Cohort Innovation Space has announced 10 early-stage startups joining the NextGen Pre-Accelerator, showcasing the next generation of entrepreneurs tackling real-world challenges. For many, it will be their first step from classroom to boardroom – an opportunity to turn bright ideas into real-world impact and perhaps even Queensland’s next breakout success story.
Over the next eight weeks, students from across Brisbane and the Gold Coast will move through the full startup journey. All under the guidance of experienced founders and investors, the students will validate their ideas, build prototypes, shape marketing strategies and refine their pitches.
Delivered in partnership with Griffith University and supported by the Queensland Government, the program is designed to fast-track ambitious students from concept to commercialisation.
Cohort Innovation Space’s Program Manager, Georgia Wyllie said she is impressed by the students’ applications.
“We’ve been amazed by the strong response from Griffith, QUT, and Bond students, with applications spanning HealthTech, AgriTech, SportsTech, and EdTech. Choosing just 10 startups from such a high-calibre pool is never easy and we appreciate the time and effort that these students had taken out of their very busy schedules” she said.
Students will also gain access to some of Queensland’s brightest entrepreneurial minds, with mentors including Thor Berg, Co-Founder of Bloody Good Tests, Ali Stokes, Founder of Beyond The Clinic, and investor John Fox.
For many, the program represents their first step into the real world of entrepreneurship. QUT student Subiksha Thiya and founder of Quero, also shares her enthusiasm for the program.
“Being part of the NextGen Pre-Accelerator has been an incredible opportunity to dive deeper into the startup journey and learn directly from industry mentors. I’m excited about being a part of such a passionate and supportive community who are driven to make an impact!”
Griffith University student Leigh-Chantelle Koch founder of Daily PhD, looks ahead to her next chapter:
“I’m excited about continuing my progress with NextGen and the team. Having started in the incubator and now moved into the pre-accelerator, I appreciate the opportunity that Griffith University has given me to work on my startup while completing my PhD.”
The program will culminate in a showcase finale, where 10 teams will pitch to a live audience of investors, industry leaders, and community supporters. Tickets to Demo Night will be available in the coming weeks, offering the public a front-row seat to Queensland’s next wave of innovation.
Introducing the 10 startups that have made it through the program:
CutCompass | Bond University: is a live discovery app that helps customers instantly find walking barbershops nearby who’s working and how busy they are. No bookings required just real time clarity.
Daily PhD | Griffith University: Daily PhD empowers doctoral students with AI-driven support, community, and guidance to thrive through every stage of their PhD.
Med-IQ Tracker | Griffith University: Med-IQ Tracker is an interactive performance-based assessment platform that captures and visualises competence data from both simulation and real-world settings to help educators and supervisors track progress, personalise feedback, and build job-ready professionals across healthcare, as well as potential for emergency services, defence, and beyond.
MedStory | Griffith University: MedStory helps older adults and carers communicate their medical history to unlock safer, faster, and more personal healthcare.
NeoGlycis | Griffith University: leverages cutting-edge mass spectrometry and analytics to revolutionise multiple myeloma detection, offering a highly sensitive, non-invasive blood test that enables earlier diagnosis and more precise monitoring of disease progression.
Quero | Queensland University of Technology: A renting app that allows for users to easily rent their things with an easy interface and ease of mind.
Radiel Health | Griffith University: We help surgeons select the best surgical designs on complex patients preoperatively 10x faster than the status quo using hemodynamics analysis
Robo automation | Griffith University: An AI-powered smart milking and health monitoring system that automates dairy farm operations, enhances animal welfare, and boosts productivity for modern farms.
Verdares | Griffith University: Leverages generative AI to help businesses co-create and automate bespoke biosustainability solutions, turning environmental responsibilities into profitable advantages.
Work CoDesign | Griffith University: Helps community sport clubs retain their volunteers for long term with high satisfaction.
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About NextGen Student Incubator here.
Be the first to know when tickets get released here!