Turning Ideas in $1000 Winning Solutions
Mary Bul
May 13, 2024
“Big Problems. Big Solutions” – Brad Twynham If I were to summarise the Venture Makers Innovation Challenge (VMIC) in four words, it
Launch Pad hosted the seventh Venture Makers Innovation Challenge on 10 September 2024.
Venture Makers is Launch Pad’s entrepreneurship training and development program for students, researchers and staff designed to build and support an entrepreneurial culture & 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 Energy.
“We walked away with camaraderie, pride, and appreciation, and shine brighter than we had before.”
SABRINA YOUNG
Bachelor of International Studies
Venture Makers Innovation Challenge Participant
“We were encouraged to be BOLD in our ideas. To think BIG and step into the unknown…”
MARY BUL
Bachelor of Medical Science
Venture Makers Innovation Challenge Participant
“This has helped me go beyond my comfort zone and is something I did not picture myself completing a couple years ago.”
MIKAYLA GARLAND
Bachelor of Communication
Venture Makers Innovation Challenge Participant
The Challenge Question
“How can Tesla's energy generation and storage technologies be used in the development of smart cities and sustainable environments?”
The world is moving towards a Net Zero future, with coal fired power stations shutting down and being replaced with renewable energy and energy storage being installed everywhere from small Kilowatt scale individual houses up to large Gigawatt scale utility projects. There are many pathways we can take to get to Net Zero and many challenges to overcome along the way.
Participants worked with specialist mentors from startups and industry to help them develop ideas that apply advanced technology concepts and innovative business models whilst 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 was a great way to connect.
The Challenge Themes
regional
remote
urban
industry
The Prizes
$8,500
Prize Pool
First prize
$1,000*
& A Day with Tesla**
Runner up
$500*
People's choice
$250*
* All prizes are per team member and issued in vouchers.
** Morning tea with Tesla leadership team in Sydney office, tour of new facility, experience Tesla vehicles, time with various business units in both the Tesla Energy and Vehicle teams to talk about what employees do at Tesla and of course a Tesla merch gift bag.
Challenge Winners
1st Place
Smart Rubbish
Members:
Alan Choukhman, Chekwube Ogugua, Leon Phiousodarith, Leonardo Lorenzo, Levana Okba
Tesla Semi-Truck has AI sorting system for waste that can be recycled to generate new energy.
Runner Up
Solar Glide
Members:
Andrew Habashi, Kripa Bhandari, Leticia Busch, Quang Nguyen, Reetika Karki
Wireless charging track in rural areas
People's Choice
Smart Rubbish
Members:
Aryan Nepali, Atharva Jyotishi, Karthik Sunderasan, Parth Desai, Vishwa Raval
Miniaturised power generation, storage and management system
Judges
Shane Bannister
Tesla
Head of Business Development & Project Sales APAC Energy
Distinguished Professor Brian G. Falzon
Western Sydney University
Dean of Engineering, Design and Built Environment
Dr Thomas Longden
Western Sydney University
Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre
Dr Lyn Anderson
Western Sydney University
Environmental Sustainability Manager
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
Info Session
30
August
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 success.
Time: 2:30 – 3:00 PM
Location: Online
Challenge Day
10
September
The Tesla Hackathon was a whole-day event.
Time: 8.30 AM – 5.00 PM
Location: Parramatta City Campus
Program Outline
See past challenge recap
Photos from the challenge
Read about the challenge day!