POV: My First Demo Day!
28 October 2024
Stepping into Demo Day for the first time was nothing short of exhilarating.
Demo Day is where months of dedication, innovation, and teamwork finally come to life before our community.
A stage where ideas once sketched on paper are now transformed into visions shared boldly under bright lights.
It is an experience of powerful visions and creative stories.
It is where thoughts turn into purpose, and passion into progress.
Arrival: The Library
“Didn’t receive the memo about wearing something red!” William, our Social Media Assistant, quipped as I walked through the State Library doors. I’d arrived earlier than expected, catching the last-minute rehearsals and behind the scene interviews. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, yet the space felt calm—like a still moment before the wave of attendees surged in. Knowing that soon the hall would be filled with energy, excitement, and people ready to witness the work of our talented founders.
Welcome: Greeting the Energy
My role was to welcome and guide attendees to the right auditorium, with a special note for those attending Defence 10x—an exclusive session that required security clearance. The day picked up momentum quickly.
After ushering people to their destinations, I noticed the registration desk was quite busy, I shifted to supporting on regos and found myself diving into the pile of name tags, trying to match eager faces to names.
Pitch Time: Show Time!
Its showtime! Twenty-four startups across Health, Biotech, Defence, Climate, and All Industries took the stage. Each bringing fresh solutions to the world’s toughest challenges. I was floored by the calibre of innovation—Preview Health, for instance, is advancing the first blood test for Parkinson’s disease, while Sprout Materials has developed a sustainable plastic alternative from biomaterials. Praetorian Aeronautics is pioneering sovereign drone capabilities for Australia’s defence sector. In front of a captivated crowd, each founder presented a vision of the future, marked by passion, resilience, and foresight. Four founders were so deep in their success they couldn’t be present to pitch in person. But their teams? They delivered flawlessly, proving the strength of their collaboration and their great leadership.
Networking Over Art- A Creative Celebration
With the pitches wrapped up, the crowd moved to an art gallery transformed into a vibrant networking space. Surrounded by heaps of paintings hanging across all walls and bathed in soft lighting, founders mingled with attendees, sharing ideas, visions, and stories. Wine and laughter filled the air, with glasses clinking celebrating success, investors eager to connect, and founders changing the world.
We rounded off the evening on the Library’s rooftop bar, toasting to hard work.
As I sipped the final drink, someone says: “This was the best Demo Day!”
It was my first Demo Day, but undoubtedly the best one yet. 😜
Dina Titkova our Senior Manager for Startups, highlighted the immense support we’ve received, sharing that attendees expressed everything from congratulations to partnership ideas. David Burt, our Director of Entrepreneurship, echoed Dina’s sentiments, noting that “one of the most powerful aspects of Demo Day is the sheer goodwill that radiates from the audience towards our startups. And we've maxed out the charts on this that night”.
Why UNSW Demo Day?
Since 2017, the 10x Accelerator has been a beacon of innovation, helping more than 120 startups raise over $150 million in over 500+ different ideas. Now, in its eight cohort, we are reminded why UNSW isn’t just launching startups; we’re shaping entire industries. This year’s showcase was a testament to the power of philanthropy in entrepreneurship. By supporting our founders, we’re driving real progress across industries. The work of these 24 startups, who join an alumni of over 130 companies, is proof that UNSW’s approach to Venture Philanthropy is working. We are not only the most entrepreneurial University in Australia. We are also Australia’s best example of philanthropy working in entrepreneurship.
A special thanks to Westpac for supporting women founders through three scholarships, each valued at $20K, awarded to Preview Health, GonGlobal, and Sprout Materials.
And to the entire Founders team, thank you for your dedication and passion shared with our community. Your leadership and support inspire our founders.
Demo Day 2024 was a powerful reminder of the impact we can have by supporting visionary founders. I can’t wait to see our founders shaping the world.
Check out the full lineup of the 2024 10x startups here.
We are now recruiting startups for 2025? Submit your expression of interest here.