Monash University’s INCUBATE program demo day shows diversity of ideas from student entrepreneurs

A job platform for ICT employers, an app that helps create “the perfect date” and software that makes digital content more accessible for those with vision or hearing impairments were the three ideas on display at Monash University’s INCUBATE program demo day.

The demo day held on Wednesday night was the culmination of the 14-week INCUBATE program, Monash University’s first move in an effort to encourage more students to take up entrepreneurship, according to Monash University director of commercialisation Dr Alastair Hick.

“We want to encourage entrepreneurialism at Monash and running a startup accelerator was a logical step,” he says.

“Partnering with INCUBATE provided a well-established program and support to run a startup accelerator program to Monash. Monash will continue to encourage student entrepreneurs through further startup accelerator programs, as well as other activities and events centred on entrepreneurship and startups.”

The three startups graduating the program included:

Jobbop; a platform for ICT employers that gives them access to top talent in the industry, without needing to engage expensive recruitment agencies.

The Perfect Date; Finds the best places in the world to take your date to.

RaisedPixels; software that makes digital content easily accessible for those with a vision or hearing impairment.

The three startups now have the chance to move into the Queens Collective co-working space, a sponsor of the INCUBATE program. Jobbop, which gained its first paying users during the program is seeking investment to continue to grow and expand, while RaisedPixels and The Perfect Date.

Jobbop co-founder Kishan Thurairasa says the program enabled him to explore and refine potential business models with the support of expert mentors.

“INCUBATE allowed us to refine our model of going beyond the traditional applicant pool to rapidly and cost effectively engage untapped graduate talent,” he says.

“Participation in the program also helped us to develop strong relationships with ICT education institutions, which have a direct interest in streamlining hiring to get better graduate employment outcomes.”

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