Entrepreneurial Spirit Shines at Ventures' Curiosity Talk

Ventures welcomed Protostars back to campus for the first 2025 Curiosity Talk, fostering connections for young founders.

The entrepreneurial spirit was alive and thriving at our start of semester Ventures Curiosity Talk, held on Tuesday 4 March at UQ St Lucia.

Organised by Ventures and hosted by Theia, Program Lead at Blackbird Protostars, the event brought together a panel of inspiring student founders who have taken bold steps into the startup world:

• Anh Van – Founder of La Foundary
• Nicolas Van Hoorick – Founder of SeatFinder
• Mo Alizadeh – Founder of LoveLiveFashion

Van and Nicolas have participated in multiple Ventures programs as part of their entrepreneurial journeys, and all 3 panellists are former Protostars who have since launched their innovative ventures.

Meet the Panellists

The panel featured 3 young entrepreneurs tackling real-world challenges across diverse industries.

La Foundary

Van is the founder of La Foundary, a biotech and sustainability-driven startup using fungi to develop biomaterials from agricultural waste—creating a sustainable alternative to plastics. Along with her studies, she joined multiple programs with Ventures and secured funding through Ventures' Empower program and various startup accelerators, which helped her develop essential entrepreneurial skills like adaptability and persistence.

SeatFinder

Nick, Ventures iLab founder, is a final-year electrical engineering student at UQ, started his entrepreneurial journey by building a laser array for remote power transmission as his first startup project. He later founded SeatFinder, a platform that helps users maximise their credit card and travel reward points—a tool he describes as the "Google Flights for points."

When asked how he turned his ideas into reality, Nick emphasised the importance of focus, explaining how narrowing down his ideas from “20 different things at once” to one single idea made all the difference.

LoveLiveFashion

Mo’s entrepreneurial journey began in high school with a barbering business, which he scaled using social media and viral marketing. This early hustle set the stage for his future ventures, including CapCast, a short-format, engaging podcast where he interviews high-profile guests—including the Mayor of Logan.

Key takeaways from the panellists (take notes!)

Here are some valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Just Start – Many ideas never get off the ground because people hesitate. Take the first step, even if it’s imperfect.
• Find a Real Problem – The best ventures solve real-world challenges, not just “cool ideas.”
• Network Relentlessly – Building the right connections can open doors to funding, mentorship, and partnerships.
• Be Willing to Pivot – If something isn’t working, be flexible and adjust your approach.
• Focus – Choose 1 high impact idea rather than spreading yourself too thin.

Why Curiosity and Programs Like Protostars Matter

For students eager to build something of their own, programs like Curiosity and Blackbird Protostars provide the confidence, resources, and connections to bring ideas to life.

If you have a passion project—whether it’s a podcast, tech solution, or sustainability initiative—this is your sign to go for it! Who knows? You might be the next speaker at Curiosity Talk with Protostars!

Sign-up to a Ventures program in 2025