Step into a space where bold ideas thrive and taboos are turned into triumphs. Lets get to know the makers, thinkers, and rule-breakers reimagining pleasure, connection, and wellbeing. Expect sharp insights, honest conversations, and a community that isn’t afraid to go where others won’t.
This event was born out of curiosity, and a little bit of rebellion. Despite all the innovation in taboo industries, there’s still a lack of spaces for founders, investors, and creators to connect, collaborate, and be taken seriously. I wanted to change that by spotlighting bold ideas and recognising those that deserve to be celebrated for their pioneering efforts.”
Ground Control to Future (Sex)Tech
Digital rights, censorship, and building a fairer future online
The tech we build—and the platforms we use—shape how we connect, express ourselves, and access care. But for those working in taboo industries, the digital world can be hostile territory. In this session, we dive into the complex web of privacy, platform restrictions, safety, and systemic bias. What does a better digital future look like? And who gets to shape it?
Featuring
Eliza Sorensen
Co-founder of Assembly Four, Eliza is an infrastructure and security specialist using tech to support intimacy industry workers. She’s an outspoken advocate for digital rights and privacy, with a deep understanding of the real-world impact of platform policies and online surveillance.
Samantha Floreani
Sam is a digital rights advocate and writer based in Naarm (Melbourne). They advocate for a liberatory digital future in which everyone can thrive. Their advocacy work focuses on enhancing privacy, addressing power imbalances in the data economy, online safety, and resisting surveillance technologies.
Turning Taboo into Talked About
A panel on navigating censorship, building a personal brand in sextech, marketing taboo products, and breaking industry stigma.
Join us for a panel conversation about the real-world challenges and wins of marketing, branding, and thriving in industries often kept in the shadows. From battling censorship to building strong personal brands, our panelists have firsthand experience turning taboo topics into cultural conversations. Join moderator Ally McGrath and a powerhouse lineup of founders, creators, and marketers as they share how they’ve navigated the stigma, grown their audiences, and built businesses that break barriers. Whether you’re building your own brand or championing change from the inside, this session will leave you with real insights, and a whole lot of inspiration.
Featuring
Ally McGrath (moderator)
Ally McGrath is the founder of Electric Feel co, a spicy strategy consultancy with a kink for crafting hot and unbothered content. After a decade in social media and marketing for major corporations, she launched Electric Feel to help founders and creators in the Sex Industry navigate censorship, grow their audience, and build unstoppable personal brands.
Annie Knight
Annie Knight, a leading Australian adult content creator known as 'Australia's Most Sexually Active Woman,' began her OnlyFans career in August 2020. Using her marketing skills, she quickly rose to the top 0.02% of earners, reportedly making $250,000 monthly. Despite facing stigma and strained personal relationships, she remains committed to her career and advocates for sex positivity.
Emma Gillman
Emma Gillman founded The Siren Group, a PR agency specialising in creators and brands in the sex industry. With experience as a writer at Mamamia, she understands both media coverage and brand marketing. She's dedicated to destigmatising the adult industry and creating cultural conversations that build strong personal brands and drive income.
Marc Lyons
Marc Lyons is the founder and creative force behind Happie Holl, the brand that made aftercare for your butt sexy. Passionate about challenging taboos and destigmatising sex, he’s now taking the brand beyond aftercare with an exciting new product line launching soon. Alongside Happie Holl, Marc runs a boutique brand and marketing agency, helping brands that don’t just sell products—they spark conversations.
Paige Aubort
Paige Aubort is the co-founder of High Tide, a modern adult store in Melbourne designed to make exploring intimacy more welcoming. With a background in hospitality and advocacy, she brings her passion for inclusivity, design, and education to reimagine the adult retail experience and shift the conversation around pleasure.
From Local Sparks to Galactic Shifts
What does it take to turn a bold idea into a global movement? How founders can think larger and join world-changing conversations.
In this thought-provoking conversation, Annika and Zoe will explore how founders can think beyond their immediate markets and position their businesses as part of a larger, world-changing conversation. They’ll discuss how sextech intersects with major global issues—from digital rights to inclusion and public health. Expect insights on tackling big challenges, navigating regulation, and how founders can build brands that don’t just succeed, but make a lasting impact. This session is all about expanding your vision, challenging outdated norms, and pushing your ambition beyond borders.
Featuring
Zoe Sever
Zoe is a clinician, researcher, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing sexual and reproductive health. With a Master's in Sexual and Reproductive Health from the University of Sydney, she has advised over 15 high-growth FemTech and SexTech companies, bridging clinical expertise with innovation. She founded Esme Health to address gaps between business priorities and clinical rigour. Currently, as Director of Clinical Innovation at Aunty Jane, she works to expand abortion access in Australia. She also contributes to HIV and sexual health policy through ASHM. Passionate about disrupting traditional healthcare models, Zoe champions evidence-based innovation to improve access and care.
Annika Ojala
Annika Ojala isn’t just another speaker or industry expert, but a bridge builder between worlds that don’t often meet. After a decade in international politics and human rights advocacy, from the United Nations to the World Economic Forum, Annika made a bold move from the halls of the European Parliament into the evolving field of sex tech and social impact. Working with leaders and organisations worldwide, Annika drives conversations on how sex tech innovation can be a force for good. By combining her political expertise with a future-focused approach, Annika offers a perspective few can: one that challenges outdated norms and positions sex tech as a key player in advancing global priorities like health, inclusion, education, and human rights.
Fueling the Future of Innovation
An interactive deep dive into what investors really think about the industry's challenges, opportunities, and future trends.
Peek inside the minds of investors backing innovation in the most misunderstood corners of tech. This session unpacks how they assess potential, navigate risk, and spot the game-changers in spaces others shy away from. Featuring a moderated panel providing real-world insights on what it takes to attract funding—from pitching and positioning to scaling and surviving the unique hurdles of taboo markets. This will be followed by audience Q&A, where you can bring your burning questions. This is your chance to ask investors directly about growth strategies, market entry, and what makes a founder stand out. Whether you're investment-ready or just getting started, this session offers a rare look behind the pitch deck.
Featuring
Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge is an Investment Banker and Hedge Fund Advisor with a passion for supporting innovation in emerging industries. A graduate of SexTechSchool, Chris and his colleagues have established a fund dedicated to investing in the sexual wellness, relationship enhancement, fertility advancements, online intimacy protection, VR robotics, and broader health sectors, including probiotics and microdosing of psychedelics.
Recognising the systemic funding challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in these spaces, Chris and his team are committed to backing visionary founders who are driving meaningful change. While they don’t claim to be creatives, their expertise lies in strategic capital allocation to ensure groundbreaking ideas receive the investment they deserve.
Garry Williams
Gaz is the founder of GROUP GROUP, a brand and growth advisory for early-stage tech companies. Previously the first employee at Tractor Ventures, he helped build one of Australia's fastest-growing fintechs. With a background in creative innovation at the University of Melbourne and Science Gallery Melbourne, Gaz blends brand strategy, tech, and design to create standout content and educational tools. He’s proudly allergic to anything vanilla in marketing.
Bryony Cole
Bryony Cole is the world’s leading authority on sextech, renowned for exploring how technology shapes our most intimate lives. She’s the creator of the acclaimed Future of Sex podcast, founder of Sextech School, and host of globally recognised hackathons and events. Bryony advises governments, tech giants, and entertainment leaders on navigating the future of sextech and has been featured across major media including The New York Times, Netflix, Wired, Forbes, and The Today Show. Through her research, speaking, and education programs, she champions a more inclusive, open, and informed conversation around sexuality and innovation.
The Cosmic Stage for Bold Innovators
Bringing new ideas into the world isn’t easy—especially in industries that challenge outdated norms.
We’re giving founders, creators, and entrepreneurs a stage to showcase their game-changing innovations. Whether you're pioneering new tech, rethinking pleasure products, or breaking barriers in intimacy, this is your chance to pitch your vision to an audience of industry leaders, investors, and fellow trailblazers. Ready to take your idea to the next level? Step up, stand out, and claim your place in the future of the industry.
Who should apply?
Founders, creators, technologists, educators, and advocates working in the following fields.
Pleasure & wellness products
Digital rights & online safety
Content creation & media
AI & emerging tech
Adult retail & e-commerce
Marketing & branding for censored industries
Sex work advocacy & platforms
Health, education, and accessibility
How to apply
Selected participants will pitch live, so you will need to be available to attend the event. Tickets are included for those pitching.
To apply, fill out the application form here.
