Budding entrepreneurs' new ventures on show

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

A drone platform offering cost-effective data collection for farmers; a hydraulic-vehicle system with the power of a bulldozer; and an SOS ring designed to help victims call for assistance are just a few of the innovative business ideas competing in the University of Adelaide's 2014 Australian eChallenge.

The Australian eChallenge, the nation's premier student entrepreneurial competition, will start on Thursday 25 September when participants showcase their creative business ventures to an invited audience.

Among the contestants is a team called Light, which is made up of five University of Adelaide students who have developed a business plan for an autonomous drone system that can save farmers thousands on surveying and data acquisition.

"Light offers a cloud-based service allowing farmers to get the data they need, when they need it. It includes real-time statistical mapping, so changes in trends can be monitored in a timely manner and at a reduced cost," says Harry Lucas, University of Adelaide Mechanical Engineering student and member of Light.

Professor Noel Lindsay, Director of the Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre at the University of Adelaide, says his Centre aims to nurture and inspire young South Australians through programs like the Australian eChallenge, which feed directly into the State's 10 Economic Priorities.

"Growth through innovation and commercialising research, two of the State's 10 Economic Priorities, are at the heart of the Australian eChallenge," Professor Lindsay says.

"The Australian eChallenge incorporates business and entrepreneurial workshops, team mentoring by industry professionals, networking opportunities and help in developing new business ideas. All this in a competitive environment sees students achieve outstanding results," he says.

A record 50 teams entered the Australian eChallenge this year and 36 were selected to compete. The competing teams will display their business venture ideas at the showcase in the University of Adelaide's Bonython Hall on Thursday 25 September, 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Judging will follow the showcase, with up to six teams progressing through to the finals round, and winners announced at the eChallenge Awards Presentation night on 13 November.

For more information, visit www.adelaide.edu.au/echallenge.

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