An AI professional musician, HR digital filing cabinet, and a stylish one-piece rashie for women – these are some of the seven startup finalists in QUT’s own Shark Tank business pitch showcase, the QUT bluebox Challenge.
- Now in its fourth year, the QUT bluebox Challenge gives QUT students, graduates and staff the chance to share $500,000 in prizemoney, services, programs and investment to support their startups.
- The 2017 finalists, chosen from more than 100 applicants, will present their final business pitches to judges and a live audience on October 11 at QUT’s Gardens Point campus.
- The public can vote for their favourite ahead of the judging. Vote here
QUT bluebox Director of Ventures and Investments Brent Watts said just like TV reality show Shark Tank, the bluebox Challenge gave talented business founders a platform to perfect their business pitch, gain exposure, link with investors and reach potential customers.
“We received a high calibre of applications this year and it was not easy whittling them down to the seven finalists,” he said.
“I think that is a reflection of the large talent pool we have in Queensland of entrepreneurs who can create innovative and scalable business opportunities with potential global reach.”
The 2017 QUT bluebox Challenge finalists are:
Adepto – a software-as-service platform, like a digital filing cabinet, for organisations to attract, hire and manage their workforce. QUT graduate Chris Milligan co-founded Adepto with Michael Derwin.
Creatively Squared – a one-stop shop to connect businesses wanting engaging imagery with talented content creators. Founded by QUT Masters graduate Ruth Stephensen and Scott Thomas.
Nuarda – technology to help businesses gather customer analytics easily; for example, in a retail store capturing data on who visits the store, when, and how long they spend there. Team members are QUT graduates now staff, Steven Martin and Gavin Suddrey, and QUT Robotics Vision Professor Peter Corke.
Popgun – building artificial intelligence (AI) that can play music, create and collaborate, just like a professional musician. The team includes QUT graduate Adam Hibble and QUT student Jack Nolan.
RAWrobotics – developing practical, accessible, robotics education products for high schools, to equip students for the jobs of tomorrow. The team includes QUT students Lindsay Watt, Luke Housego and Chris Lenton, and graduate Sam Ashcroft.
Storyboard – a social media app to capture, map and share travel adventures, created by QUT graduate Darren Tonkin.
UNE PIECE – a stylish womenswear, one-piece rashie, created by QUT graduate Carly Brown.
QUT bluebox is the university’s innovation, venture and investment company, helping get QUT ideas and research into the real world.
Joining bluebox Challenge judges this year is startup entrepreneur, self-confessed ‘geek’ and TV and radio personality Jo Ucukalo, founder and CEO of Two Hoots Technologies.
Past Challenge winners and finalists for whom it has been a valuable stepping stone include Clipchamp, the video converter app which has had nearly 2 million users; time and attendance tool Tanda, which counts Domino’s Pizza among its clients; and digital business card app Haystack, which has secured an international deal with Vodafone.
The 2017 QUT bluebox Challenge final is on Wednesday, October 11, from 2.30pm to 5.30pm, in Room 360 at QUT’s Gardens Point campus. The event is free and the public are welcome. Book here.
* Pitch videos and photos of the finalists are available for media to download here.
Media contact: Karen Milliner, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841 or k.milliner@qut.edu.au
After hours, Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
