Do you have to see something aspirational before you can dream about it? After all, if you never saw it (or some form of ‘it’) how can you dream about it? Or are dreams something totally random, drawn from unknown sources?
Pardon, this personal rambling, I’m wondering how some things get invented, refined, or going back a step, where did the inspiration come from.
In one of those emails, that you just glance at, I came across an invitation to attend a presentation on ‘the power of LoRaWAN’.
What is LoRaWAN? Thinking I knew what some of the letters stood for, I Googled to see how close I was, then delved a little deeper into what it can be used for. I don’t profess to understand LoRaWAN, but it was an interesting read.
Low range wide area network (LoRaWAN), is how electricity and water meters in some communities are checked. Or where empty parking spaces in a busy car park can be sent to you before you enter. Or knowing when you have caught a mouse.
That is what this presentation was about, Dylan Gannan’s journey to creating a LoRaWAN mousetrap. I know, it gets you in, doesn’t it.
It was the start-up journey that actually got me in. I guy from Rockhampton, a CQU graduate, which is now selling this mousetrap, PestSense, throughout the world. Should be an interesting story, one you would not hear every day.
The journey initially involved mangoes, but after attending the Turbo Traction Lab offered by the Rockhampton SmartHub, Dylan turned his direction to a bigger market to utilise LoRaWAN technology, catching mice.
From this suggestion, Dylan’s journey would see Angel Investors get on board, employees recruited, millions of dollars research invested then affected by ants, cane toads, snails, the Ukraine war, and a factory in China recently produce the latest reiteration of the LoRaWAN mousetrap. Further steps may even see an IPO (Initial Public offering).
A possible outcome that can be traced back to the Rockhampton Regional Council abandoned SmartHub. Otherwise, this narrative might be, at best, about mangoes.
A side note, a SmartHub still exists in Rockhampton. A few members, on leaving the Customs House Building, stayed together and started their own SmartHub to continue working on their start-up’s, in Denham Street.
If you can, I can. As I mentioned in my last column, how important local independent businesses are in inspiring others to take a punt, set out on their own entrepreneurial path.
Seeing, hearing, reading stories of local people with an idea, sharing it, modifying it, testing it, changing it, testing it again, developing it, turning it into something tangible, inspires others. Some of whom might dream of developing their ideas. Less, will write down these dreams and call them goals. Fewer still, will set out on their own to achieve these goals. But, with encouragement, support, seeing others do it and learning about their journey, more will.
Here is a little bit about the entrepreneurial journey of Dylan Gannan, which started in Central Queensland, where Dylan still lives. And a smidgen on those keeping the SmartHub flame burning in Rockhampton. Visit their Facebook page.
And to Australian Computer Society Rockhampton, thank you for hosting presentations like Dylan’s and opening them for anyone to attend.
