Venture Makers Innovation Challenge 1 – Human Identity

Venture Makers Innovation Challenge 2021
'Innovating Human Identity'

Launch Pad and our technology partner DXC Technology teamed up to host the first Venture Makers’ Innovation Challenge held over a 2-month period from August to November 2021.

Venture Makers is Western Sydney University’s new entrepreneurship training and development program delivered by Launch Pad, the University’s Business Incubator. Venture Makers offers western students access to a series of innovation challenge and training experiences, all delivered in collaboration with leading industry partners. Venture Makers offers students the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills, develop work readiness and make key industry contacts.

The Challenge Question

How Can We Design Digital Identity Technologies for Justice And Manage Digital Identities for a More Secure, Fair and More Equitable World?

What are the funding opportunities In undertaking the challenge, students can select from a number of theme areas to innovate identities in a digital world, formulating ideas and solutions. These themes can include:

Security

Travel

Services

Social Media

Ethics

Health

Industry Partner

NSW Government called for R&D solutions that strengthen the entrepreneurship capability of the State for a post-COVID-19 economy.

Partnering in the challenge is DXC Technology, a foundation partner of the Venture Makers program and a key collaborator with the University in a range of technology areas and work integrated learning focused projects.

DXC Technology is a Fortune 500 global IT services leader. DXC is an employer of choice with strong values, and fosters a culture of inclusion, belonging and corporate citizenship.

Through the challenge, DXC provided guest speakers and facilitators building opportunities for students to connect with industry leaders. DXC will also provided a range of prizes for challenge winners including tickets to major events and personalised career mentoring opportunities.

'Innovating Human Identity'
Finalists

Over 50 students from the STEM, humanities, business and health disciplines at Western Sydney University have come together virtually to develop solutions to the pressing challenge of human identity in the digital age, with 7 teams – F8, COVID Free Travel Buddies, FEATPE, The Social Solution, travTech, The Venturers, Jelly Bean Travel – progressing to the final.

Media release: Students look to the future of human identity through innovation challenge.

Venture Makers Innovation Challenge 2021
Winners

1st Place

F8

James Hill, Tarren Leon & Jeewani Anupama Ginige

The Health Passport – a universal and individual health record storage system.

2nd Place

COVID Safe Travel Buddies

James Torres, Eric Bui & Alex Burman

The PassPal – a product-based system for storing all of your important travel document and information.

3rd Place

Jelly Bean Travel

Michelle Allen, Anthony Yazbeck & Thomas Nielson

Jelly Bean Travel – an app that visualises COVID-19 status and other entry-requirements across each country.

Program Details

The Innovating Human Identity Challenge was delivered over a series of key events providing students with opportunities to build industry contacts and practice key skills including ideation, teamwork and pitching.

Launch Event
Online: 28 August, 11am-12:30pm

Training Event
Online: 3 September, 10am-11am

Innovation Hack
Online: 14 & 15 Sept, 10am-2pm

Showcase Event
Hybrid: 26 November, 10am-12pm

Venture Makers Innovation Challenge 2021'Innovating Human Identity'