From frustration to innovation

Did you know that it’s only the stressed out, irritated oysters that make pearls? Well, today we are sharing a few pearlers of ideas that have come from Australians who turned frustration into innovation.

Take Frankie4 shoes, born from the problem women across the country experienced when trying to find shoes that their podiatrist would approve of and could also be worn in public. Until Frankie4, stylish foot-friendly shoes simply didn’t exist and the choice was either pain or nanna shoes. But that changed when a Brisbane-based podiatrist couple created Frankie4 (named after their dog). You can now keep your feet happy and healthy while wearing footware that’s all style.

Sick of seeing expensive poor quality luggage that wasn’t designed to last, the founders of Melbourne based luggage company July took action. Built to withstand the knocks and scratches that are inevitable when your luggage comes into contact with footpaths and baggage handlers, July boasts that its suitcases are tough enough that they will be with you for life. And July luggage looks very stylish too, so you’ll be very happy to have one as your travel side-kick for ever and a day.

Savings culture changed when life went digital, and there were no longer money boxes to crack open to see how quickly spare change could add up. Australian start-up Raiz changed that with it’s awesome app that rounds up your digital purchases to the nearest dollar — meaning you are forced to save the ‘spare change’. It really adds up. And on top of that, Accorns investors do a great job so the interest paid on savings is an added bonus.

We can (and do) go on and on about Modibodi, born from the frustration and distress so many women faced with underwear leaks. An Australian marathon running Mum of four found a leak-proof sustainable solution to this problem that had existed since Eve was a girl, and now periods and incontinence don’t hold anyone back from swimming, sport or any other activities.

Got any other examples of great Australian ingenuity to share? Get in touch — we’d love to hear from you.

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