ABOUT US

The Melt creates, builds, scales, connects, innovates and invests in the future of hardware tech. Unlike other accelerators and venture studios, The Melt team immerses into every facet of helping businesses to succeed, by investing our time and funds! We provide support for as long as you require it.

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Forged from disruption to create opportunity

The Melt was born out of the thesis that hardware is the new software.

Why?

Governments are investing in domestic manufacturing capability to address sovereign risk and guarantee economic prosperity.

The path to net zero relies on hardware-heavy initiatives across renewables, storage, sustainability and more….

Modern manufacturing, robotics, mechatronics and IoT makes establishing hardware startups cheaper and faster

Prior to The Melt, the founders established Slingshot Accelerator, which was the first of its kind and the pre-eminent corporate accelerator in Australia for over a decade.

Meet our team

Trent Bagnall
Director and CEO
Strong management, governance and finance background. Led mining and logistics technology company QMASTOR Limited from inception to ASX IPO then to acquisition in 2011. Managed over 100 Startup investments with a proven venture capital track record. Focused on rapidly growing investee companies to have global impact that maximises investor returns. A Professor of Practice at The University of Newcastle and a fellow of the AICD.
Strong management, governance and finance background. Led mining and logistics technology company QMASTOR Limited from inception to ASX IPO then to acquisition in 2011. Managed over 100 Startup investments with a proven venture capital track record. Focused on rapidly growing investee companies to have global impact that maximises investor returns. A Professor of Practice at The University of Newcastle and a fellow of the AICD.
Brett Thomas
Director and COO
Proven GM and COO with international project experience in the resources, innovation, automation and technical services industries. Deep experience in the petroleum, mining, logistics, surveying/civil engineering and Startup ecosystem. Responsible for operations, accounting, finance, HR and legal functions. Focused on helping our portfolio with all aspects of running successful businesses
Proven GM and COO with international project experience in the resources, innovation, automation and technical services industries. Deep experience in the petroleum, mining, logistics, surveying/civil engineering and Startup ecosystem. Responsible for operations, accounting, finance, HR and legal functions. Focused on helping our portfolio with all aspects of running successful businesses
Clint Bruin
Director, Principal Engineer and CTO
Experienced professional engineering principal with a demonstrated history of working in the research industry. Skilled in process control, control systems design, functional safety, SCADA, compliance, product development and product lifecycle analysis. Focused on reducing technical risk for investee companies by using his 20+ years’ experience in building world class engineering products and delivering The Melt’s 4P process.
Experienced professional engineering principal with a demonstrated history of working in the research industry. Skilled in process control, control systems design, functional safety, SCADA, compliance, product development and product lifecycle analysis. Focused on reducing technical risk for investee companies by using his 20+ years’ experience in building world class engineering products and delivering The Melt’s 4P process.
Iain Yule
Technical Specialist
Iain has a Bachelor of Education. His teaching experience spans almost 30 years, most of which was served as Head Teacher in the Technology and Design departments of various high schools throughout NSW. Iain has always been a maker of all things, including parts for his many hobbies. Iain is a multiple Australian and World Champion in the Metal Silhouette pistol shooting category. In his role as the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Specialist Iain is responsible for managing the day-to-day aspects of the centre.
Iain has a Bachelor of Education. His teaching experience spans almost 30 years, most of which was served as Head Teacher in the Technology and Design departments of various high schools throughout NSW. Iain has always been a maker of all things, including parts for his many hobbies. Iain is a multiple Australian and World Champion in the Metal Silhouette pistol shooting category. In his role as the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Specialist Iain is responsible for managing the day-to-day aspects of the centre.
John Klinkenberg
Principal Industrial Designer
John is senior Industrial Designer-In-Residence. He has designed products across the retail, defence, mining and rail industries for 15+ years. His experience spans a diverse range of manufacturing techniques including fabrication (welding and sheet metal), joinery design and material selection, injection moulding, aluminium extrusion, and additive manufacturing (3D printing). He has a BA in Industrial Design with First Class Honours, has won Good Design Australia awards and has recently been appointed to the national judging panel.
John is senior Industrial Designer-In-Residence. He has designed products across the retail, defence, mining and rail industries for 15+ years. His experience spans a diverse range of manufacturing techniques including fabrication (welding and sheet metal), joinery design and material selection, injection moulding, aluminium extrusion, and additive manufacturing (3D printing). He has a BA in Industrial Design with First Class Honours, has won Good Design Australia awards and has recently been appointed to the national judging panel.
Baidy Barton
Commercialisation Director
Baidy supports hardware ventures to rapidly commercialise, scale, secure customers and investors, and validate their impact. Over 12+ years, she has helped mission-driven B2B/ enterprise startups become successful companies through growth and scale. She has built and scaled growth engines, customer success & delivery and revenue for B2B/ enterprise SAAS and hardware companies and consulting firms.
Baidy supports hardware ventures to rapidly commercialise, scale, secure customers and investors, and validate their impact. Over 12+ years, she has helped mission-driven B2B/ enterprise startups become successful companies through growth and scale. She has built and scaled growth engines, customer success & delivery and revenue for B2B/ enterprise SAAS and hardware companies and consulting firms.
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ABOUT US

The Melt was created to satisfy a gap in the market of accelerating ideas with a hardware component in a commercially viable and risk-free environment. With a broad range of partners and supporters, The Melt is Australia’s first hardware accelerator and industry prototyping lab.

We offer a rigorous stage-gated process combined with state-of-the-art industrial engineering equipment and technical specialists.

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