Digital Enterprise Award $10,000 Prize to Aspiring Teenpreneur

UpStart Challenge held their Big Ideas Prize Presentation at the Gordon Gallery Thursday 23 June, where major sponsor, Enterprise Monkey awarded the Smarter Tech Award for $10,000 for app development.

The Upstart Challenge program offers a range of unique business ideas competitions, workshops, innovation and leadership boot camps, mentoring and learning opportunities for high school students in the Geelong region. The Smarter Tech Award went to year 10 student, Henry Glenister and friend Josh (who joined the project two days prior to the awards) of St Baptist College for his Emergency App. 

Henry’s dad has suffered from four heart attacks. The Emergency app is a derivative of Henry’s experience and will consist of features to assist the user to find the nearest defibrillator and emergency CPR,  seek information from state emergency service and the department of environment via live emergency warnings and information, and to seek information from CFA MFB on burn offs and evacuation warnings in real time. It will also include a local health professional’s directory, a local emergency number list and an update to date first aid program that covers all types of illness or injury.

The aim of the app is to assist those involved in a local emergency and will be the first application of its type in the market.

 “The story behind the Emergency App came from a personal experience which enabled Henry to identify the problem and an appropriate solution.” Enterprise Monkey CEO, Aamir Qutub says, “Throughout history some of the most innovative and widely successful ideas have derived from personal experience with that background acting as a driver for success. We see the passion that Henry has for this project. Combined with Enterprise Monkey’s tools, skills and knowledge in technology, we will make this idea into a marketable reality.”

Qutub, acknowledged that the entries were to a high standard with all students using creativity and market research to develop sound solutions to real world problems however the Emergency App was a standout. 

 “We are so proud to be involved in the UpStart Challenge initiative to extend and teach entrepreneurship to youth of Geelong.” Qutub says, “The level of entries was phenomenal and all 12 shortlisted participants delivered highly innovative ideas to the judging panel highlighting the possibilities for our city in years to come.”

Enterprise Monkey will commence work with Henry this week to develop and market the app in time for the Upstart Challenge annual pitching showdown on 25 August. You can view the winning entry at here.

####

End 

For further information or to schedule an interview contact Tammy Walters at Mirrors PR and Events