The interdisciplinary student teams explored complex business challenges, applying diverse technical and theoretical approaches to create, test and pitch products, and were mentored by technology leaders Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft, and ServiceNow throughout the process.
In early October, the semester-long program culminated with a Pitch Finale at the Eagleworks Innovation Centre.
Six student teams pitched their innovative AI-powered solutions to an industry panel to compete for up to $3,000 AUD in prizes. These presentations were followed by a Q&A with the judging panel and networking session.
Congratulations to La Trobe students, Geoffrey Ryan and Manan Younas on winning the AI Innovation Ventures Program with their Resilient Neighbourhood Planner project, which addresses United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
"I really enjoyed collaborating with my partner Manan, whose complementary skills strengthened our project. The AI Innovation Ventures Program built my confidence in developing AI solutions and opened opportunities to continue innovating at Eagleworks Innovation Centre," said Geoffrey Ryan, La Trobe University student and winner of the program.
Thank you to our industry partners Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft, and ServiceNow for sharing their expertise and providing invaluable support and mentorship to our student steams throughout the program.
"It's been a great insight into how students can leverage an innovation program to develop a skillset that goes beyond what we typically see in university students. It really helps differentiate them in the market and develop capabilities that are highly valued by employers," said Chris Owens, Business Solutions Architect / ANZ Education Lead, Cisco.
We would also like to congratulate La Trobe students, Kirti Pawar and Anagha Jadhav on winning the People's Choice award in recognition of their AskMate project, developed in response to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing.
Their project explored how AI can support La Trobe University students' health, wellbeing, resilience and sense of belonging throughout their university experience, addressing challenges such as mental wellbeing, social connection, academic confidence, stress, and access to support services.
The AI Innovation Ventures Program offers industry partners a valuable opportunity to showcase their organisations to emerging talent in fields such as AI, Data Science, IT and cybersecurity, while building connections across the broader Eagleworks innovation ecosystem.
By collaborating with interdisciplinary student teams, organisations gain access to diverse skillsets, fresh perspectives and additional capacity to explore complex business challenges, develop practical AI-driven solutions and identify new opportunities for innovation.
Building an AI-enabled future through collaboration
AI is rapidly reshaping industries, creating new opportunities, and changing the way we solve complex challenges. Partnerships between universities, industry, and student talent are key to unlocking AI's full potential and building the necessary skills for an AI-enabled future workforce.
Through programs like AI Innovation Ventures, La Trobe University creates opportunities for industry partners to connect with emerging talent, explore new ideas, and collaborate on solutions shaped by real-world challenges.
Interested in working with La Trobe University's emerging innovators? Connect with our Entrepreneurship team to explore opportunities to collaborate through the Eagleworks Innovation Centre and our programs.
