There’s something electric about ilab Pitch Night. Maybe it’s the months of hard work culminating in just five minutes on stage. Maybe it’s the crowd—the energy, the anticipation. Or maybe it’s watching founders’ step into their moment, fully owning their ideas. Whatever it is, I felt it again at the Princess Theatre, and I’m still buzzing.
On Thursday 10 May our 2025 Chapter 1 cohort hit the stage and reminded us why we do what we do at UQ Ventures. Ten startups. One night. Endless possibility. Each pitch was a window into a future being built right here in Queensland.
And what a night it was!
MyHive takes top honours
Taking home the win on Pitch Night was MyHive, founded by father and son duo Paul and Nicholas Egan. Their pitch captured both the judges’ attention and the hearts of the audience with a powerful mission and a smart, scalable platform.
MyHive is founded on the belief that people have an innate desire to help. The app enables users to receive emergency assistance in minutes—not hours—from trusted members of their community. We all know emergency contacts and loved ones can’t be on call 24/7, which is why MyHive users feel empowered with the knowledge their communities have their back.
By leveraging real-time location-based alerts and a network of verified helpers, MyHive ensures support is always within reach—whether it’s an urgent situation or a simple helping hand.
Reflecting on the experience, Nicholas Egan shared:
“ilab is designed to help startups move fast, make smart decisions, and grow with purpose — and for MyHive, it delivered exactly that. It challenged us to reshape our business based on real customer feedback and equipped us with the tools to adapt quickly. The support from the ilab team and our cohort was invaluable — providing fresh perspective, encouragement, and a sense of community that kept us focused and energised.”
Paul and Nicholas brought a deeply personal motivation to their business and paired it with strong traction, a clear go-to-market strategy, and a product that has the potential to save lives. We couldn’t be prouder to see them take the win.
People’s Choice goes to Aroma Armour
The audience vote went to the incredibly likeable and energetic team behind Aroma Armour: Nicholas McLaughlan and Flynn Halfpenny.
The startup was born out of a simple frustration—two active guys tired of dealing with their own sweaty, smelly gear. But to them, it wasn’t just about a bad smell; it symbolised neglect and a lack of care that was bleeding into other parts of their life.
So, they did something about it. They created a naturally-powered shoe freshener that eliminates odours at the source, simplifying shoe care in a way that’s both effective and eco-conscious.
Nick summed it up perfectly:
“ilab was great for us because working and learning next to other businesses gave us perspective on how fast the other businesses moved, how many issues everyone was facing in scaling, and with the guidance of [Entrepreneurs in Residence] Abbey & Michael how to approach our own issues and move faster. Pitching in front of hundreds of people was insane and well worth it just from how many other founders we got to meet. Super stoked to take home the People’s Choice award as a business that solves smelly shoes.”
Now, they’re focused on bringing brilliant products to market, delivering exceptional customer experiences, and using what they’ve learned to build systems that support strategic expansion into new markets and verticals.
Entrepreneur in Residence Award – Polinate leads with purpose
This year, we introduced a new award: the Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Award, selected by our incredible EIRs Abbey Cameron and Michael Cotton. It recognises a team that didn’t just build a business but fully embraced the journey of growth, collaboration, and contribution.
The award went to Polinate, co-founded by Adeep Mitra and Corey Berther.
Polinate is a SaaS startup revolutionising supplier ordering in the food industry. Their AI-powered platform streamlines vendor-supplier relationships by automating ordering processes and reducing administrative overhead.
Adeep shared:
“Winning the EIRs' award in ilab was a great experience. The speed in which we were exposed to new content and mentorship was invaluable to the growth of Polinate.”
Already saving their enterprise customers time and money, the Polinate team stood out throughout the program for their thoughtfulness, execution, and willingness to give back to the cohort. It was a well-earned recognition of their commitment and growth.
More than just a pitch
Ten startups took to the stage at Pitch Night, but what matters most is what happened behind the scenes over 12 weeks in the ilab program. Late nights. Pivots. Breakthroughs. Challenges overcome. This cohort showed us what it means to truly lean into the journey.
They didn’t just build businesses. They built community. And they grew—fast. As someone who gets a front-row seat to this kind of transformation, I couldn’t be more proud of what these founders have accomplished.
What’s next for ilab?
We’re already gearing up for the next round of ilab.
If you’ve got an idea—whether it’s scribbled in a notebook or halfway to launch—this is your sign to take the next step.
Founders in the ilab Accelerator receive:
- A $15,000 SAFE investment
- Office space at UQ Ventures Long Pocket
- Intensive mentorship from industry experts
- Direct access to investors and startup networks
- A community that’s got your back
If you’re ready to accelerate your startup, visit ventures.uq.edu.au/ilab and apply.