Leximancer Pty Ltd, a software innovations company established to develop the text analytics research of UQ’s Dr Andrew Smith, has graduated from its university base and opened its own office in Jindalee’s business precinct.
Leximancer is the first start-up generated by UQ’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.
Since its establishment in 2005, Leximancer had been "incubating" at UniQuest, UQ’s main commercialisation company based at the St Lucia campus.
With access to UniQuest’s administrative and commercialisation resources, the fledgling company was able to concentrate on attracting investment and developing its products for entry into global markets.
The decision to establish its own, larger premises off campus was in response to the company’s growth in investment and staff numbers, including the appointment of key executives based overseas.
Leximancer’s CEO, Neil Hartley, operates from the UK. Chris Westfall is the Vice President for Business Development and US representative. The Queensland-based team includes Mac Exon-Taylor in the role of Sales Director for Australia and New Zealand, Dr Andrew Smith as Chief Scientist and Ted McFadden as Chief Engineer. The Brisbane office also accommodates training, administration and software development staff.
For Leximancer chairman Joe McLean, the opening of the independent office represents a significant milestone in the company’s development. As UniQuest’s Group Manager for Social sciences he has worked closely with Dr Smith and the faculty to advance what began as a research project.
"To reflect on what has been achieved in a relatively short time is both humbling and inspiring," Mr McLean said.
"We have come this far because there has been so much support for the concept and the company through advocacy and investment."
UniQuest Managing Director, David Henderson, said Leximancer’s achievements demonstrated what could be accomplished with the vision and determination that underpinned the company’s progress.
"UniQuest has commercialised a wide range of university discoveries from the Life and Physical sciences over the past 20 or so years," Mr Henderson said.
"Our involvement with this innovation from the Social sciences is very exciting and we are proud to have helped Dr Smith commercialise his research so that organisations all round the world can benefit from his work,” Mr Henderson said.
Leximancer’s new address is 34 Goggs Road, in the Jindalee Home Base centre.
Leximancer’s primary product is a software platform that enables users to find meaning from text-based documents.
It automatically identifies key themes, concepts and ideas from unstructured text with little or no guidance. The innovative concept map allows users, such as Intelligence, Government and Research agencies, to interact with the analysis – navigating the true meaning of the text.
More details on the company’s products and services can be found at http://www.leximancer.com
Media inquiries: Leanne Wyvill at UniQuest (3365 4037, 0409 767 199).
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