Celebrating Innovation and Community at Pitch Night in Southwest Sydney.
UNSW Ignites Innovation in Liverpool: A New Chapter in Entrepreneurship
In a bold move to fuel innovation across Greater Sydney, UNSW has launched a game-changing initiative in Liverpool. With a hefty $700,000 investment, the university is bringing its acclaimed UNSW Founders program to South Western Sydney, focusing on health-tech entrepreneurship.
This isn't just another university program – it's a launchpad for Liverpool's next generation of innovators. Part of UNSW's ambitious Greater Sydney Strategy, this initiative aims to tap into the region's diverse talent pool and address local healthcare needs head-on.
Southwest Sydney's Liverpool Innovation Precinct has emerged as a hot spot of creativity, ambition and community spirit over the past months, especially during Pitch Night happening at the Liverpool Council Chamber- a key event in the Liverpool Innovation Program part of a UNSW Founders initiative- that showcased the region's remarkable entrepreneurial talent. This gathering highlighted the university's dedication to driving innovation and empowering our community.
The Liverpool Innovation Program, launched in May 2024 by UNSW Founders, was designed to support and empower entrepreneurs across Southwest Sydney. This initiative, which serves a community where 98% of all businesses are small businesses, is a testament to UNSW's dedication to driving economic growth and innovation in the region and it is proudly supported by Investment NSW and Liverpool Innovation Precinct.
Uncle Tony Scholes, a respected member of the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council delivered the Acknowledgement of Country reminding everyone that Liverpool sits on the traditional lands of the Darug and Tharawa Aboriginal people. He emphasised the importance of community and the collective responsibility to nurture the next generation of leaders.
"Let us be reminded of our shared commitment to creating a vibrant community. This event not only highlights groundbreaking ideas but also nurtures the leaders of today and tomorrow."
During Pitch Night at South West, six teams pitched their innovative solutions to address key societal challenges. The ideas ranged from personalised dental care for people with disabilities to an app providing visual communication support for individuals with autism. Showcasing the diverse needs within the community and the creative potential to address them.
Liverpool Mayor, Ned Mannoun emphasised the crucial role of entrepreneurship in driving societal progress.
"The entrepreneurial spirit is one of, if not the most important spirit that exists in humanity. Without the spirit of entrepreneurship, we as a society, go nowhere.
Professor Attila Brungs, Vice-Chancellor and President of UNSW, echoed this sentiment, highlighting UNSW's commitment to supporting local talent.
"UNSW is Australia's leading entrepreneurial university, and our responsibility is to support the incredible talent, visions, and dreams of the people here" Professor Brungs stated. "Entrepreneurship is about courage and resilience, about converting dreams into reality. You are the change-makers our world needs."
A distinguished group of experts were part of the judging panel, including Professor Attila Brungs, Vicky Clare, Acting Associate Director of Precinct Development at Investment NSW; Maryam Parviz, CEO & Co-Founder of SDIP Innovations and Lance Chia, Director of Investment & Innovation at Liverpool Innovation Precinct. They faced the challenging task of selecting the winners from the impressive array of pitches.
The prizes of the night were awarded to:
1st Place: My Special Needs Dental Home, founded by Zanab Malik. A personalised dental care app for people with disabilities.
2nd Place & People’s Choice Award: Communication Spectrum, founded by Jessica Xi and Jennifer Winstone. Australia’s first visual support app created for people with communication disabilities and autism.
3rd Place: Flexi-Prompt System founded by Brendan Worne. A smart environment designed to support cognitive function.
In a touching moment, David Burt, Director of Entrepreneurship at UNSW shared how the team discovered one participant lacked a laptop. UNSW stepped in to provide this essential tool, underscoring the university’s commitment to practical support.
"A reminder," David noted, "that the more specific your ask for help, the more likely it is that someone can provide you with support."
Acknowledgments: A special thank you to the esteemed judges, Professor Attila Brungs, Vicky Clare, Lance Chia, and Dr Maryam Parviz, for their invaluable insights and dedication to supporting local entrepreneurs. We also extend our gratitude to Mayor Ned Mannoun for his inspiring words and ongoing support for the Liverpool community. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Uncle Tony Scholes for grounding the event in the values of community and shared progress.
UNSW Founders look forward to continuing this journey with the Southwest Sydney community, empowering more entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality.
If you are interested in joining our Liverpool Entrepreneurship Programs, get in touch with Shuoyan Zhu, Liverpool Program Manager, at shuoyan.zhu@unsw.edu.au