Student Innovation Showcase and Awards 2024
Your idea could win $5000.
Applications are open from Wednesday 15 May and close Sunday 7 July 2024. Apply now.
Award Categories
INCUBATE Award for Best Student Startup – Early-stage
For student founders turning their idea into a business.
Eligibility: for any University of Sydney undergraduate and postgraduate student groups of up to four founders. A minimum of 25% of founders are enrolled University of Sydney students at the time of submission.
Application requirements: Applicants will be required to present a business model and address set criteria to support their startup idea. They are not required to have a minimum viable product.
Prize: $5,000 and mentorship with INCUBATE. This may be in the form of entry into an INCUBATE program or a meeting with an Entrepreneur in Residence.
INCUBATE Award for Best Student Startup - Established
For student founders taking their business to the next level.
Eligibility: for any University of Sydney undergraduate and postgraduate student groups of up to four founders. A minimum of 25% of founders are enrolled University of Sydney students at the time of submission.
Application requirements: Applicants should have a business model and minimum viable product. They will be required to address set criteria to support their business model and future growth.
Prize: $5,000 and mentorship with INCUBATE. This may be in the form of entry into an INCUBATE program or a series of meetings with an industry expert in their chosen field.
Award for Social Impact: delivering a positive impact to people and the community
For students making a positive social impact through their startup, research or innovative project.
Eligibility: for undergraduate and postgraduate students or groups of up to four contributors. A minimum of 25% of contributors are enrolled University of Sydney students at the time of submission.
Application requirements: They will be required to address set criteria to support their idea and validate the impact it is currently or has the potential to create.
Prize: $5,000 and mentorship. This may be in the form of entry into an INCUBATE program or a series of meetings with an industry expert.
Most Innovative Student Project that solves a real-world problem
To recognise the exceptional work undertaken by University of Sydney students through curricular programs.
Eligibility: for undergraduate and postgraduate student groups of two to six contributors. The project must have originated as part of a for-credit unit of study undertaken in the last 18 months.
Application requirements: They will be required to address set criteria to support their idea and validate the impact it has the potential to create.
Prize: $5,000.
Sydney Knowledge Hub Research Commercialisation Award
To support the impact being created by University of Sydney students through their research.
Eligibility: current HDR (MPhil or PhD), honours or postgraduate capstone research project student groups of up to four founders.
Application requirements: They will be required to address set criteria to support the current or potential impact of commercialise their research.
Prize: $5,000 and a three-month membership to the Sydney Knowledge Hub.
People’s Choice Prize
An award decided by a public online vote.
Eligibility: All finalists are eligible.
Prize: 1st prize is $1,000 and 2nd prize is $500
Meet the 2023 winners and learn about their projects
For undergraduate and post-graduate student startup groups of up to four founders.
AgX - Samuel Aubin and Callum Taylor
AgX is building an operating system for agriculture, creating a frictionless experience for ranches to adopt new technology and increase their productivity amidst an increasingly volatile climate. Over the past 9 months, our team built the first three applications (AgStock, AgMesh, AgSat) offering farmers a holistic hardware and software platform. We are currently trialing on some of largest farming operations across Australia and America. AgX is co-founded by Callum Taylor (Harvard 25') and Samuel Aubin (University of Sydney).
Delivering transformative positive social impact to the community for undergraduate and post-graduate student startup groups of up to four founders.
Mii – Ethan Tien and Laura Wegner
Mii is the passport for your health, allowing doctors to access your past and current patient information in our Electronic Health Records (EHR) system and offering you a consolidated view of your medical data. With impeccable interoperability across all healthcare providers and blockchain integration for unparalleled security, we ensure a seamless and secure healthcare experience for all.
For undergraduate and post-graduate student startup groups of two-six founders created as part of a for-credit unit of study undertaken in the last 18 months.
Algae Tech – Valerie Fang, Aminaa Ganbagana, Lily Manning, Isabel Walker and Isabella Meltzer
Our project aims to tackle poor indoor-air quality in Sydney and the negative health outcomes this leads to, with a focus on improving air filtration systems in commercial buildings. We propose the use of algae through a photobioreactor as a natural and sustainable solution to filter and purify air in these spaces due to its remarkable ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. This use of algae reflects a wider goal to encourage and add to the movement of implementing regenerative solutions in built environments.
For current HDR (MPhil or PhD), honours or post-graduate capstone research project student groups of up to four founders.
My Sound Wellbeing Pty Ltd – Angé Weinrabe
Strong evidence shows the relational link between poor sleep quality and depressive disorders in youth under (<22), who are at a three-fold higher risk for developing Depression. This calls for more targeted user-friendly interventions that can address and prevent the onset and progressions of these conditions into adulthood. My Sound Wellbeing delivers personalised ‘music-as-sleep-intervention”’ for anyone with access to a wearable device or smartphone; the technology removes the need for pharmacological interventions for sleep (and anxiety) treatment using tailored sound frequencies that reduce chronic stress on the body, in turn influencing sleep, heart and brain health for people.
People's Choice Prize 1 and 2 are decided by an online public vote
People's Choice First Prize
Mii – Ethan Tien and Laura Wegner
Mii is the passport for your health, allowing doctors to access your past and current patient information in our Electronic Health Records (EHR) system and offering you a consolidated view of your medical data. With impeccable interoperability across all healthcare providers and blockchain integration for unparalleled security, we ensure a seamless and secure healthcare experience for all.
People's Choice Second Prize
Algae Tech – Valerie Fang, Aminaa Ganbagana, Lily Manning, Isabel Walker and Isabella Meltzer
Our project aims to tackle poor indoor-air quality in Sydney and the negative health outcomes this leads to, with a focus on improving air filtration systems in commercial buildings. We propose the use of algae through a photobioreactor as a natural and sustainable solution to filter and purify air in these spaces due to its remarkable ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. This use of algae reflects a wider goal to encourage and add to the movement of implementing regenerative solutions in built environments.