The 2025 Generation Innovation Challenge has officially kicked off!
The program empowers young entrepreneurs to translate an idea into a viable business through mentoring, skills development and business connections in a collaborative and inspiring environment.
Follow along as our entrepreneurs refine their ventures with the help of their mentors.
Originate Day 2025
Boot Camp 2025
The Ventures
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Dignity Wash
Our idea is to create a body wash mist that can be used either wet or dry. The problem we want to solve is helping people keep their dignity through hygiene, especially when proper facilities aren’t available.
This product will let people stay clean quickly and easily without needing traditional facilities. It will save time and also help on a larger scale by supporting communities, keeping both hygiene and dignity.
Our goal is to bring hygiene and dignity to people all over the world.Entrepreneur
Alice and Caitlin
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Fable Bears
Fabric will be recycled from landfill into bears. Primary school students will then write stories for the bears, which will be recorded and linked to them with a QR code. Some bears will also have Aboriginal stories.
Entrepreneur
Tallulah Marsh
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PACT Paddles
Our idea is to make affordable, high-quality pickleball paddles for the global market.
The problem is that there aren’t many paddles that are both good quality and affordable—most good ones cost too much. There’s also not much variety in designs and colours.
PACT Paddles will be made for all skill levels and ages, using advanced carbon technology so players can improve without breaking the budget.Entrepreneur
Norbert Zielinski
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Sentimental Cards
My idea is to create interactive giving cards with QR codes so they feel like a memorable experience.
The problem is that normal giving cards don’t bring much excitement or joy to the person receiving them.
With this idea, loved ones can create a meaningful experience that shows the receiver they’re cared for—not just on the special occasion, but for a long time after.Entrepreneur
Noah Champion
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Silk District
My idea is to create a range of silk-lined hoodies that bring hair care and fashion together. The problem is that normal hoodies can damage hair, especially curly hair.
The silk lining helps stop friction, frizz, and damage.Entrepreneur
Jasmin Jobson
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Solaire
My idea is to create an app that shows buyers what to get to stay on-trend while reducing environmental impacts.
The problem is the harm fast fashion causes, plus decision fatigue and greenwashing in the fashion industry.
The app will suggest on-trend items from trusted brands, show honest sustainability scores, and recommend only the best buys for each user’s wardrobe.Entrepreneur
Kizzy Toy
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Sov Zordi (Save the Ocean)
My idea is to create a clothing brand that is eco-conscious and helps remove plastic from the oceans.
The problem is the amount of plastic waste in the ocean.
Ten percent of all sales will go to the company’s ocean cleanup projects, so buying the products will also help create a cleaner ocean.Entrepreneur
Beau Potter
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Sunny Grid
Our idea is to create a subscription-based software service that gives data to solar installation companies to support policy incentives and sales.
The problem is that there isn’t much commercially available data to help with government policy or the solar panel industry.
Our service will use AI to look at satellite images and detect solar panels.Entrepreneur
Levi Smith
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TruePeak
My idea is an all-in-one app for athletes of any age or skill level that tracks every part of performance—from training to lifestyle habits.
The problem is that there aren’t many holistic approaches to athlete training, recovery, and performance.
This app will store and analyse data in one place, including training loads, sleep, nutrition, and stress levels. Bringing this together will help athletes see how different parts of their life affect performance, so they can improve results and reach their potential.Entrepreneur
Chloe Rounds
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Xpression
My idea is to create a digital wristband designed to help neurodivergent children make connections between their emotions and communicate them more effectively.
The problem this venture seeks to address is that many neurodivergent and nonverbal individuals, particularly children, often find it hard to express their emotions. This can lead to emotional distress and misunderstandings when interacting with adults.
To help with this, the wristband will build children’s confidence and improve understanding when emotions change or intensify. It will send alerts to a caregiver’s phone so they know when there’s a change in the child’s emotional state.Entrepreneur
Sophie Elkington
The Mentors
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Adam Hermann
Over the past 13 years, Adam has led sales, customer service, marketing operations, and strategic projects in a billion-dollar business, personally leading over 250 staff in his time as Head of Sales.
He is passionate about delivering results by fostering high performance cultures and creating successful teams. He is extremely capable across multiple business operations and identifies and advocates for the highest return on investment opportunities to improve operating efficiency and effectiveness, reduce cost, drive staff engagement and customer experience.Adam is an authentic, energetic and experienced coach who specialises in developing business owners, front line staff, middle management, and senior leaders.
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Claire Smith
Meet Claire: Managing Director of Forbes Meisner and expert facilitator and dynamic keynote speaker who uses imagination and play to transform businesses. Specialising in fostering creativity and innovation, Claire leads engaging workshops designed to boost productivity and personal growth. She is also the editor of the Lionhearted Magazine.
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Fiona Wolliscroft
The University of Queensland
Fi Woolliscroft is the UQ Ventures Startup AdVentures Coordinator, and is responsible for the
coordination and facilitation of the Startup AdVentures program, including student and host
engagement, program delivery, and logistical planning. Fiona plays in the space of developing
young entrepreneurs and we are grateful for her involvement in GI this year. -
Gabriel Errego
Gabriel is a Sunshine Coast–based Technology Facilitator and founder of The Tech Group. He helps founders and small teams turn scattered technology into simple, secure workflows—focusing on software administration, resilient backups, and smart automations that save hours.
With a background in Mechatronics and Advanced IT and experience across enterprise and startup environments, Gabriel brings a calm, practical approach: listen first, reduce complexity, then deliver clear next steps. At Generation Innovation he aims to help young entrepreneurs to choose the right tools, document what works, and build systems that scale without burnout.
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Jane Menzies
Dr. Jane Menzies is a Senior Lecturer in International Business and the Coordinator of MBA and
Postgraduate Business Programs at UniSC. Her research focuses on the internationalisation of
firms and women’s entrepreneurship, with particular interest in women entrepreneurs across
Australia and Latin America, Asia, Indigenous communities, and regional, rural, and remote
areas. -
Kahyt Williams
Khayt is Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of Mindstar, one of Australia’s first telehealth platforms and now a leading mental health and wellbeing company trusted by clients such as Woolworths, Mirvac, Dan Murphy’s, BWS and Australian Retirement Trust.
Before co-founding Mindstar in 2014, Khayt spent a decade at Virgin Australia, surrounded by entrepreneurship at its best, where she held senior roles in capability, culture, and people advisory and leadership.
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Luke Hawley
Matters Magazine
As a networking and connections coach, Luke is a vital link to the success of many businesses and organisations. He is instrumental in hosting a number of significant networking events on the Sunshine Coast and boasts years of experience in marketing for Proctor and Gamble, working with iconic brands and forging strategic partnerships with Australia’s top retailers. Luke also owns Matters Magazine, Sunshine Coast.
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Neil Ware
Neil Ware is an accomplished entrepreneur with 27 years in importing, manufacturing, and distribution. He has built a thriving, enduring business while dedicating time to volunteer work and mentoring other entrepreneurs. Passionate about sharing knowledge, Neil supports and inspires businesses to grow, combining hands-on industry expertise with a commitment to community and professional development.
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Olivia Ratten
Olivia is the founder of The Outside Leader, where she helps family-run manufacturing businesses grow through fresh thinking and collaboration. She understands the unique challenges family businesses face and is passionate about helping them thrive without losing what makes them special.
With an Executive MBA from RMIT and a board role at the Food & Agribusiness Network, Olivia brings both big-picture strategy and practical know-how. She works alongside teams to spark new ideas, strengthen decision-making, and bring innovations to market, so SMEs can stay competitive while staying true to their family values.
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Soenke Weiss
Soenke is a renowned entrepreneur and innovator in the hospitality technology sector. He is best known as the founder of Optii Solutions, a pioneering hotel housekeeping optimisation software that established a new industry niche and became a global market leader.
After successfully growing Optii Solutions through multiple fundraising rounds in the US and Australia, the company expanded from Oceania to Asia, Europe and the US and was acquired by the MCR Corporation, the third-largest hotel owner in the United States, in 2021. Following the sale, and with a background that includes a MBA focused on marketing and finance, Soenke has shifted his entrepreneurial focus.
He is now dedicated to addressing the unique challenges presented by labor shortages to the cleaning operations for resorts and short-term rental operators on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, leveraging his deep expertise in both software and the hotel industry, to help prepare the region for hosting the Olympics in 2032. -
Soojee Ford
Soojee Ford is the founder of The Good Studio, a branding and marketing studio based on the Sunshine Coast. She works with service-based businesses to define their brand positioning and build brands that lead in their industries.
She is also the founder of Hyesun, Australia’s first Asian fit and low nose bridge eyewear brand, born from her own experience of struggling to find glasses that fit. As a mentor, she draws on this mix of brand strategy and founder experience to help others shape brands with a clear vision and strong market presence.
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Tara Jacobsen
Tara Jacobsen is a social scientist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Groei Education, dedicated
to creating purpose-driven pathways for young people into the future of work. She partners with
industry, government, and community to design innovative learning programs, digital
credentials, and real-world experiences that connect youth with workplace and entrepreneurial
opportunities.Passionate about social capital and peer learning, Tara mentors young
entrepreneurs to build networks, validate ideas, and develop the skills and confidence to thrive.
She has mentored and judged on the Mayors Telstra innovation Awards and the Sunshine
Coast Business Awards.