Whose kitchen (or business) will rule in our eChallenge?

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

A winner of the cooking reality TV series My Kitchen Rules and a former contestant of MasterChef Australia are subjecting themselves to yet another pressure test – this time by competing against each other in the University of Adelaide’s 2016 Australian eChallenge.

Run by the Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC) at the University of Adelaide, the Australian eChallenge is the nation's premier student entrepreneur "investor ready" program.

The 2014 co-winner of My Kitchen Rules, Jessica Liebich, and 2016 MasterChef contestant Heather Day, both have food-related business ideas in competition in the Agri-food & Wine category of this year's eChallenge.

They are among 82 teams that will showcase their creative business ventures tomorrow to an invited audience at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The teams include university and high school students across three separate categories.

Jessica Liebich's concept is The Messy Jessy Artisan Cake Mix Range, producing high-end premium artisan cake mixes for the home baking market. This high-quality product contains no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives, and reflects a quintessential modern Australian taste.

Heather Day's concept is Hey Day Butter, offering a wide range of unique and delicious flavoured butters, using high-quality local ingredients. These flavoured butters provide greater choice to home cooks who are looking for tasty alternatives free of additives and preservatives.

Among the schools competing at this year's eChallenge are teams from: Blackfriars Priory School, Blackwood High School, Cardijn College, Loxton High School, Prince Alfred College, Renmark High School, Scotch College, St Peter's Girls' School, and Urrbrae High School.

"We're very excited about the breadth and depth of the business ideas submitted to this year's eChallenge," says Professor Noel Lindsay, Director of ECIC and Pro Vice-Chancellor - Entrepreneurship at the University of Adelaide.

"By providing a competitive and challenging environment, and bringing students into contact with industry professionals, the Australian eChallenge helps to engage, nurture and inspire innovative business ideas from budding South Australian entrepreneurs," Professor Lindsay says.

Tomorrow night's venture showcase leads into the finals of the Australian eChallenge, to be held at Adelaide Oval in November. More than $100,000 in total cash and prizes are on offer in 2016, including five $10,000 cash first prizes, as well as consulting and workshops from leading firms.

The 2016 Australian eChallenge is sponsored by Qatar Airways, Microsoft, STEP, and KMT Partners.

More information about Australian eChallenge can be found at: www.adelaide.edu.au/echallenge

 

Contact Details

Professor Noel Lindsay
Email: noel.lindsay@adelaide.edu.au
Website: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/noel.lindsay
Pro Vice-Chancellor Entrepreneurship;
Dean of Business - Adelaide Business School
The University of Adelaide
Business: +61 8 8313 7422
Mobile: +61 (0)428 842 024


Ms Zrinka Tokic
Email: zrinka.tokic@adelaide.edu.au
Website: http://www.ecic.adelaide.edu.au
eChallenge Program Manager
Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC)
The University of Adelaide
Business: +61 8 8313 7422
Mobile: +61 (0)401 976 207


Mr David Ellis
Email: david.ellis@adelaide.edu.au
Website: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/newsroom/
Deputy Director, Media and Corporate Relations
External Relations
The University of Adelaide
Business: +61 8 8313 5414
Mobile: +61 (0)421 612 762