Imma Perfetto
Cosmos science journalist
An idea that might revolutionise livestock trading by helping farmers filter through the incredible numbers of animals available at auction, has been awarded first prize in the University of Adelaide annual competition-based learning experience.
The project created an app to give farmers access to an Australia-wide genetic pool of livestock and allow them to filter using multiple prioritised breeding preferences.
The idea was devised by University of Adelaide third year agricultural students Tom Gameau, Hector Mackenzie, and Liam Vanschaik, who hail from farms across South Australia.
Australian eChallenge teams pitch business proposals for their new, previously unfunded business concepts, to potential investors from the local business community, competing for a share of the total prize pool of more than $62,200 in cash and prizes.
“This year’s eChallenge teams have developed an exciting and surprising breadth of innovations,” said the University of Adelaide’s Professor Noel Lindsay, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Entrepreneurship), and Dean of Business, in the Adelaide Business School.
“Each team has carefully considered some of the problems we all face, individually and as a society, and successfully developed interesting and novel solutions that have real potential for commercial success.
“The aim of the Australian eChallenge is to help students build entrepreneurial capability, develop new ways of thinking about problems and solutions, and increase their capacity to think creatively and act decisively.
“In whichever direction these students head next, we know that we have helped prepare them to be agile and resourceful, adaptable, and resilient, and to harness failures and build on them for success.”
Read more: Agritech: Australia’s next big export opportunity.
The program is a proving ground for future entrepreneurs. Since its inception in 2001 the eChallenge has assisted more than 1,100 start-ups and had over 7,500 participants across the globe.
As overall winner for the 2022 Australian eChallenge, the Trait Select trio take home $10,000 in cash, $1000 worth of consultancy services from Madderns Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, and a package worth $4000 – which includes permanent residency for 12 months and Accelerator business workshops at the University’s ThincLab business incubator.
Other 2022 Australian eChallenge winners also include:
Postgraduate category
- 2nd Prize – Standle. Ashwin Kirubanandan, Humaid Cader and Monei Seduku. A hands-free handle solution which eliminates the transmission of bacteria to people from public restroom doors. $2500 cash, $2400 ThincLab incubation package and $500 worth of consultancy from Madderns Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys.
- 3rd Prize – Bespoke Hospitality. Aidan Adler, Ryan Huang, Giordano Raimondo, and Wesley Deng. Innovative waiter cloths that protect staff from abrasions and burns, using the latest fabric materials and technology. $1000 cash and $2400 ThincLab package, $500 of consulting from Madderns Patent & Trademark Attorneys.
Undergraduate category
- 2nd Prize – MyMarsupium. Germin Chan. A mobile application that utilises gaming psychology to encourage good financial habits. $2500 cash and $2400 ThincLab incubation package. $500 of consulting from Madderns Patent and Trademark Attorneys. Also won the William Buck Award sponsor prize.
- 3rd Prize – Swift. Eryn Swann and Erin Merrit. Helping domestic violence survivors contact law enforcement agencies silently and discreetly. $1000 cash and $2400 ThincLab incubation package, $500 of consulting from Madderns Patent and Trademark Attorneys. Also won the Stone & Chalk Innovation Award and MKF Lawyers Peoples Choice Award sponsor prizes.
Sponsor prizes
- Precise Electrical and Plumbing Rising Star Award – Rehapp. Daniel Belperio, Jack Branford, Nathan Reade, Aidyn Loveday and Hunter Sutherland. An app-based solution that aims to re-frame physical rehabilitation.
- Enabled Solutions prize – Dental Loop. Taseef Farook and Lameesa Ramees. A digital platform that connects doctors, laboratories, and patients within an automated system, that mitigates miscommunication in health care settings.
- Bold Web Design prize – FloHealth. Daniel Clift, Jack Fabian, Jamie Phillips and Michael Hackman. A secure clinical informatics platform for public health systems to effectively manage the flow of patients through various stages of their care pathway.
