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Venture Makers Innovation Challenge 10 – Everyday Product Reinvention Challenge

Launch Pad hosted the tenth Venture Makers Innovation Challenge on 21 April 2026
in partnership with industry partners Stakk Studio and Factory of the Future for Western students.

Venture Makers is Launch Pad’s entrepreneurship training and development program for students designed to build and support an entrepreneurial culture and ecosystem. 

The Venture Makers Innovation Challenge put participants in the driver’s seat to solve an emerging problem and develop and communicate innovative ideas. The skills learnt from this challenge would be valuable whether they become an employee for any organisation or choose to become an innovator, inventor or entrepreneur.

In this ONE DAY challenge, teams worked with participants from various disciplines (from Business, Communications, ICT, to Health, Psychology and others), to explore the future of products.

This event is available for Western Sydney University students ONLY.

Read About The Previous Challenge Here
The Challenge Theme

The most valuable companies in the world no longer sell products.
They build platforms.
But what if physical products could also become platforms?

Imagine:
A shoe that connects to a health ecosystem.
A transport ticket that unlocks a mobility platform.
A car that becomes part of a distributed energy grid.

Participants worked with mentors from startups, industry, and the innovation ecosystem to explore advanced technologies, creative service models, and fresh approaches — all while working in a real-world environment.

Participants came as individuals to meet and join forces with other participants from other disciplines to make an impact! It is a great way to connect.

Download the challenge info pack

The Prizes

$8,750
Prize Pool
First prize
$1,000*
Plus the ultimate industry experience

Including exclusive tour, mentorship opportunity, and more!

Runner up
$500*
People's choice
$250*

1st Place

E3 (cubed)

Veron Caldera, Dhimahi Walendra, Jaybie nino Perigo, Aine Rojo, Utshaha Subedi

E3 (cubed) – the creation of an eco-smart system controlled through an AI assistive hardware application.

2nd Place

Senior Service Bot

Adam Pittman, Emily Mahchut, Druxy Hoang, Benjamin Rushworth-Curtin, Sunly Sethea

Senior Service Bot – an advanced patient medical system which utilises AI to determine levels of satisfactory care.

3rd Place

sustAIn

Linh Le, Luke Hindwood, Jade Dsouza, Khanh Tran, Shaheen Khalfan

sustAIn – a NFP that promotes digital literacy amongst the community via AI tools to minimise digital divide.

1st Place

LastByte

Meenu Meenu, Donald Gylles Varga, Alaa, Harb, Yusuf Nachabe, Lucas Tea

Lastbyte (fridge) – A smart AI assistant connecting surplus food with those who need it

2nd Place

Blue Roof

Shahad Al-Majidi, Nawid Ahmadi, Justin Shirzadian, Quinn Nguyen, Tilak Krishnamurthy

Blue Roof (Handbag) – Organisation at the press of a button

People's Choice

Phoenix

Karl Eyre, Duy Nguyen, Phoebe Ysabelle Taller, Ruthvik Chalasani, Bernadette Baiada

Phoenix (Thumb Drive) – A new take on digital security

The Benefits

Skills you will learn throughout the challenge

Soft Skills

1) Entrepreneurial Thinking
2) Problem Hacking
3) Non-verbal Communication skills
4) Radical Open-mindedness
5) Radical Creativity
6) Effective Brainstorming
7) Time Efficiency 
8) Radical Empathy
9) Collaboration

Hard Skills

1) Conceptual Design
2) Pitching for Impact
3) Sustainable Development Goals
4) Innovation Hack Canvasing
5) Entrepreneurial Process
6) Sustainable Design
7) Corporate Presentation/Storytelling

Industry Partner

Partnering in this Innovation Challenge is Stakk Studio, a design studio built for brave ideas people don’t know how to make (yet!) They demystify visions and turn them into meaningful products, experiential installations and environments. 

Stakk Studio were the brains behind making the immersive ceiling installation at Factory of the Future a reality – even winning a Good Design Award in 2025.

Stakk Studio provided a range of prizes for challenge winners including a studio visit, insights into their industry,  and personalised career mentoring opportunities over lunch!

'Welcome to the Metaverse'

Finalists

The teams worked to conceptualise metaverse solutions in areas such as mental health, diagnostic tools for dementia, therapeutic approaches for treating lower back pain, innovation in retail, marine conservation, immersion, social good, fitness through human-machine integration, and sustainability, with six teams – AquaMeta, Virtualizon, NASA, MemoVerse, The Good Team, and The Three Musketeers –  progressing to the final.

Read media release: Venture Makers Innovation Challenge embraces the Metaverse.

'Last Byte'

Winners

The teams worked to conceptualise everyday products into a platform that could connect to something more. 12 teams came together with ‘Lastbyte’ taking the win. Their idea was a smart AI assistant connecting surplus food with those who need it.

Mentors

Our mentors are experienced industry professionals who guide participants throughout the challenge. They provide valuable insights, challenge ideas, and help teams refine their concepts, ensuring solutions are both innovative and grounded in real-world application.

Judges

Our judges are a panel of industry experts who evaluate each team’s final pitch. Drawing on their experience, they assess ideas based on creativity, feasibility, and impact, recognising the concepts with the strongest potential.

Info Session

7

April

Get all the details you need to stay ahead of the game! Learn about the rules, the theme, and how to maximise your chances of winning. 

Missed the info session?

Watch the recording

Challenge Day

21

April

The Innovation Challenge is a whole-day event.

Time: 8.00 AM – 6.00 PM

Location: Factory of the Future, Bankstown City Campus

REGISTER TODAY! Registrations close Thursday, 16 April 2026, 5 PM or when capacity is reached.

This event is available for Western Sydney University students ONLY.

Register for the challenge
Program Outline
See past challenge recap

Walking Bus - From Bankstown Station

To help participants get to the challenge, we had organised a walking “bus” on Bankstown City Campus – a group of people forming together to walk safely between the campus and Bankstown train station.

  • From Bankstown station to Bankstown City Campus: 08.30 AM – 09.00 AM
  • From Bankstown City Campus to Bankstown station: 05.00 PM – 05.30 PM

Shuttle Bus - From Parramatta City Campus

To help participants get to the challenge venue, we organised a shuttle bus from Parramatta City Campus to Bankstown City Campus.

  • From Parramatta City Campus to Bankstown City Campus: 07.30 AM 
  • From Bankstown City Campus to Parramatta City Campus: 06.00 PM

Photos from the challenge

   +61 2 9678 7200

  Suite 12, Ground Floor, 14 Great Western Highway,
Werrington NSW 2747
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