Hot DesQ is a program run by the government of Queensland in Australia through its Advance Queensland initiative to bring startups from around the world to Queensland and get them engaged with the local startup community. Through the program, startups receive $50,000-$100,000 in funding plus space at a coworking site in Queensland of their choice for six months. In return, startups agree to participate in local startup activities and build connections with companies in Queensland, while passing along some of their experience in growing a startup and building startup communities.

This week we talk to Murray Love, CEO of Waterloo-based Ark Paradigm—one of three Canadian startups that have been accepted into the Hot DesQ program over its first two rounds. He is currently working out of the Fishburners coworking space in Brisbane. We also talk to Paul Martyn, the Deputy Director-General of Strategy and Innovation with the Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation. He talks about what they're looking to achieve with the program and how it runs, including the "network points" startups earn by participating in the Queensland startup community.
Links:

* Hot DesQ
* Advance Queensland
* Ark Paradigm
* Murray Love on LinkedIn
* Paul Martyn on LinkedIn
* What’s Hot DesQ Really Like?: FAQs from Someone Who Knows
* 43North 2017 Finals Qualifying Pitch: Suncayr (YouTube)
* 43North 2017 Finals Qualifying Pitch: SomaDetect (YouTube)
* 43North
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