities. Comparable in providing structured training programs to translate academic and clinical research into commercial outcomes.

Regional players

• CICA (Centre for Innovation in Clinical Audit and Research): Australian clinical innovation initiative with comparable focus on translating clinical needs into implemented healthcare solutions, though based in New South Wales rather than Western Australia.
• ANDHealth: Australian digital health commercialization program operating across Australia. Closely comparable in mission to Perth Biodesign's Digital Health program, focusing on evidence generation and commercialization for digital health startups.

Others

• Biodesign Australia: Sister network administered by UWA that coordinates Biodesign programs across Australia. Closely affiliated entity that shares resources, speakers, and best practices with Perth Biodesign as part of the broader Australian Biodesign ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Taiwan Biodesign: APAC Biodesign affiliate in Taiwan using the same Stanford Biodesign methodology. Comparable peer in mission, methodology, and target audience of multidisciplinary healthcare innovation teams.
• Singapore Biodesign: APAC Biodesign affiliate offering similar healthcare innovation training using the Stanford Biodesign methodology. Operates as a comparable affiliated program in Asia, targeting similar multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, engineers, and business professionals.
• MedTech Actuator: Asia-Pacific medtech accelerator that runs intensive programs to commercialize medical technologies. Competes for similar medtech founders and provides accelerator-style support that overlaps with Perth Biodesign's company-launching mission.

Emerging players

• NEMIC (New England Medical Innovation Center): Strategic partner of Perth Biodesign through the BioBridge program, providing medtech founders with US commercialization resources. Comparable as a healthcare innovation support organization with similar focus on need-driven medtech development.
• Texas Medical Center Innovation: Strategic partner of Biodesign Australia offering healthcare innovation programs and accelerator support at the world's largest medical center. Comparable in mission and has formal partnership with Perth Biodesign for cross-Pacific commercialization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PerthBiodesign
• Facebookfacebook.com/perthbiodesign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/perth-biodesign

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Perth Biodesign