There is a famous song written by Adelaide-born songwriter Paul Kelly called 'From little things, big things grow' and this lyric especially rings true for BiORG.
Located along the Philip Highway in Elizabeth, BiORG is an Australian Veteran owned business specialising in Integrated Product Support, developing maintenance and asset management systems that cover the full design-to-maintenance lifecycle for the Australian Government, Defence Industries, and a range of commercial organisations. Their talented team deliver projects across Australia with partnerships and impact extending internationally. BiORG’s journey exemplifies the growth and opportunity available in the Playford region for those willing to take the plunge.
After a career in the defence sector, including service in the Royal Australian Navy - BiORG founder Doug Phillips took the leap and started his own business. Leveraging his connections within the local defence industry, he was introduced to the Stretton Centre, a supportive environment that encouraged experimentation and calculated risk-taking.
At the Stretton Centre, Doug enrolled in a startup program designed to help new businesses navigate the challenges of launching and growing a company. With access to co-working spaces and support services, this provided a strong foundation for BiORG to develop and expand. As with many startups, the financial pressures and long hours were significant, but the team soon began achieving breakthroughs.
“We launched BiORG when our first child was just one year old, so every decision carried double the weight - long hours building a business by day, then coming home to be present for a family that deserved my best. When you're bootstrapped and growing faster than your cash flow, you find yourself dipping into the mortgage offset just to keep the wheels turning. It was tough, but we believed in what we were building.” Doug Phillips, BiORG CEO
Through the Stretton Centre and connections with other local defence companies, BiORG also joined the Edinburgh Industry Alliance, further strengthening its network and industry presence. An early win for BiORG was being chosen for the City of Playford Startup Support award in 2021, an achievement that gave them confidence to pitch for more contracts and projects.
“It's a genuine Stretton Centre success - a startup that used the support available as a launchpad to build a national business” said Doug about their beginnings, “It was just two of us back then in BiORG and we've now grown to a nationwide team of 35.”
This growth has allowed BiORG to work on exciting projects such as developing the global life support and maintenance strategy for Life Support International (LSI). The U.S. based company produce the UNI-PAC III, a complete air drop survival system self-contained within a canister, including a multi-person raft, deployed by the Boeing P-8A Poseidon. The Australian Defence Force’s fleet of Boeing P-8A Poseidon’s are modified and upgraded at Australia’s first Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility adjacent to the RAAF Base in Edinburgh.
“Defence may be a big industry, but the ecosystems within it, by state and by capability, are surprisingly small. That's why it's so important to lead with relationships first, genuinely look for ways to help each other, and be willing to give others a leg up. When local defence businesses support one another, the whole ecosystem gets stronger.” Doug Phillips, BiORG CEO
BiORG’s business journey is one that both shows the potential for any local business to grow and thrive, as well as the greater potential for the Playford region to attract new industries and business.
This story also shows the impact of a large defence contractor basing themselves in Northern Adelaide - their work draws smaller and medium-sized businesses into their supply chain creating local jobs. The advent of Life Support International choosing to base here in northern Adelaide is a sign of exciting times for the area.
Doug will be sharing his story at the upcoming Northern Adelaide Defence Industry Networking event on June 11. We invite other defence and defence supply chain businesses to join, connect, and learn from local business experiences - gaining insight into their capabilities and how they contribute to the growth of the local economy. Book your spot here