5 Sept- Spring Updates & Exciting News 🌻
Happy Thursday,
Spring has sprung, bringing with it a season of fresh ideas, blossoming new programs, and innovations ready to take root. There’s so much happening that we can’t wait to dive in. So, grab a coffee, settle in, and let’s get started... 🤿
This week, our very own David Burt, Director of Entrepreneurship, shared his insightful perspective on the vital role that international students play in Australia’s economic development and startups. With the future of our innovation ecosystem at a pivotal moment, let’s hope the right decisions are made to keep us thriving. Join the conversation on LinkedIn.
Ready for more?
The 24th Peter Farrell Cup is heating up! With the ultimate showdown happening on September 10, so don’t miss out—grab your tickets now! 🚀💰 But that’s not all—stay tuned to our Instagram on Monday for the big reveal of the full prize amount.
New Wave Program (#14) kicks off this weekend! We received 206 applications and we're excited to see what fresh challenges this cohort will tackle.
Celebrating Portfolio Wins: From funding successes to epic tech innovations, Forage, Yellowbox, Breaker, Givvable, Net Nada, Nuroflux and Cauldron Ferm are making some serious waves. Scroll to learn how⬇️
First Thursdays with Michael Withford: Tomorrow, don’t miss the chance to hear from the co-founder of Modular Photonics. He’ll be sharing his journey in micro-photonics and optical fiber innovation— Hope to see you there!
Always a pleasure,
Kristen Phillips
Senior Manager (Ideas)
UNSW Founders
LATEST & GREATEST >>
We’re thrilled to share that Zanab Malik has been making waves following her win at Pitch Night at South West! 🏆
Draw Your Box recently published a Q&A with Zanab, diving into her journey from South West Sydney and the creation of her app, My Special Needs Dental Home. The article highlights the potential impact of her innovation on the community. Read the full Q&A here.
Additionally, SmartCompany has spotlighted Zanab in their weekly Neural Notes column, profiling her founder story and the ambitious goals she has for My Special Needs Dental Home. Read full article here.
PORTFOLIO NEWS >>
This week, we're turning up the heat as we celebrate some incredible milestones and achievements within our community. From groundbreaking tech innovations to prestigious award nominations, our PortCo's and 10x Alumni are shaking the ground!
🎯 User Milestones :
Forage has reached 5 million users, with 1.5 million new sign-ups in the last 12 months alone. This is a significant milestone in their mission to support students in their career journeys. Read more here....
👩💻 New Tech Developments:
Yellowbox has launched a new Device Charging Add-On for their smart locker locks, featuring built-in USB-C and USB-A ports. This upgrade offers flexible charging solutions in the workplace, setting a new industry standard. Read more here...
🔦 Founder Spotlights:
Breaker will be at the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition in Melbourne from 11-13 September, showcasing their scalable autonomy solutions. Catch them at the Investment NSW Stand C031. Read more here...
NetNada’s Co-Founder, Lochie Burke, will join a sustainability panel on 4 September at Harbour City Labs. It’s an excellent opportunity to hear from industry leaders on actionable sustainability strategies. Read more here...
👨🏻⚖️ Legislation Impact:
The recent passing of the Climate Reporting Bill introduces mandatory climate disclosures starting in 2025. Our portfolio companies, Givvable and NetNada, are at the forefront of helping businesses meet these new regulatory requirements.
🎖️ Awards & Recognition:
We’re thrilled to see Nuroflux shortlisted for the InnovationAus Awards for excellence in Health Tech and Cauldron Ferm as a finalist for Startup Daily’s Best Regional Startup 2024.
👏 Huge congrats to everyone - your relentless drive and passion continue to inspire us all 👏
APPLICATIONS OPEN >>
Are you a passionate founder looking to innovate in healthcare and wellbeing for marginalised and underrepresented communities? The Impact X Pre-Accelerator is your chance to turn your vision into reality!
Why Impact X?
Get tailored mentorship, attend weekly masterclasses, connect with industry insiders, and access world-class facilities—all for free thanks to our partners, Investment NSW and Liverpool Innovation Precinct. Apply now! Hurry, applications close at 5pm on September 21st!
Hult Prize is Your Chance to Make a Global Impact in 2025
Ready to turn your passion for social change into action? The Hult Prize, the world’s largest student social enterprise competition, is coming back to UNSW! This prestigious competition challenges you to develop innovative solutions to some of the world’s biggest issues, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With $1 million USD up for grabs in the 2025 challenge, this is your opportunity to pitch a world-changing idea and make a real difference.
Join us and unleash your potential to create a better future!
Turn Your Idea into Reality in 6 Weeks!
Ready to bring your big idea to life? The Product Development Challenge is your gateway to transforming concepts into real, functioning hardware products. Over six action-packed weeks, you'll dive into hands-on workshops and expert-led sessions covering everything from design thinking to rapid prototyping. Whether you're into consumer electronics, wearables, or even robots, this challenge is designed to help you create something tangible. Plus, you'll showcase your creation at a market-style demo day, where you can impress the community and judges to win prizes. It's kicking off in September 12.
Don’t miss out—this is your chance to turn ideas into reality!
Recommended by LinkedIn
UPCOMING EVENTS >>
⏰🔥 TOMORROW: Thurs, 5 Sept from 4 - 6pm | MCIC, UNSW
Our guest speaker for the September First Thursdays is Michael Withford, a visionary in micro-photonics and a leader in optical fiber innovation. As the co-founder of Modular Photonics, Michael has been instrumental in creating components that supercharge high-speed internet, securing him national and international recognition. He has contributed to great advancements with several patents and over 160 journal papers. His expertise in lodging patents can help researchers and future founders understand the importance of protecting intellectual property, providing insights into earning credibility and attracting investment, so make sure you grab your ticket.
⏰🔥 TOMORROW: Thurs, 5 Sept from 5 - 7pm | 50 Scott Street Liverpool
What does it take to thrive as a diverse woman entrepreneur? Find out at HerStory—an event dedicated to celebrating the success of women just like you. Hear powerful stories, gain expert insights, and connect with a community that understands your journey. Let’s break barriers and create opportunities together.
This event is proudly supported by Liverpool Innovation Precinct
Tuesday, 10 Sep from 5pm - 8pm | Roundhouse, UNSW
Join us for the grand finale of the Peter Farrell Cup (PFC) 2024, where the brightest entrepreneurial minds from UNSW will compete for top honours. The event marks the culmination of months of hard work and innovation, as teams present their groundbreaking ideas in front of a panel of esteemed judges and a live audience. The PFC is UNSW’s flagship startup competition, designed to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs, providing them with the skills, support, and network to bring their ideas to life.
Expect an evening filled with inspiring pitches, networking opportunities, and the celebration of UNSW’s entrepreneurial spirit. Whether you're a student, alum, industry professional, or startup enthusiast, this is your chance to witness the future of innovation and support the talented teams vying for the PFC title.
Thursday 12 Sep from 6pm - 8pm | MCIC, UNSW
Struggling to land those first vital customers? This is your chance to change that! Join Haris Qureshi, VP of Sales & Customer Success at Hatch, as he reveals insider tips on going from 0 to 1. With a track record at AWS and Techstars, Haris knows exactly how to help you secure your startup’s first sales.
Don’t miss out—this is the expert guidance you need to kickstart your success!
UPSKILL >>
We're in the midst of O-Week and the excitement is building! Whether you're curious about entrepreneurship, want to learn new skills, or just want to explore what's possible with UNSW Founders, there's something for everyone.
Don’t miss out on these exciting opportunities to kickstart your journey! JOIN A WORKSHOP
like The Psychology of Design, where you'll dive into the science behind design and sharpen your decision-making skills.
☕️ Do you have an idea that you think could be a great side hustle?
Come enjoy a FREE coffee and a rapid coaching session with our ready & waiting UNSW Founders team. This is a drop-in session running every second Thursday of the month, but be sure to register so we can expect you! SECURE YOUR SPOT NOW
⚡️Coach & Connect
Available for FREE to all UNSW staff, students and alumni with a bright idea for a new startup, or an already established business.
From developing an idea, building a business model, raising capital to merely exploring entrepreneurship, we’re here to help! LEARN MORE
💪 Whether it's learning to code, building a prototype, designing a new product or merely learning a new creative skill, our team at Makerspace & MCIC have something for you. We are always pulling together exciting workshops & short courses to help you learn and grow.
Community News>>
Startup Muster Survey Closes on 9 September!
If you’re a founder or part of an organisation supporting Australian startups, please complete the 2024 Startup Muster survey! We spend a lot of time advocating for increased funding for Australian startups, but the lack of data often hinders progress. You can help change this by taking part in the survey, which directly impacts how the ecosystem evolves and the funding it receives.
When completing the survey, be sure to select UNSW as your university affiliation and mention UNSW Founders wherever relevant to help showcase our support.
Your input matters—let’s shape the future of Australian startups together! COMPLETE THE SURVEY
🤑 The MVP Ventures Program is designed to support startups and innovative SME’s through the product lifecycle between early-stage research and mature investment opportunities. It offers grants of $25,000 to $50,000 in co-contribution funding to drive the commercialisation of highly innovative and new products or processes.
Applications for round 2 close 28 Feb 2025. Find out more.
💰 The Industry Growth Program is now open, with startups and innovative small and medium businesses able to apply for expert advice on their commercialisation and growth projects. The Industry Growth Program enables eligible SMEs to receive advice from industry experts, with a particular focus on the early stages when businesses often have difficulty turning innovative ideas into profitable products, processes and services. Once you have received this advice, you may choose to apply for:
- Grants of 50,000 to $250,000 to support early-stage commercialisation projects.
- Grants of $100,000 to $5 million for commercialisation and growth projects.
Your tax-deductible donation supports Australia's next generation of entrepreneurs