Founder Stories: Christopher Sampson (Tiliter)

You've seen the tech. You've watched the market shift. But how do you build something the world's biggest retailers actually trust?

Christopher Sampson shares the unfiltered story of building Tiliter from a garage startup to a global AI company and what it really takes to get there.

After co-founding Tiliter with just a handful of people and a bold idea, Chris grew it into a world-leading provider of AI-driven product recognition solutions, securing over $10M in funding and building teams across Australia, Europe, and the USA. But the path there was anything but straight.

Chris began his career as an engineer at Cochlear, rose through the ranks, and walked away from stability to chase something bigger. What followed was years of building credibility overseas, weathering a pandemic pivot, breaking into major retailers like Woolworths and Coles, and betting on AI before it was mainstream to prove that an Australian startup could compete and win on a global stage.

But what does it actually take to go from idea to industry pioneer? How do you sell technology that didn't exist yet? And what does it mean to build something that genuinely changes an industry?

Agenda:

Hear from Christopher Sampson

Followed by a curated Q&A session

Networking

Whether you're an engineer with a big idea, a founder navigating your next move, or simply curious about what it takes to build globally from Newcastle, this is the founder story that shows you what bold really looks like.

Proudly funded by the NSW Government.

Part of a series of special events throughout 2026 honouring a decade of supporting founders and innovation in the Hunter and Central Coast regions.

🚀 Why I2N?

The University of Newcastle's Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) is Australia's #1 Most Recommended Accelerator and Incubator by Startup Muster, 2025 - the country's biggest startup survey. By harnessing The Hunter and Central Coast regions' unique resources and innovation ecosystem, I2N empowers the most promising innovators and entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into high-impact, sustainable global businesses. Through our enterprise skill-building programs and dedicated spaces, I2N is creating the foundation for startups to thrive and driving economic diversity across our region.