Young entrepreneurs rewarded

The young entrepreneurs of tomorrow were recognised at Victoria University’s annual I Plan a Business (iPAB) awards ceremony last night.

The individual winner – Maddison Cottle, a Year 10 from Ave Maria College, Aberfeldie – proposed a DriveThru chemist, which uses a 'click-and-collect' app to facilitate fast, easy collection of prescriptions. Ms Cottle was excited to have her hard work recognised, and is ambitious but open-minded about her future career.

"I plan to study something in business, or nursing and midwifery. My goal is to open up my own business one day," she says.

Other entrants submitted such innovative ideas as:

• Mobile Wardrobe, an app that keeps track of outfits and shares fashion ideas
• a health service for the homeless with fully equipped medical vans
• Nitbusters, a service to help exterminate head lice.

A total of 290 business students in years 10 and 11 from 25 schools across Victoria competed either individually or in groups. The ceremony took place at Victoria University's City Campus and prizes of up to $500 were awarded.

Entries were judged by:

• Natalie Davies, national marketing manager at Momentum Energy and Victoria University alumnus
• Leonie Swarbrick from the Victorian Commercial Teachers’ Association
• VU staff.

The keynote speaker for the evening was an exemplary role model for any business student. Halinka Panzera, VU alumnus and one Australia’s most successful businesswomen, launched BDC Market Intelligence in 1999 and followed this with two more start-ups. Her business model is one of support and philanthropy and BDC Market Intelligence has contributed more than a million dollars to local fundraising. Ms Panzera’s work on improving the status of women and children globally has been recognised by the European Parliament.

Winners of the 2016 iPAB competition

Best business track – Year 10 or 11 individual ($500 prize)

Winner: Maddison Cottle, Ave Maria College, Aberfeldie
Project: DriveThru Chemist
DriveThru Chemist uses a "click'n'collect" app to facilitate fast, easy collection of prescriptions.

Best business track – Year 10 or 11 group ($500 prize shared between two co-winners)

Equal winner: Keely Clark & Scout Else, Ave Maria College, Aberfeldie
Project: KeyFetch
KeyFetch attaches to a keyring and enables keys to be found in two ways.

Equal winner: Brady Hutchinson & Leah Smart, Terang College, Terang
Project: Ladz Lattes
Ladz Lattes is a coffee and snack van that receives orders by app and delivers to regional work sites.

Best social enterprise – Year 10 or 11 ($500 prize shared between two winners)

Equal winner: Sam Hill, Bryce Haley and Lachie Whiteley, Catholic College, Wodonga
Project: Healing Hills Jerky
Healing Hills Jerky sales fund activities for police, fire and defence force personnel with PTSD.

Equal winner: Eden Fedje & Travon Werapermal, Berwick College, Berwick
Project: Tasty Burgers
Tasty Burgers sells burgers, drinks and chips to raise funds for the homeless.

Best multi-media submission – Year 10 or 11 ($500 prize shared between two winners)

Equal winner: Mikayla Harris-Grey & Melissa Marinelli, Ave Maria College, Aberfeldie
Project: Santa’s Special Deliveries
Santa’s Special Deliveries sends personalised replies to children’s Christmas letters to Santa Claus.

Equal winner: Maddison Dellar, Beaconhills College, Berwick
Project: The Inside Story
The Inside Story decorates properties on the market to help maximise the sale price.