A humanoid robot that dances, a companion bot for elderly Australians, and AI tools for hiring and property management all shared space at Melbourne Connect on Friday. The AI & Robotics Innovation Expo, hosted by AIBUILD and Daisy Liu of StarPlan, drew over 400 attendees during Melbourne Innovation Week 2026, showcasing the breadth of Victoria’s AI sector.
Robots, sleep monitors, and companion robots
The event’s centerpiece was Lumi, a humanoid built by local startup Roboly that moves, talks, and performs on stage. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., attendees lined up to interact with Lumi, while nearby exhibitors displayed other AI-driven solutions. Aurora, a contactless smart sleep monitor, and Emi, a companion robot from Vivenex AI designed for elderly Australians, were among the standouts. Emi detects falls and accidents and includes a video-call feature for family check-ins.
NVIDIA’s Dr Johan Barthelemy and Dr Susan Zhang led a session on the underlying technology powering these systems, from humanoid robots to warehouse automation.
Yifei Wang, CEO of AIBUILD, noted the diversity of the exhibitors. “What stood out to us most wasn’t any single piece of technology, but the sheer diversity of it. We had a robot people were queuing up to talk to and watch dance, right next to a companion robot built for someone’s home. Then across the room we had recruitment and HR AI startups Method Recruitment and StarPlan, property management AI ventures such as StrataXcel and AskROMi, and even mind-controlled drones.”
Read Also: AI platform streamlines insurance industry tasks
Wang added that the event reflected a sector addressing different challenges with shared momentum. “It was such a positive representation of Melbourne’s AI sector right now, not just one narrow lane, but future-forward founders solving very different problems with the same underlying momentum and passion behind them,” he said.
This wasn’t just about flashy demos. StarPlan and Method Recruitment showcased AI hiring tools, while StrataXcel and AskROMi presented AI solutions for property management, including chatbots for renters. The expo reflected a sector where startups are building practical applications alongside cutting-edge research.
Government and academia step in
Victoria’s engagement with AI grew visible at the event. Dr Amanda Caples, the state’s Lead Scientist, and Tim Dillon, Victoria’s Agent General to the UK, attended alongside local politicians. Shadow Minister for AI Richard Welch argued that government policies must adapt to keep pace with the sector’s growth.
University of Melbourne professors Lihai Zhang and Jenny Waycott addressed financial and sociological aspects of AI adoption. Zhang discussed funding pathways for AI startups, while Waycott made the case for companion robots in homes to combat isolation—a theme echoed by Emi’s design.