Warilla, Oak Flats, Lake Illawarra and Kiama high school students ‘speed pitching’ during a mentoring session at the Zig Zag Hub. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
Budding entrepreneurs from 11 Illawarra and Shoalhaven high schools will pitch their product and service ideas alongside international talent for the first time in a bid for one of two titles in the 2024 Young Eyes Festival of Innovation next month.
Now in its third year, this year’s competition will add an international element by welcoming students from Cambodia to showcase their groundbreaking ideas as they compete to be named either Young Innovator of the Year or Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Students have developed their ideas to address real-world problems with innovative solutions through a mentoring program run by the Zig Zag Hub.
On Wednesday (14 August), students from Warilla, Oak Flats, Lake Illawarra and Kiama high schools took part in one of the all-day mentoring sessions, coming up with ideas that covered electricity waste through to tourism gaps and sustainable fashion.
Zig Zag Hub founder Carmen Rudd said selected students would then participate in a Shark Tank-style ‘pitchfest’ before a panel of business leaders, with the finalists receiving a spot to pitch at the Young Eyes Festival of Innovation on 19 September at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus.
Carmen said winners would receive a mentoring package from the Zig Zag Hub to develop their business idea and runners-up would receive valuable mentoring support.
“It’s been about giving young people an opportunity to take their passions and come up with amazing ideas – that’s what’s really inspiring about it,” she said.
“It’s great to see how they want to solve the problems they see in the community or in the world in their own way.
“It sparks something within them and they just fly with that idea.
“Ultimately, the students will take away lifelong experience and lessons from the program and from our judges during the festival.”
Students undergoing market research of their business idea. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
She said thanks to sponsorship from Sicona Battery Technologies, they were able to expand the program from nine to 11 schools this year and welcome students from Cambodia, who were broadening the horizons of the participants and providing them with a unique, international perspective.
Sicona CEO and founder Christiaan Jordaan, who has pitched his Wollongong startup to international investors and government bodies, will deliver the keynote address to the students and attendees at the main event.
“Innovation and entrepreneurship are at the heart of what we do,” Christiaan said.
“Supporting young entrepreneurs, whether from our local region or beyond, is something we believe in strongly.
“The experience these students gain will be invaluable as they embark on their future careers.”
Former Warilla High student and prominent Sydney businessman Paul Smith, part owner of the Sydney Kings and the WNBL Sydney Flames, will be among those on the judging panel.
Last year’s winner was Nowra student Isa Chapman who came up with a simple idea for an allergy-friendly cookie.
Isa cooked up the idea for the Cosmic Cookies range due to her friends often not being able to eat regular baked goods because of allergies – and immediately went home to research recipes.
Additional judges and keynote speakers are still to be announced.
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