The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.


We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.

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This year we invited innovators, entrepreneurs, businesses, students and the community to find ways to reinvigorate and reimagine Melbourne through creative, innovative and technology-enabled solutions.

After six weeks of exploring how to use data and technology to bring vibrancy back into our city in a post-Covid world, the finalists presented their best ideas at the Open Innovation Competition Pitch Showcase.

Winners were announced on the night with a number of exciting prizes up for grabs including a slice of the $30,000 cash prize pool, entry into the University of Melbourne’s Velocity Program and RMIT’s LaunchHub program, SBE Australia Accelerating Women-led Business prize, $5,000 to spend on Fiverr.com, a product discovery workshop with creative agency Mo Works, a Startup Victoria prize pack and more...

Participants were also encouraged to approach the problem with a ‘global mindset’ and we will announce our international prize winners, who will have the opportunity to test their solutions internationally in Indonesia and Vietnam through pathway programs, including the NCubation program by 11th Space; the La Trobe Global Market Accelerator program, and mentoring hours with RMIT Vietnam alumni.

Each pitch was subject to live Q&A by a panel of experts and prizes were awarded by our wonderful competition partners.

Pitch showcase

Wednesday 23 June 2021 06:00 pm to 08:00 pm

Nicholas Reece

Welcome address by Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece

Watch the pitch showcase

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Meet the finalists

A prize cash pool of $30,000 was divided among the six who pitched.

  • Rohan Watt

    Founder of Orderlina

    Orderlina: Smart Solutions for Hospitality Brands

    Winners of Fiverr Prize and International available on the market stream prize.

  • Mohammad Mohammadi

    Founder and Director of POPS4public

    POPS4public fills the gaps in providing accessible and inclusive public spaces in cities through activating Privately-Owned Public Spaces (POPS). It provides an online platform and mobile app, where users can search and find free publicly accessible places for their individual and social activities.

  • Callan Morgan

    Founder of Pelican Studios and Make Mob

    Helios blends art, sustainable technology and place-making to rethink how we meet those needs. It provides power and free wifi for city dwellers and visitors.Its epic beauty draws people to urban spaces; its interactivity invites them to stay, work and play. It’s innovative technology and unique collaborative project model encourages us to rethink our collective future.

  • Jeddi Kyne and Elles Le

    Founders of WADOO

    WADOO is your city gamified - think events, missions, and real-world rewards that allow you to (re)discover your city, young or old. Through augmented reality, smart route recommendations and real-time event data, WADOO is an innovative and exciting app that promotes all your local city has to offer and encourages you to get involved.

    Winners of RMIT LaunchHUB program, Startup Victoria Prize, Product Discovery Workshop, Fiverr Prize and International idea/prototype stream prize.

  • Hugh McCaffrey

    Co-Founder of Kibble Pty Ltd & Love at First Bite

    'Love at First Bite' is a fun and interactive way to be matched with bars and eateries, book a table and win prizes. Like Tinder, but for food and drinks. LAFB is powered by data that optimises customers' hospitality experiences. We focus on real-time, granular data, alongside psychographic techniques and collaborative-filtering mechanics, allowing us to map out preferences and make a match.

    MAP Velocity Program winners

  • Saumya Sinha and Smitan Pradhan

    Founders of EverythingData

    EverythingData is your must-have real-time advisor for guaranteed retail success. It understands your goals, identifies sales opportunities and recommends sales strategies so you sell more without having to do all the hard work alone. It is data-driven and its AI becomes smarter with more use.

    Winners of MAP Velocity Program and RMIT LaunchHUB program

Panel of experts

Each pitch will be subject to live Q&A by a panel of experts and competition partners including:

Judy Anderson

Event host

CEO Startup Victoria

Tristonne Forbes

Managing Director at CivVic Labs

Bree Trevena

Research Leader, Australasia, Arup Foresight, Research + Innovation

Andrew Wear

Director, Economic Development and International at City of Melbourne

Cerasela Tanasescu

Director, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program, La Trobe University

Partners

Our prize winners are being announced by our wonderful competition partners:

Open Innovation Competition

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.

We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.

Aboriginal flag Torres Strait Islander flag