When La Trobe University student, Avalon McWha, first imagined a better way to manage habits and routines, she wasn’t trying to start a company - she was trying to solve a personal problem.
As an Autistic and ADHD entrepreneur working across health and tech, Avalon found that phone-based productivity tools promised clarity but delivered distraction. Endless notifications and addictive interfaces undermined the very focus they were meant to support. Her idea was refreshingly simple and deeply human: a screen-free device that blends the core benefits of calendars, to-do lists, and mindfulness apps - without the noise.
La Trobe’s innovation‑driven ecosystem - specifically the LaunchPad pre‑accelerator program - offered the perfect springboard to propel her idea to the next stage of growth, and what would become Pebbl Tech.
Starting Point: A Prototype Without a Path
Before applying for La Trobe LaunchPad, Avalon had already built an early prototype. What she didn’t yet have were the business foundations, the confidence to share her idea publicly, or a clear path to turn a promising concept into a viable startup.
“I knew the problem intimately,” she reflects, “but I didn’t yet know how to build a business around the solution.”
She applied to La Trobe LaunchPad to connect with the startup community, gain structure, and accelerate progress.
La Trobe LaunchPad Experience: Structure, Mentoring, Momentum
From the outset, the pre-accelerator program provided what Avalon describes as “rocket fuel.”
The program’s structured milestones and built-in accountability pushed her to move faster and with greater intention. Mentoring became a cornerstone of her journey - learning not only how to be an effective mentee, but also how to support peers navigating similar early-stage challenges.
Workshops on legal structures, intellectual property, and accounting filled critical gaps in her knowledge, transforming uncertainty into practical capability.
Building in Public: A Turning Point
One insight proved especially powerful: the concept of 'building in public'. Encouraged by La Trobe LaunchPad mentors, Avalon began openly sharing her progress online - successes, setbacks, and lessons learned. What first felt uncomfortable soon proved catalytic - building in public helped her connect with users who resonated with the problem, mentors who offered guidance, peers who shared momentum, and investors who saw potential.
“It changed everything,” she says. “I went from working quietly on my own to being part of a visible, supportive ecosystem.”
Tangible Results: From Idea to Traction
The results were dramatic. Over the course of the program, Avalon went from “0 to 1000, literally”- growing a waitlist of more than 1,000 people eager for her screen-free device. She built a founding team, developed a functional prototype, and clarified a roadmap toward a 2026 hardware release.
Today, she is actively seeking $250,000 in grants and strategic partnerships to take the next step in scaling her venture, Pebbl Tech.
Looking Ahead: Turning Ideas into Real-World Impact
Reflecting on the experience, Avalon credits La Trobe LaunchPad with compressing years of learning into months.
“It’s the community and accountability to move through early-stage ideas fast,” she says.
Her journey illustrates what’s possible when the right idea meets the right support at the right time.
Applications are now open for La Trobe LaunchPad’s March 2026 cohort. If you have an early-stage idea, a prototype, or simply the drive to build something meaningful, La Trobe LaunchPad can help turn potential into progress.
Apply now and take your first step from idea to impact.
Avalon will join the Entrepreneurs + Industry: Driving What’s Next session at the Eagleworks LIVE event on Thursday 19 March 2026 at the La Trobe University Melbourne Campus (Bundoora).
This dynamic fireside chat will feature founders and industry partners who have built, scaled, or collaborated through La Trobe’s Entrepreneurship programs. Attendees can look forward to candid insights, practical takeaways, and honest reflections on turning ideas into action.
Don’t miss out! Register for Eagleworks LIVE.
