Hackathon Spotlight: Why the Best Company Wins in the Age of AI
“In Entrepreneurship, it’s not about the best product; it’s about the best company.”
—Brad Twynham, Hackathon Facilitator
At Western Sydney University’s Hackathon for HDR Candidates: ‘Creative Problem Solving Using AI’, this quotation set the tone for a day of bold thinking and creative experimentation. Products may spark attention, but as facilitator Brad Twynham reminded students, what endures is that the company is its vision, adaptability, and the capacity to transform ideas into lasting impact.
The event brought together HDR Candidates to tackle global challenges using generative AI. More than simply building solutions, the goal was to rethink creativity itself. Participants learned to use AI as a creative assistant, not just a search engine, while also developing entrepreneurial mindsets that turn ideas into action.
From Product Perfection to Company Vision
One of the biggest lessons from the day was shifting away from the pursuit of the “perfect product.” As Brad noted, entrepreneurship is about getting creative ideas to market, then refining them along the way. In the age of AI, where knowledge is widely accessible, the real advantage lies in how companies guide technology with purpose, ethics, and imagination.
This meant students weren’t just asked to brainstorm; they were asked to think like entrepreneurs.
Creativity in the Age of AI
Through a series of exercises, participants experimented with prompt engineering. Defining personas, adding context, and specifying outputs. They quickly discovered that both the power and limitations of AI tools like Copilot could mirror some of their ideas but also introduce biases or “hallucinations.”
The key lesson was clear: AI does not replace human creativity. Instead, it can accelerate brainstorming, test ideas, and expand perspectives, if used responsibly. Strong companies will be those that balance technological potential with ethical responsibility.
Mentorship and Radical Thinking
Mentors Matthew Spencer and Carla Dias Wadewitz guided the students throughout the hackathon. Carla reflected,
“Whatever ideas will come out of today will be the starting point to make a positive change in society. Events like this help the university to be number one.”
Students were encouraged to think beyond incremental improvements and embrace radical creativity, transformational ideas that could reshape industries and societies. Working within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), each team developed bold solutions designed to address pressing global challenges.
The Team Pitches
The highlight of the hackathon was the fast-paced pitching session, where teams had just 90 seconds to present their ideas to a panel of judges.
- Clueless: An AI-powered tool to detect early signs of sexual and physical violence, offering personalised support to empower victims.
- Warning Team: A low-cost wearable AI device that alerts users to approaching environmental dangers.
- The 4th Pillar: An AI system that breaks down math equations step by step to make learning inclusive and accessible.
- The 3 Musketeers:An AI tool that analyses Australian laws to strengthen funding, protections, and representation for Indigenous communities.
- Each pitch was evaluated on problem definition, creativity, call to action, and overall presentation.
Reflections from the Winning Team
The judges—Katrina Trewin (Impact Officer, Grants Development), Si Dikkenberg (Creator in Residence, Launch Pad), and Inu Rana (Senior Manager, Global Partnerships), were impressed by all teams. But it was ‘Clueless’ who claimed first prize.
For teammates Pranav and Riesma, the win came after an intense day of learning outside their comfort zone. “Our biggest challenge for today was that we had to work on something that is outside our knowledge, it’s new for us. It was really helpful and challenging,” they reflected.
They credited the mentors for helping shape their final pitch, “They helped us to formulate the idea. It was really nice to have that support. They helped us to build our own ideas and prompts.”
When asked about their biggest takeaway, the team emphasised the value of new approaches: “We learned a new way to tackle a problem. Solving a problem that was outside our field, using a new approach. We got to learn while working.”
“I enjoyed the event with all of new things and also the anxiety in it. It’s just so fun to get to solve something outside my area.” — Riesma Andiani
Her words captured how the hackathon pushed participants to embrace discomfort as part of creativity and growth.
Lessons for the Future
The Hackathon showed that entrepreneurship in the AI age isn’t about creating flawless products. It’s about cultivating companies that:
- Anchor innovation in ethics and responsibility
- Balance AI capabilities with human creativity
- Solve problems tied to real human needs
- Adapt and refine quickly without losing their vision
This feeling wasn’t limited to the winners. For many, the hackathon reshaped how they saw AI. “The challenge was an inspiring experience that expanded my creativity and showed me the power of AI in problem-solving.” — Doha Al Sabbagh, School of Education
As Brad’s words reminded everyone, the future belongs not to the product that dazzles for a moment, but to the company that adapts, scales, and sustains its mission.
For Western Sydney University, the event showcased the power of combining research, creativity, and entrepreneurship. It proved that with the right mindset, students can harness AI not just to solve problems but to imagine new possibilities for society. This is because in entrepreneurship, the best product might win attention, but the best company wins the future.
Want to join the next big idea challenge? Reach out and be part of the action!