Peter Farrell Cup 2023 winners announced!
Our flagship student pitch competition saw finalists grace the stage at UNSW’s Roundhouse at the Peter Farrell Cup (PFC) finals night.
Now in its 23rd year, more than 370 including students, researchers, alumni, parents, staff, and well-wishers filled the room to hear about 10 of the nation’s freshest innovative ideas.
Vice-Chancellor Attila Brungs, who served as a judge alongside Clem Doherty, Chairman of Like Minded Individuals, and Camille Goldstone-Henry, CEO and founder of Xylo Systems addressed the crowd.
“[I am] delighted to be involved in such an outstanding program,” he said. “One that celebrates young innovators whose brilliant ideas and energies have the potential for such a positive impact on the lives of so many. This is the crux of what UNSW represents.”
If you’re UNSW a student, staff, or alumni and you have a startup or an idea for one, sign up for our FREE Coach & Connect service and meet with a top startup expert to help you at any stage in your journey.
UNSW’s longest-running student-led and teams-based competitive ideas program is designed to fast-track the next generation of entrepreneurs. In the biggest PFC to date, 71 applications were received with a record-breaking 62 student teams selected. Read on for a full list of winners from the finals night.
Congratulations to our talented winners
1st Place Early Stage - $8,000 – Little Steps
Founders: Jesse Waller and Matt Gordon
About: 1 in 7 children aged 5 to 12 battle a mental illness, and half of these children don’t receive any support whatsoever. LittleSteps is an AI-based storytelling mobile app specifically crafted to educate and empower primary school-aged children who struggle with mental health. Through the use of academic research, individualised profiles, and AI as the driving forces, LittleSteps creates completely custom stories that offer strategies that each child can take into their worlds. LittleSteps global accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and multilingual support aim to assist the 130 million children currently struggling with mental illnesses throughout the globe.
Presented by: Clem Doherty - Chairman, Like Minded Individuals which invests in early-stage game-changing technology.
1st Place Research - $8,000 – RoPet
Founders: Tansel Ersavas, Dr. Ali Goktogan, Dr. Nesli Avgan, John Magnifico and Alan Ersavas
About: Ro-Pet brings together the dynamic duo of smart and cuddly robotic pets, powered by compassionate AI. Unlike regular chatty devices and beyond today’s fur companions; Ropet offers secure attachment, emotional connection, friendly assistance, and personalised health checks using their fancy sensors. Picture a world where true friendship meets geeky tech. Are you ready to take part in developing the future fur companions? You are invited to design AI-thentic relationships and transform health monitoring and aged care.
Presented by: Camille Goldstone Henry CEO & Founder, Xylo Systems
2nd Place – General - $3,000 - What’s ON!
Founders: Rushi Vyas, Roshenpal Dhilon, and Nandini Sinha
About: Australian Universities spend over $30M on Student Engagement and yet, 9 in 10 students are feeling disengaged while at uni. 72% of high school students consider uni life as a make-or-break factor while choosing a uni. What's On! is the first-of-its-kind student-centred software that revolutionizes community management on campuses. It allows staff and students to post, schedule, and manage events. Users can see what's on, on an interactive campus map -- free food, social sports, networking, and everything in between -- in just 3 taps!
Presented by: Professor Attila Brungs, Vice-Chancellor and President, UNSW
People’s Choice Award - $1,000 - SPLAT
Founders: Katelinh Nguyen, Byron Petselis, and Aria Mohammadi
About: SPLAT Supports Play by Adapting Toys. We promote inclusive play by providing high-quality workshops with easy-to-follow instructions for adapting toys for anyone! All proceeds from the workshops go directly towards purchasing the necessary materials to modify the toys and donating them to children with disabilities.
Presented by: David Burt, Director of Entrepreneurship, UNSW
FACULTY AWARDS
Dean of Arts, Design + Architecture Award - $2500 - What’s ON
Presented by: Professor Claire Annesley, Dean of Arts, Design & Architecture
Dean of Engineering Award - $2500 - SPLAT
Presented by: Professor Ian Gibson, Deputy Dean Industry Engagement, Innovation and Research
Dean of Science Award - $2,500 - Property AI
Founders: Jan Siroky and James Bradley
About: We are navigating Australians through the housing crisis by revitalising the property search journey with AI. Through novel property valuation models, e-commerce grade personalisation, and inverting the traditional sell-before-you-buy custom, we elevate and expand the relevance of the buyers’ agency market as champions to the Australian people. Creating a digital platform that empowers the way all property buyers & renters search for, discover, and invest in properties.
Presented by: Associate Professor Alison Beavis
Dean of Medicine Award - $2500 - SmartPoly
Founders: Nasim Sabahi and Ehsan Farajzadehdevin
About: Each year, over 1.5 million people suffer large-scale bone defects, enduring multiple painful and invasive surgeries. In SmartPoly, we offer a game-changing solution. We have developed bioresorbable, non-toxic, 3D printable smart materials that can mimic the properties of human bone. Collaborating with our key partners, our mission is to create personalized bone tissue in the lab to replace bone defects through one single non-invasive surgery. With traditional treatments costing the Australian healthcare system billions, SmartPoly's innovation not only improves patient outcomes but also eases the burden on Australian healthcare finances.
Presented by: Professor Phoebe Phillips, Associate Dean, Partnerships and Engagement
Dean of Business Award - $2,500 - InnovaIVF
Founders: Pedro Maceratta and Fabrizzio Horta
About: At InnovaIVF, we are building a medical device to determine the viability of each embryo from couples using a novel biological marker - metabolic activity. This innovation will make the selection a step more accurate offering more cost-effective and streamlined treatments
Presented by: Professor Karin Sanders, Senior Deputy Dean of Research & Enterprise
Congratulations to all our finalists
InnovalVF - Innovating the future of IVF.
LittleSteps - Helping little minds, one story at a time.
PropertyAI - Every Australian should have the opportunity to find their ideal home.
Ro-Pets: Companions for life - Revolutionising elder care.
SmartPoly - Non-invasive tissue replacement.
SPLAT - Supporting play for all by adapting toys.
Trevlor - Generate a trip itinerary with the click of a button.
Verily - “Don’t take the bait”, verifying medical certificates.
What’s On! - Real-time event updates for students.
You Legend Skincare - Men’s all-in-one skincare.
For media inquiries or to speak directly with any of our finalists, please contact pfc@unsw.edu.au.