I had an idea I thought imagine if you could have a
I thought imagine if you could have a
I thought imagine if you could have a sunny directly out of the hive without
sunny directly out of the hive without
sunny directly out of the hive without opening the hive and disturbing the bees
so that the honey would just come
so that the honey would just come straight out of the box and into the jar
straight out of the box and into the jar
straight out of the box and into the jar with zero processing
my friend father keeps raising my father
my friend father keeps raising my father keeps bees and my brothers uncles
keeps bees and my brothers uncles
keeps bees and my brothers uncles cousins and now my sisters and
cousins and now my sisters and
cousins and now my sisters and harvesting honey has always been a real
harvesting honey has always been a real
harvesting honey has always been a real labor of love first you have to protect
labor of love first you have to protect
labor of love first you have to protect yourself from stings fire up a smoker to
yourself from stings fire up a smoker to
yourself from stings fire up a smoker to sedate the bees then crack open the
sedate the bees then crack open the
sedate the bees then crack open the boxes and lift heavy boxes take those
boxes and lift heavy boxes take those
boxes and lift heavy boxes take those frames out
frames out
frames out try not to squash too many bees brush
try not to squash too many bees brush
try not to squash too many bees brush off all the bees or use a leaf blower
off all the bees or use a leaf blower
off all the bees or use a leaf blower and take those frames to a processing
and take those frames to a processing
and take those frames to a processing shed cut off all the wax capping then
shed cut off all the wax capping then
shed cut off all the wax capping then load those frames into a centrifuge spin
load those frames into a centrifuge spin
load those frames into a centrifuge spin out all the honey filter out all the wax
out all the honey filter out all the wax
out all the honey filter out all the wax and B bits and if that’s not a hard
and B bits and if that’s not a hard
and B bits and if that’s not a hard enough hard work the frames have to go
enough hard work the frames have to go
enough hard work the frames have to go back to the hives again it’s a hot
back to the hives again it’s a hot
back to the hives again it’s a hot sweaty heavy messy lot of hard work I
sweaty heavy messy lot of hard work I
sweaty heavy messy lot of hard work I thought there has to be a better way so
thought there has to be a better way so
thought there has to be a better way so we’re dead now I got to work on what
we’re dead now I got to work on what
we’re dead now I got to work on what turned out to be a decade long process
turned out to be a decade long process
turned out to be a decade long process to invent the beekeepers dream so I
to invent the beekeepers dream so I
to invent the beekeepers dream so I first started by getting a piece of comb
first started by getting a piece of comb
first started by getting a piece of comb out of the hive and cutting the back off
out of the hive and cutting the back off
out of the hive and cutting the back off the comb and the honey didn’t drain out
the comb and the honey didn’t drain out
the comb and the honey didn’t drain out and I thought that’s interesting and
and I thought that’s interesting and
and I thought that’s interesting and then I cut the front off the comb and
then I cut the front off the comb and
then I cut the front off the comb and thought this is sure to work but the
thought this is sure to work but the
thought this is sure to work but the honey still wouldn’t drain out no I
honey still wouldn’t drain out no I
honey still wouldn’t drain out no I thought well maybe if I tip the beehive
thought well maybe if I tip the beehive
thought well maybe if I tip the beehive on its side and built this crazy
on its side and built this crazy
on its side and built this crazy contraption then the honey will come out
contraption then the honey will come out
contraption then the honey will come out but the viscosity and surface tension
but the viscosity and surface tension
but the viscosity and surface tension was such that the honey would stick in
was such that the honey would stick in
was such that the honey would stick in that hexagon matrix and wouldn’t come
that hexagon matrix and wouldn’t come
that hexagon matrix and wouldn’t come out so then I thought well maybe I can
out so then I thought well maybe I can
out so then I thought well maybe I can push it out so I cast a hexagon piston
push it out so I cast a hexagon piston
push it out so I cast a hexagon piston plungers to go down cells and that
plungers to go down cells and that
plungers to go down cells and that didn’t work and then I thought maybe I
didn’t work and then I thought maybe I
didn’t work and then I thought maybe I can suck it out and that didn’t work so
can suck it out and that didn’t work so
can suck it out and that didn’t work so I and really the only thing that keeps
I and really the only thing that keeps
I and really the only thing that keeps you doing is being optimistic that yes I
you doing is being optimistic that yes I
you doing is being optimistic that yes I can make this idea work and then one
can make this idea work and then one
can make this idea work and then one morning when I was almost awake I
morning when I was almost awake I
morning when I was almost awake I thought maybe it doesn’t have to be
thought maybe it doesn’t have to be
thought maybe it doesn’t have to be hexagon cells all the time maybe it can
hexagon cells all the time maybe it can
hexagon cells all the time maybe it can be hexagon cells when the bees are
be hexagon cells when the bees are
be hexagon cells when the bees are filling them with honey and transform
filling them with honey and transform
filling them with honey and transform into something else when it’s time to
into something else when it’s time to
into something else when it’s time to harvest the honey so then I was building
harvest the honey so then I was building
harvest the honey so then I was building this prototype sort of out of just bits
this prototype sort of out of just bits
this prototype sort of out of just bits and pieces that were lying around we ran
and pieces that were lying around we ran
and pieces that were lying around we ran on this fell of an oily rag say I mean
on this fell of an oily rag say I mean
on this fell of an oily rag say I mean literally we ran our cars off old
literally we ran our cars off old
literally we ran our cars off old fishing ship oil from the chip shop and
fishing ship oil from the chip shop and
fishing ship oil from the chip shop and so the prototype was made out of bits of
so the prototype was made out of bits of
so the prototype was made out of bits of wood and old corinna tube and hot melt
wood and old corinna tube and hot melt
wood and old corinna tube and hot melt glue and we put them into the hive and
glue and we put them into the hive and
glue and we put them into the hive and while I was staying to get somewhere my
while I was staying to get somewhere my
while I was staying to get somewhere my dad one morning after a couple of stone
dad one morning after a couple of stone
dad one morning after a couple of stone coffees goes hang on how about instead
coffees goes hang on how about instead
coffees goes hang on how about instead of doing it like this we do it like this
of doing it like this we do it like this
of doing it like this we do it like this and he just moved his hands in such a
and he just moved his hands in such a
and he just moved his hands in such a way and I straightaway dropped
way and I straightaway dropped
way and I straightaway dropped everything I was doing and rushed into
everything I was doing and rushed into
everything I was doing and rushed into the shed and we built this prototype put
the shed and we built this prototype put
the shed and we built this prototype put it in the Beehive and here is the first
it in the Beehive and here is the first
it in the Beehive and here is the first drops of honey harvested in that way
drops of honey harvested in that way
drops of honey harvested in that way [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so then it was a case of repeating a
so then it was a case of repeating a
so then it was a case of repeating a single little experiment we had so we
single little experiment we had so we
single little experiment we had so we moved on to 3d printing and 3d printing
moved on to 3d printing and 3d printing
moved on to 3d printing and 3d printing was expensive back then cost $2,000 for
was expensive back then cost $2,000 for
was expensive back then cost $2,000 for this small little comb area and we put
this small little comb area and we put
this small little comb area and we put that into the hive and the bees liked it
that into the hive and the bees liked it
that into the hive and the bees liked it they they waxed it all up they filled it
they they waxed it all up they filled it
they they waxed it all up they filled it with honey and there we were in the
with honey and there we were in the
with honey and there we were in the paddock with a spanner like thing on the
paddock with a spanner like thing on the
paddock with a spanner like thing on the outside of the hive there’s the very
outside of the hive there’s the very
outside of the hive there’s the very first job at Florence so there we were
first job at Florence so there we were
first job at Florence so there we were standing after all this work in the
standing after all this work in the
standing after all this work in the paddock me and my dad with the very
paddock me and my dad with the very
paddock me and my dad with the very first jar of honey in the world to be
first jar of honey in the world to be
first jar of honey in the world to be harvested in this new way
I mean saw it but would anyone like it
I mean saw it but would anyone like it perhaps we were just too deluded
perhaps we were just too deluded
perhaps we were just too deluded inventors wiling away and they said
inventors wiling away and they said
inventors wiling away and they said hoping we would invent something that
hoping we would invent something that
hoping we would invent something that the world would like and is it a
the world would like and is it a
the world would like and is it a positive contribution to the world and
positive contribution to the world and
positive contribution to the world and that’s a question that I think every
that’s a question that I think every
that’s a question that I think every inventor should ask themselves and we
inventor should ask themselves and we
inventor should ask themselves and we thought yes if we can make beekeeping
thought yes if we can make beekeeping
thought yes if we can make beekeeping more accessible yes if we can make it a
more accessible yes if we can make it a
more accessible yes if we can make it a gentle process for the bees so the way
gentle process for the bees so the way
gentle process for the bees so the way it works is we give them partly formed
it works is we give them partly formed
it works is we give them partly formed honeycomb cells the bees then cover it
honeycomb cells the bees then cover it
honeycomb cells the bees then cover it all in wax completely comb and draw they
all in wax completely comb and draw they
all in wax completely comb and draw they came out further then they cap it all
came out further then they cap it all
came out further then they cap it all off with their beeswax then we come
off with their beeswax then we come
off with their beeswax then we come along from the outside of the hive and
along from the outside of the hive and
along from the outside of the hive and turn the handle and inside the comb but
turn the handle and inside the comb but
turn the handle and inside the comb but Neath the bees feet the parts move
Neath the bees feet the parts move
Neath the bees feet the parts move allowing honey to drain down to the
allowing honey to drain down to the
allowing honey to drain down to the trough at the bottom and out of the hive
trough at the bottom and out of the hive
trough at the bottom and out of the hive [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] I can’t wait any longer I love honey and
I can’t wait any longer I love honey and
I can’t wait any longer I love honey and I love you too honey so there we were
I love you too honey so there we were
I love you too honey so there we were with our brand-new invention but how do
with our brand-new invention but how do
with our brand-new invention but how do we get it to the world so we started
we get it to the world so we started
we get it to the world so we started exploring the world trodden roads of
exploring the world trodden roads of
exploring the world trodden roads of convincing investors or or selling out
convincing investors or or selling out
convincing investors or or selling out to companies or licensing our patents
to companies or licensing our patents
to companies or licensing our patents and I thought there must be a better way
and I thought there must be a better way
and I thought there must be a better way perhaps we can sell enough on
perhaps we can sell enough on
perhaps we can sell enough on crowdfunding to cover our costs so then
crowdfunding to cover our costs so then
crowdfunding to cover our costs so then my talented sister
my talented sister
my talented sister Mira helped us put together a great
Mira helped us put together a great
Mira helped us put together a great crowdfunding video and I’m just gonna
crowdfunding video and I’m just gonna
crowdfunding video and I’m just gonna have to change that honey jar because
have to change that honey jar because
have to change that honey jar because it’s just about to overflow
so there we were in the shed that we
so there we were in the shed that we call our home my better half enough now
call our home my better half enough now
call our home my better half enough now friends were roping in to do this launch
friends were roping in to do this launch
friends were roping in to do this launch and this yet it’s kind of the perfect
and this yet it’s kind of the perfect
and this yet it’s kind of the perfect synergy between sort of workshop and
synergy between sort of workshop and
synergy between sort of workshop and kitchen and I mean for me anyway but
kitchen and I mean for me anyway but
kitchen and I mean for me anyway but perhaps it’s not so great for for
perhaps it’s not so great for for
perhaps it’s not so great for for domestic harmony so so there we were
domestic harmony so so there we were
domestic harmony so so there we were about to press the Go button and you
about to press the Go button and you
about to press the Go button and you might notice that we’ve got a baby on
might notice that we’ve got a baby on
might notice that we’ve got a baby on the way
the way
the way now just to add a little bit more
now just to add a little bit more
now just to add a little bit more pressure to the situation our landlord
pressure to the situation our landlord
pressure to the situation our landlord just told us that he’s selling the
just told us that he’s selling the
just told us that he’s selling the property and selling our home and I said
property and selling our home and I said
property and selling our home and I said don’t worry honey I’ve gotten the
don’t worry honey I’ve gotten the
don’t worry honey I’ve gotten the invention so oh yeah we press the Go
invention so oh yeah we press the Go
invention so oh yeah we press the Go button and we reached our $70,000 target
button and we reached our $70,000 target
button and we reached our $70,000 target in seven minutes I was
I was in kind of a dreamlike state after
I was in kind of a dreamlike state after being up all night trying to finish the
being up all night trying to finish the
being up all night trying to finish the page and then we reached 1 million
page and then we reached 1 million
page and then we reached 1 million dollars in two hours and that was a
dollars in two hours and that was a
dollars in two hours and that was a world crowdfunding record for the
world crowdfunding record for the
world crowdfunding record for the fastest to a million dollars then in a
fastest to a million dollars then in a
fastest to a million dollars then in a day we had two million u.s. dollars in
day we had two million u.s. dollars in
day we had two million u.s. dollars in orders then we broke another world
orders then we broke another world
orders then we broke another world crowdfunding record of the most
crowdfunding record of the most
crowdfunding record of the most successful campaign ever to launch
successful campaign ever to launch
successful campaign ever to launch outside of the US then the campaign
outside of the US then the campaign
outside of the US then the campaign topped out at twelve point two million
topped out at twelve point two million
topped out at twelve point two million [Applause]
and so then we’re just trying to rope in
and so then we’re just trying to rope in friends and family there’s thousands of
friends and family there’s thousands of
friends and family there’s thousands of emails coming in and people are saying
emails coming in and people are saying
emails coming in and people are saying you’re gonna save the world you’re
you’re gonna save the world you’re
you’re gonna save the world you’re saving the bees and other people think
saving the bees and other people think
saving the bees and other people think no you won’t you’re gonna ruin the world
no you won’t you’re gonna ruin the world
no you won’t you’re gonna ruin the world it’s the end of civilization and we’re
it’s the end of civilization and we’re
it’s the end of civilization and we’re here going well well settle down
here going well well settle down
here going well well settle down everyone it won’t save the world but it
everyone it won’t save the world but it
everyone it won’t save the world but it might help yes you still need to look
might help yes you still need to look
might help yes you still need to look after your bees as you always have done
after your bees as you always have done
after your bees as you always have done sinned yes it really does work sin no
sinned yes it really does work sin no
sinned yes it really does work sin no it’s not a scam we have a 24/7
it’s not a scam we have a 24/7
it’s not a scam we have a 24/7 production line running in Brisbane
production line running in Brisbane
production line running in Brisbane Australia and after we’ve shipped twenty
Australia and after we’ve shipped twenty
Australia and after we’ve shipped twenty five thousand five hundred and fifty two
five thousand five hundred and fifty two
five thousand five hundred and fifty two hives we’ll ship you yours I promise
hello I know sorry I’m I’m too busy who
hello I know sorry I’m I’m too busy who honey it’s New York Times um could you
honey it’s New York Times um could you
honey it’s New York Times um could you possibly come tomorrow morning instead
possibly come tomorrow morning instead
possibly come tomorrow morning instead we just got to tidy up the shed Thanks I
know really crazy time to have a baby
know really crazy time to have a baby but hang so what was amazing is
but hang so what was amazing is
but hang so what was amazing is thousands of emails are pouring in every
thousands of emails are pouring in every
thousands of emails are pouring in every day it’s kind of like whack-a-mole they
day it’s kind of like whack-a-mole they
day it’s kind of like whack-a-mole they pop up you whack him down and pop up
pop up you whack him down and pop up
pop up you whack him down and pop up again and we wrote be an asshole
again and we wrote be an asshole
again and we wrote be an asshole team of friends and family to help with
team of friends and family to help with
team of friends and family to help with this and a common thread was where
this and a common thread was where
this and a common thread was where you’ve been a beekeeper one month and
you’ve been a beekeeper one month and
you’ve been a beekeeper one month and you’ve already turned your whole
you’ve already turned your whole
you’ve already turned your whole neighborhood pesticide free that’s
neighborhood pesticide free that’s
neighborhood pesticide free that’s amazing and thousand
amazing and thousand
amazing and thousand thousands more emails are flooding into
thousands more emails are flooding into
thousands more emails are flooding into our team with this common thread of
our team with this common thread of
our team with this common thread of people really advocating for the bees
people really advocating for the bees
people really advocating for the bees and the important role they play in the
and the important role they play in the
and the important role they play in the world because when you become a
world because when you become a
world because when you become a beekeeper you can’t help but notice the
beekeeper you can’t help but notice the
beekeeper you can’t help but notice the interconnectedness of all life on Earth
interconnectedness of all life on Earth
interconnectedness of all life on Earth that we completely depend on so I think
that we completely depend on so I think
that we completely depend on so I think the world loved our invention loved this
the world loved our invention loved this
the world loved our invention loved this new way of harvesting honey and was now
new way of harvesting honey and was now
new way of harvesting honey and was now shipped forty-eight thousand flow hives
shipped forty-eight thousand flow hives
shipped forty-eight thousand flow hives to a hundred and thirty different
to a hundred and thirty different
to a hundred and thirty different countries
[Applause]
[Applause] and 60% of these hives have gone to new
and 60% of these hives have gone to new
and 60% of these hives have gone to new beekeepers who quickly become advocates
beekeepers who quickly become advocates
beekeepers who quickly become advocates for the bees 40 years ago there was
for the bees 40 years ago there was
for the bees 40 years ago there was 200,000 beekeepers in the USA just five
200,000 beekeepers in the USA just five
200,000 beekeepers in the USA just five years ago those numbers had halved now
years ago those numbers had halved now
years ago those numbers had halved now I’m happy to say we’re making a
I’m happy to say we’re making a
I’m happy to say we’re making a significant increase to that every day
because if we look after the bees then
because if we look after the bees then we look after our natural world and
we look after our natural world and
we look after our natural world and honey really is an amazing bonus we all
honey really is an amazing bonus we all
honey really is an amazing bonus we all have ideas and we all see better ways
have ideas and we all see better ways
have ideas and we all see better ways right here in this room and in your
right here in this room and in your
right here in this room and in your backyard there are thousands of
backyard there are thousands of
backyard there are thousands of inventions waiting to happen and our
inventions waiting to happen and our
inventions waiting to happen and our world needs backyard inventors to see
world needs backyard inventors to see
world needs backyard inventors to see those better ways to be driven by
those better ways to be driven by
those better ways to be driven by optimism passion and purpose to change
optimism passion and purpose to change
optimism passion and purpose to change our world for the better thank you
our world for the better thank you
our world for the better thank you [Applause]
”
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