Proactive - Interviews for investors

Straker Ltd CEO Grant Straker talked with Proactive at AIM"S Small and Midcap Conference about how the company is leveraging artificial intelligence to reshape the global language services industry.

Straker explained how the business evolved from early content management systems into a leading AI-powered translation platform over the last 15 years. The company focuses on blending machine learning with human expertise to deliver high-quality, cost-effective language services. A key milestone has been the integration of its platform by IBM, which now uses Straker’s technology for all its internal translations.

“They’ve gone from a multi-vendor traditional model to just us,” Straker said, highlighting how the move has streamlined IBM’s operations while reducing costs.

He also discussed the company's proprietary "Terry" language model and its innovative quality estimation* system. This tool evaluates translated content for accuracy, determining whether it needs human review—improving efficiency and boosting gross margins.

Straker outlined a clear investor case, emphasizing three pillars: financial strength, innovation, and global distribution. The company is targeting revenues of AUD 45 million for the year, with no debt, AUD 12 million in cash, and annual R&D investment of AUD 7 million.

With operations in ten countries and strategic alignment with IBM’s AI stack, Straker positioned the company as well-placed to scale quickly through operating leverage in AI.

#AI #StrakerLtd #GrantStraker #LanguageTech #TranslationAI #IBMPartnership #ArtificialIntelligence #InvestorUpdate #MachineTranslation #TechStocks #ASXStocks #TerryModel #QualityEstimation #ProactiveInvestors #SmallCapASX

Structural Monitoring Systems Executive Chairman and CEO Ross Love talked with Proactive about the company’s aviation-focused growth strategy, recent product developments, and financial performance.

Love explained that the company operates across three segments: avionics for special mission fleets, contract manufacturing, and the development of CVM (Comparative Vacuum Monitoring) technology for detecting microscopic cracks in metal structures. He noted, “The investment case is this is a business that will grow at around about 20% a year plus or minus.”

One of the highlights discussed was the launch of a compact version of their digital audio system, which is tailored for emergency services and aerial firefighting fleets. These products are increasingly in demand, with installations underway across North America, including for California’s CAL FIRE — the largest aerial firefighting fleet.

Love also detailed their expansion into South America, which is facilitated by similar infrastructure to the North American market. He said, “We supply most of the critical flights across North America… we’re making inroads into Europe and into South America.”

On the financial front, Love highlighted that the company has doubled in size over the last two and a half years and is now operating with positive cash flow for the first time, following a successful capital raise of over $8 million. The company expects its first commercial revenues from CVM technology in the first quarter of the next financial year.

#StructuralMonitoringSystems #AviationTechnology #CVMTechnology #AerialFirefighting #EmergencyServices #AerospaceInnovation #PositiveCashFlow #ASXSMN #AviationGrowth #DigitalAudioSystem #SouthAmericaExpansion

Acusensus Ltd Managing Director talked with Proactive at AIM's Small and Midcap Conference about the company’s progress in road safety technology, its global expansion, and the upcoming launch of a new product line aimed at road worker protection.

Alex Jannink, Managing Director and Co-founder of Acusensus, explained how the company pioneered enforcement cameras targeting behaviours like mobile phone use and seatbelt compliance. “We supply these automated enforcement cameras...and we receive a fixed monthly fee essentially for those services,” he said, outlining the company's outsourced business model under long-term government contracts.

While 93% of revenues currently come from Australia, Jannink confirmed growth is underway internationally, with active customers in the United States and United Kingdom. Acusensus has also secured a nationwide speed enforcement contract in New Zealand, expected to contribute significantly from the next financial year.

Jannink highlighted the broader social mission behind the business: “The whole goal of the company is to change behaviours and to save lives.” He pointed to strong behavioural impacts from previous deployments, including a six-fold drop in mobile phone use and a 21% reduction in road fatalities in New South Wales.

A new road worker safety product line is also in development and, according to Jannink, “can be as large as the enforcement business.”

#Acusensus #RoadSafety #AItechnology #TrafficEnforcement #DriverSafety #ASXStocks #GovernmentContracts #InfrastructureSafety #SmartCameras #RoadWorkerProtection #AutonomousTech #InvestSmart #PublicSafetyTech

EBR Systems Inc Senior Vice President Andrew Shute talked with Proactive at the AIM maSmall and Midcap Conference about the company’s upcoming FDA decision for its leadless CRT pacemaker system. The device is designed to treat heart failure and represents the only leadless option in a market currently dominated by three players—with no direct competitor.

Shute said, “We've developed the world's only leadless pacemaker to treat heart failure. And we're on track to receive FDA approval within the next two and a half weeks.”* The product already holds FDA Breakthrough Device designation, and has shown strong clinical results, including a 16.4% reduction in left ventricular end systolic volume—well above the target goal of 9.3%.

Shute outlined the company's go-to-market plan, emphasizing that reimbursement is expected to begin from October 1st under the NTAP and TPT schemes, enabling an ASP of USD 45,000. The company only needs to sell around 2,200 units annually to reach USD 100 million in revenue. “We’ve got no direct competition,” he said.

He also highlighted the successful completion of the FDA’s pre-approval inspection with no observations—an uncommon achievement in the medical device industry.

The device, supported by data published in JAMA Cardiology, was also featured at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting in 2023. During the interim, the US commercial team will establish purchasing agreements, prepare technology committee engagements, and begin physician training for a limited market release.

#EBRSystems #MedicalDevices #HeartFailureTreatment #LeadlessPacemaker #CardiacTech #FDAApproval #CRTDevice #InvestingInHealthcare #BreakthroughDevice #MedTechInnovation #JAMACardiology #HeartRhythmSociety

Wrkr Limited CEO Trent Lund talked with Proactive at the AIM's Small and Midcap Conference about the company’s strategy to simplify compliance through a deeply integrated digital platform. The ASX-listed company, trading under the ticker WRK, connects users, employers, and superannuation funds to streamline data accuracy and reduce friction in onboarding processes.

“We do all the hard work and the heavy lifting so the business and the employee don’t have to,” said Lund. He explained that Wrkr verifies user credentials and automates data flows, reducing error and increasing trust. The system connects to major superannuation funds and payroll systems, holding accurate user information even during job transitions.

Lund detailed Wrkr’s monetisation model, which aims to earn approximately $7 per user through microservices, including license checks and transactions. Current pilots, including one with major fund REST, are transitioning to production. Each super fund implementation takes about nine months and represents between $7 million and $14 million in annual annuity revenue once fully operational.

Looking ahead, 2025 will be focused on large-scale implementation, with 2026 anticipated to generate higher consumption-based revenues. In 2027, Wrkr expects a significant uplift with the introduction of payday super legislation.

#WrkrLimited #TrentLund #ASXWRK #Superannuation #ComplianceTech #FintechAustralia

#PayrollIntegration #InvestorUpdate #PaydaySuper #DigitalTransformation #DataVerification #WorkforceAutomation

CleanSpace Holdings Ltd CEO Gabrielle O’Carroll talked with Proactive about AIM's Small and Midcap Conference about the company’s growth trajectory and product innovation in powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs).

CleanSpace was founded in 2009, based on an innovation developed during the SARS epidemic. The company's differentiator is its lightweight, head-mounted respirators that contrast with the bulkier waist-mounted models commonly available in the industrial market.

“We are steadily approaching that breakeven EBITDA, profitable EBITDA position, which is our goal,” O’Carroll said.

O’Carroll explained that CleanSpace's respirators are well suited for industrial sectors like mining, infrastructure, and petrochemicals. The products are marketed in key regions including the United States, Western Europe, and Australia. The company has 52 employees and recorded AU$9.2 million in revenue in the first half, up 26% year-over-year. CleanSpace is targeting annual revenue growth of 25–30% and expects to achieve positive EBITDA soon.

To drive this, the company is focused on raising brand awareness, engaging directly with end users, and supporting occupational hygienists and safety managers. CleanSpace is also investing in R&D to support future product launches.

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#CleanSpaceHoldings #IndustrialSafety #RespiratoryProtection #PAPR #WorkplaceSafety #OccupationalHealth #ASXStocks #HealthTech #EBITDA #MiningSafety #InfrastructureSafety #ProactiveInvestors

Southern Cross Gold Consolidated CEO Michael Hudson talked with Proactive at the AIM's Small and Midcap Conference about the company’s focus on gold and antimony exploration in Victoria, Australia, particularly at the Sundae Creek project. Hudson outlined the scale and significance of the discovery, describing it as “one of the most exciting gold discoveries globally… a rare tier one multi-million ounce high grade discovery.”

The company is advancing exploration rapidly, with six drill rigs currently operating and plans to expand to eight. Hudson said the company has completed around 70km of drilling and estimates an exploration target of 2.2 to 3.2 million ounces gold equivalent, grading between 8.5 to 10.6 grams per tonne – all within just 5% of the identified trend.

Antimony also plays a key role. Hudson explained that China and Russia dominate the global market and recent export bans have highlighted supply vulnerabilities: “You don't have a defense industry without it. And the Western world really doesn't have it. We've got it.”

Hudson also reflected on the company’s recent inclusion in the All Ordinaries Index, following the merger of Canadian and Australian entities. He said it marks the first index entry for Southern Cross Gold Consolidated and is “a reflection on a business that's less than three years old.”

#SouthernCrossGold #SundayCreek #GoldExploration #Antimony #ASX #MiningStocks #JuniorMiners #ResourceInvesting #MichaelHudson #AllOrdinaries #GoldAndAntimony #AustralianMining

Airtasker Ltd CEO Tim Fung talked with Proactive at AIM's Small and Midcap Conference about the company’s strategic focus across innovation, growth, and international expansion.** Fung outlined how Airtasker differentiates itself in the local services marketplace by operating as a community platform, where both customers and taskers set job scopes and pricing, rather than the company enforcing set rates.

He emphasised Airtasker’s approach to worker empowerment, noting, *“The top people on our platform are running 150, 200 thousand dollars a year doing these kinds of jobs.”* Fung also acknowledged the challenges of the current consumer environment, pointing to Airtasker’s 14.8% revenue growth in the half as a result of lean operations and renewed brand investment.

A key part of Airtasker’s strategy involves innovation across customer acquisition, user experience, and operational efficiency—highlighting its collaboration with OpenAI and use of AI tools like Copilot and Zendesk AI. Fung also discussed partnerships, including one with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, as examples of how Airtasker showcases the diverse range of skilled work enabled by the platform.

He concluded by outlining the investor case: a cash-generative, proven business model in Australia being used to fund international growth in the US and UK, offering upside potential with limited downside.

#Airtasker #TimFung #ASX #GigEconomy #AIIntegration #MarketplacePlatform #SmallCapStocks #TechInnovation #FY25Strategy #ProactiveInvestors #OpenAI #GlobalExpansion #InvestorUpdates #StartupGrowth

COSOL Limited Managing Director Scott McGowan talked with Proactive at AIM's Small and Midcap Conference about the company’s role in driving operational efficiency across asset-intensive industries.

COSOL Limited works with organisations in mining, oil and gas, utilities, and public infrastructure to enhance the performance of their physical assets. McGowan explained the company’s core service as unlocking value by helping clients reduce costs through better asset management. “We look at ways that we can save them real dollars to be able to manage that asset more effectively,” he said.

The company’s client list includes major names such as Glencore, Rio Tinto, BHP, and several government departments. COSOL provides the systems and processes behind the scenes to manage these organisations’ equipment and facilities, potentially impacting hundreds of millions in operational costs. Even a 2–3% improvement, McGowan said, “makes a significant difference to their bottom line.”

COSOL has grown revenue from AUD 30 million to over AUD 110 million since listing. It is now targeting organic growth in the mid-teens and exploring earnings-accretive acquisitions. McGowan also highlighted COSOL’s presence in the U.S., describing it as the company’s largest potential market, where current operations may be expanded through acquisition.

#COSOL #ASXStocks #ScottMcGowan #AssetManagement #MiningTech #Utilities #PublicInfrastructure #OperationalEfficiency #DataSolutions #IndustrialSoftware #GrowthStocks #USExpansion #InvestingInTech

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Qualitas Ltd Group Managing Director Andrew Schwartz talked with Proactive at the AIM's Small and Midcap conference about the company's differentiated position in Australia's real estate investment management landscape.

Andrew Schwartz explained that Qualitas operates at scale, supported by large institutional capital. “Some of those investors literally commit amounts of 1.7 billion and above to Qualitas,” he said, noting the firm can fund projects with hundreds of millions—territory once dominated by traditional banks.

Schwartz highlighted the company’s deep property expertise, developed over decades, as a key driver of performance. He said, “We are deep sector, deep dive property people,” which allows them to manage funds based not just on lending metrics but also on underlying property fundamentals.

The conversation also addressed Qualitas’ notable growth in funds management revenue since its 2021 IPO. Schwartz attributed this to structural shifts in the Australian finance market, where banks still represent 77% of a AU$477 billion sector—but their share is shrinking. “We’ve really got the benefit of filling a void in the market that the bank market just can’t fill,” he said.

Roughly 80% of Qualitas' activities are in the housing sector, financing large-scale residential projects rather than retail home loans. Schwartz said the persistent supply shortage, despite rising interest rates, underpins property values and creates strong demand for capital.

#Qualitas #RealEstateInvestment #InstitutionalCapital #AustralianHousing #PropertyFinance #AndrewSchwartz #HousingShortage #ASX #FundsManagement #ProactiveInvestors