SYDNEY PAIR'S PLAN TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST AI AND FAKE TRAVEL REVIEWS

CLIENT: EXCEPTIONAL ALIEN

OUTLET: NEWS.COM.AU

With many fearing the rise of artificial intelligence is going to negatively affect their jobs and threaten their businesses, two men from Sydney see disdain for AI as exactly what their business needs to thrive.

Michael Canning and Justin Drape thought they may have been crazy when they launched a travel app during Covid and are thrilled they made it to the other side.

Now, they believe the rise in AI and ChatGPT will actually have travellers turning to them just at the right time.

SCIENCE CRACKS THE CODE THAT TRICKS KIDS INTO EATING VEGETABLES

CLIENT: WELLY

OUTLET: 9 NEWS

A Melbourne entrepreneur has tackled the perennial parenting problem of how to get children to eat vegetables! He’s created a new instant vegetable smoothie, but as medical reporter Emily Rice asks, does it get the tick from dieticians?

Children can be picky about what vegetables they like and dislike… so 31 year old entrepreneur, Jarahad Valeri, has developed a new product, which he believes will get more goodness into little bellies. Watch the report on Welly and see if this smoothie powder is the answer for parents.

HOT STUFF

CLIENT: BUNSTERS

OUTLET: 9 NEWS PERTH

This business news is HOT! She’s the Perth mother of two whose hot sauce empire has made it onto the shelves of one of the biggest supermarkets in Australia. But Renae Bunsters’ break did not come without sacrifice.

Watch the report from 9 News Perth’s Emma Griffiths via the button below.

AUSTRALIAN 'POD' HOTEL STARTUP WANDER SECURES INVESTMENT FROM EX-AIRBNB CHIEF

CLIENT: WANDER

OUTLET: SMARTCOMPANY

Upmarket ‘pod’ hotel startup Wander has secured investment from former Airbnb country manager Sam McDonagh, as the accommodation innovator eyes expansion across regional and rural Australia.

Wander designs, installs, and manages WanderPods — miniature, boutique hotel suites built to bring the luxury hotel experience to some of Australia’s most scenic locales.

TRAVELLERS TRICKED

CLIENT: EXCEPTIONAL ALIEN

OUTLET: 7 NEWS

When you work hard to go on holiday, the last thing you want is to be caught off guard by a sham-online review. AI bots are now making the problem worse, able to bypass technology designed to weave out the genuine from the fake.

Justin Drape and Michale Canning (the co-founders of Exceptional Alien) and Maurice Terzini (from Bondi Icebergs) are interviewed by 7 News on how they’re partnering to combat such shams. Watch the report from Amy Clements via the link below.

LIVEN GOES HEAD TO HEAD WITH SQUARE AFTER ITS $152M ACQUISITION SPREE

CLIENT: LIVEN

OUTLET: THE AUSTRALIAN

Fintech and loyalty marketing platform Liven is going after Jack Dorsey’s Square with the launch of its own free payment terminal following a $152m acquisition spree over the past few months.

The Bill Tai-backed start-up on Thursday announced the launch of a terminal which has been embedded with the company’s loyalty marketing and “brand dollar” tools. It can automatically track customer credit card numbers and spending and give rewards to users.

Liven co-founder Grace Wong told The Australian she believed it was time an Australian homegrown alternative to Square – a popular US fintech supplying payment terminals nationwide – with lower fees landed in the market.

ACCOMMODATION POD CHAIN BOOKS REGIONAL SA EXPANSION

CLIENT: WANDER

OUTLET: INDAILY

The founder of luxury accommodation pod scaleup Wander wants to expand its presence in South Australia after capturing demand on Kangaroo Island for its Adelaide-made solution.

Wander founder Cassandra Sasso has embarked on a crowdfunding trip to facilitate the expansion of her luxury accommodation alternative.

POPULAR SPORTSWEAR COMPANY BUTTER BUTTER REBRANDS TO LOCIONNE AFTER LEGAL THREATS

CLIENT: LOCIONNE

OUTLET: NEWS.COM.AU

The founders of a popular Australian activewear brand have been forced to change their company’s name after receiving legal threats from a similarly-named business.

Butter Butter had risen to popularity since its 2020 launch due to its incredibly soft sports leggings made using collagen. Some customers had compared the fabric’s texture to body butter, earning the brand its namesake.

‘PAY TO PLAY’: SMALL BREWERES TAKE AIM AT MULTINATIONAL ‘DUOPOLY’ LOCKING UP PUB TAPS

CLIENT: PHILTER BREWERS

OUTLET: NEWS.COM.AU

Australia’s foreign-owned beer “duopoly” behind the likes of VB and Toohey’s has been accused of freezing out small local brewers from pub taps with “anti-competitive” contracts.

“In the last five years a lot more independent brewers have come in wanting to have a go at those taps, but the real estate is taken up by these brewers,” said Mick Neil, co-founder of Philter Brewing in Sydney’s Marrickville.

BITTER RIVALRY

CLIENT: PHILTER BREWERS

OUTLET: 7 NEWS

The competition watchdog will investigate Sydney’s beer market with claims independent brewers are being squeezed out. One local beer maker is now turning to drinker investors to help stay afloat.

When you strike liquid gold in the craft game its hard not to sell out. Philter Brewers, Stef and Mick, are fending off multi-billion dollar brewers to stay independent. Yesterday, they launched a crowdfunding investment plan for loyal locals.