SENTENCE ABOUT BETTERING THE INDUSTRY HERE - UPBEAT.
1998 - 2003
Photonics Consulting >
VPIphotonics
A global tech start-up in the telecommunications industry.
End-to-end experience of taking academic PhD research to a successful global start-up, “follow the sun”, SaaS company operating today.
Founder of and a numerical research programmer at Photonics Consulting Group Pty Ltd that was established at the Optical Sciences Centre at the ANU. This was as part of the Australian Photonics CRC in the mid nineties. This company merged with a Melbourne-based company called Virtual Photonics Pty Ltd. that eventually merged with BNED GmbH a spin-out company from the Fraunhofer Heinrich Herz Institute in Berlin. The resultant entity was called VPI photonics. 28 million Euro VC was secured in the first round of funding. Three rounds of funding secured 75 million euros in total. From an Australian perspective, the company grew from 3 people to 220 within 3 years as the organisation went pre-IPO on the Nasdaq. Offices were established in Melbourne, Singapore, Minsk, Belarus, Munich, Berlin, London, Holmdel, NJ, and San Francisco.
After acquiring a division of Siemens Munich, Peter was required to relocate to Munich, Germany, to assist in establishing operations. Extensive experience was gained in establishing a global SaaS company with design, development, sales and service offices to provide a “follow-the-sun” solution.
2006 - 2009
AUSBIRD
AUSBIRD International (AUSBIRD) was a venture established by Australian and German commercialisation partners. The partnership was established in 2005 when Peter secured commitment from relevant German and Australian organisations whilst working and living in Munich Germany. State and Federal Australian Governments were lobbied to support the establishment of AUSBIRD. Eventually, the South Australian Government presented the most attractive package.
AUSBIRD International Pty Ltd was incorporated in Australia to operate worldwide. Shareholders were Euro Pacific Aerospace Pty Ltd, Kayser-Threde GmbH (now OHB GmbH) and the DLR.
The aim was to establish an Australian company/start-up, and industry, to design and manufacture micro-satellites to provide a constellation of at least five and up to twelve for global fire detection and environmental monitoring. The DLR and German Industry Partners would manufacture 80% of the first constellation of satellites with eventual manufacturing of subsequent constellations to be transferred to Australia. $4m AUD was secured from Australian investment partners. Due to the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, the investors at the time decided to wind down commercial operations.