Now in its sixth year, UQ Business School’s business plan competition Enterprize has seen innovative business ideas from interactive video gaming to life-saving medical technologies.
Initiated by UQ Business School academic Dr David Gow, the competition is one of Australia’s most valuable – giving great business ideas a $100,000 head start.
Dr Gow said he was still in touch with many Enterprize finalists.
“Many of our finalists and winners have continued to behave like entrepreneurs, showing great commitment and passion for their original ideas as well as continuing to innovate,” he said.
“The competition seems to be doing exactly what we hoped it would – contributing to the pool of entrepreneurs that will drive Australia’s performance in the 21st century.
“Open category winner in 2002 John Perrier has built a prototype of his world-first resuscitation device, implemented successful clinical trials, conducted extensive medical research, and in 2005 won a $249,500 Federal Government R&D Start grant.
“Winner in 2003, Fusion Sport, has just ‘graduated’ from two years in the State’s technology incubator i.lab and has landed a European distributor as well as supplying their smartspeed instant feedback technology to Football Icon – a UK reality TV show hoping to unearth the next young soccer star.
“The power of television saw BakBalls receiving more than two million hits on its website following an appearance on a current affairs show after winning Enterprise in 2004. Founder Mark Alexander has since appeared on Channel Seven’s short-lived show Dragons’ Den.
“And 2005 winner Hydrexia is continuing to make progress commercialising a new materials technology for the inexpensive and safe storage of hydrogen – for a range of applications including existing industrial hydrogen storage and for emerging fuel cell technologies.”
This year’s Enterprize finalists will be announced on Tuesday August 1.
For more information, contact Cathy Stacey on (07) 3365 6179 or 0434 074 372.
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