Melbourne expo showcases AI robots & startup ideas

Melbourne Connect hosted an AI and robotics expo with 21 exhibitors and more than 400 attendees, closing out Melbourne Innovation Week.

Visitors gathered around demonstrations from startups and researchers. One of the main attractions was Lumi, a humanoid robot from Roboly. Organisers said several technologies shown on the floor had not previously been publicly demonstrated or covered in the media.

The exhibition brought together founders, students, academics and investors, along with public officials including Shadow Minister for AI Richard Welch, Victoria's Lead Scientist Dr Amanda Caples, City of Melbourne Councillor Gladys Liu, and Victoria's Agent-General to the UK and Commissioner to Europe and Israel Tim Dillon.

NVIDIA was the principal sponsor. During the event, Senior AI Scientist Dr Johan Barthelemy outlined how applied AI is used across different types of robots, from humanoid machines to warehouse systems and companion devices. He was joined by Dr Susan Zhang, Head of Startup & VC Partnerships.

AIBUILD and StarPlan hosted the event. Their founders used the gathering to highlight the breadth of local work in AI, spanning robotics, recruitment software, property technology and health-related tools.

Among the devices on show was Aurora, described as a contactless smart sleep monitor. Vivenex AI displayed two units of its companion robot Emi, developed by psychiatrists for older people living at home or in isolation. It includes fall and accident detection, as well as video calling.

The program also included political and academic elements. Welch spoke about the need for policy settings in Victoria to keep pace with activity in the sector, while University of Melbourne speakers examined both commercial and social questions tied to AI adoption.

Professor Lihai Zhang discussed funding pathways and the practical steps involved in building an AI business. Professor Jenny Waycott focused on the case for using companion robots in homes to address isolation and loneliness.

Startups including StarPlan, StrataXcel, AskROMi and Method Recruitment also gave stage presentations. The exhibitor list extended beyond software ventures to groups working in robotics, legal services, education and drone technology.

According to organisers, the expo took place during the largest edition yet of Melbourne Innovation Week at Melbourne Connect, with more than 7,000 registrations recorded across more than 40 events and activations. Those sessions covered areas including AI, health technology, sustainable fashion, startup funding and global health equity.

The presence of state and city representatives pointed to growing public sector interest in AI startups in Victoria. That was also reflected in the attendance of Victorian Government Senior Investment Manager Nick Yan.

For local founders, the expo offered a chance to test public interest in products at very different stages of maturity. Some demonstrations focused on consumer-facing robotics, while others centred on business software for hiring, property management and tenant communications.

One of the strongest crowd responses was for Lumi, the talking humanoid robot from Roboly, which organisers said drew lines longer than those for the coffee stands. Its prominence highlighted the appeal of visible robotics in a startup scene where much of the commercial activity still sits in software.

That contrast was visible across the floor. On one side, companion robots and humanoid machines drew attention through physical interaction. Nearby, exhibitors presented AI systems designed to work in the background of office, recruitment and property processes.

"AIBUILD was incredibly proud to host this event; it brought together innovators of all shapes and sizes in Melbourne's tech ecosystem, and each delivered their own unique solution to existing real-world problems," said Yifei Wang, Chief Executive Officer of AIBUILD.

Wang said the range of products on show stood out.

"What stood out to us most wasn't any single piece of technology, but the sheer diversity of it. We had a robot people were queuing up to talk to and watch dance (literally dancing to Gangnam Style to the crowd), right next to a companion robot built for someone's home. Then across the room we had recruitment and HR AI startups Method Recruitment and StarPlan, property management AI ventures such as StrataXcel and AskROMi, and even mind-controlled drones," Wang said.

"It was such a positive representation of Melbourne's AI sector right now; not just one narrow lane, but future-forward founders solving very different problems with the same underlying momentum and passion behind them," Wang said.

Daisy Liu said the turnout and mix of participants showed broad interest in the local startup sector.

"We had a great turnout for this event, and the level of innovation, intelligence and diversity on display made for a genuinely promising day showcasing Melbourne's technology startup sector," said Daisy Liu, Chief Executive Officer of StarPlan.

"From AI and robotics startups to scale-ups, the expo was the perfect way to close out Melbourne Innovation Week, and I, along with the team at AIBUILD, was honoured to bring it to life, giving emerging innovators the chance to show what their solutions could mean for the real future of technology adoption in Victoria and Australia," Liu said.