MEDIA RELEASE – For immediate release by Meg Bullock
Geelong’s young entrepreneurs cleverly creating innovative solutions!
Enterprising students from across the Geelong region finished the Upstart Challenge Accelerator Program with a bang, pitching their business ideas to the judging panel and a large audience of Geelong’s business, education and community leaders.
Nine teams of students, from years 7 through to 12 pitched, with Joshua Walpole and Jaegar Fawcett from St Joseph’s College taking out the Geelong Upstart Young Entrepreneurs of the Year Award. These talented go-getters won $1000 seed funding, tech prizes and a business startup support package. Their idea FloppyOS, an AI guided Operating System that learns from user inputs and creates easy to use desktops for simpler adoption was selected as the winner by the judges Hyder Hussaini, Tina Perfrement, Davina Montgomery and Nick Stanley.
Runner’s Up was awarded to Xavier Cheel and Edward Helmer from St Joseph’s College with their idea Crescendo, an improved digital music platform targeted at up and coming artists.
The audience also had their say on the night to by voting for their favorite idea in the People’s Choice Award. Which went to Georgia McAndrew and Dayne Hibbert from Belmont High School with their idea TourSafe, a device to aid drivers navigate international road environments.
Previous winners have gone to showcase their idea at the Wade Institute, Pivot Summit as well as throughout Victoria. Opportunities for young entrepreneurs don’t come much better than this!
“In a region that’s prompts innovation it’s extremely encouraging to support an increasing number of inspired, creative young changemakers, determined to make their positive mark both locally and globally” says Upstart Director, Jenny Perks.
Meet the 9 teams in the program:
Team TourSafe
Team Members Georgia McAndrews and Dayne Hibbert
Year/Schoo lYr 11, Belmont High School
Big Idea A Device to aid drivers navigate the international road environments
Team GoMail
Team Members Montanna King and Ellie Makin
Year / School Yr, 11 Lara Secondary College
Big Idea A Mailing address for homeless people to improve their ability to manage their lives.
Team TranSport
Team members Isabella Triacia and Atella Draper
Year / School Yr 8, Sacred Heart College Geelong
Big Idea Technology platform connecting children, drivers and sporting communities in a safe environment.
Team Anti-Violence Ring
Team members Sarah McNiven and Kloe Keiller
Year / School Yr, 10/12, Northern Bay College
Big Idea A tech-loaded piece of jewelry providing the wearer with personal security.
Team FloppyOS
Team members Joshua Walpole and Jaegar Fawcett
Year / School Yr 8, St Joseph’s College Geelong
Big Idea AI guided Operating System that learns from user inputs and creates easy to use desktops for simpler solutions.
Team The Breakfast Bus
Team members Bowen Prosser and Campbell Allchin
Year / School Yr, 11 Belmont High School
Big Idea Nutritional Education focused food service aimed at school children
Team Global Ramp Co
Team members Josh Price and Luke Howley
Year / School Yr, 10 Lara Secondary College
Big Idea Mobile, electric door ramp attachment for improved accessibility for wheelchair users.
Team Crescendo
Team members Xavier Cheel and Edward Helmer
Year / School Yr 8, St Joseph’s College Geelong
Big Idea An improved digital music platform targeted at up and coming artists.
Team Organizabull
Team members Taila Bucek, Eleanor Naylor and Lucy Adams
Year / School Yr 7/8, Sacred Heart College Geelong
Big Idea A smart, customisable, feature-rich diary/personal orgaisier for students.
