Celebrating Curiosity: Meet the 2025 Shane Chidgzey Award Winners
We are thrilled to announce the 3 projects selected by Ventures to receive the 2025 Curiosity Shane Chidgzey Award! Each team has been awarded $350 in seed funding to help bring their ideas to life and take their Curiosity projects to the next level.
The winning teams are:
- ClearSuper – Jasmine Man
- UniMates – Prayudi Affandie, Reden Pradipta, Ichsana Widya and Yohanita Rika Kroon
- Path2Trial – Dominique Gooden
We celebrated their achievements with a relaxed lunch at St Lucy on 12 August, joined by Jasmine, Prayudi, and Yohanita. It was a lovely moment to recognise their work and share the win together.
ClearSuper: Making Superannuation Simple
Founder: Jasmine Man
The Challenge:
Australia’s superannuation system is complex and often confusing - especially for retirees, small-business owners, and SMSF trustees. These users face fragmented digital experiences, opaque fees, and a lack of affordable, independent advice.
The Solution:
ClearSuper is an AI-powered app that simplifies how people interact with super funds. It offers:
- Real-time fund data from APRA, ATO, and providers
- Transparent comparisons of fees, performance, and ESG scores
- An AI assistant that explains fund details in plain English.
ClearSuper’s Business Model:
- Freemium subscriptions for individuals
- White-label analytics for super funds
- B2B data packages for financial advisers.
Impact of the Award:
The funding will support a market-discovery sprint, including user interviews and surveys to refine the app’s features and messaging. This will help build a clickable prototype and validate product–market fit.
UniMates: Helping International Students Feel at Home
Founders: Prayudi Affandie, Reden Pradipta, Ichsana Widya and Yohanita Rika Kroon
The Challenge:
International students often struggle with housing, scams, and social isolation when arriving in a new country. These challenges can lead to stress and missed opportunities.
The Solution:
UniMates is a student-only digital platform that helps international students:
- Find safe housing
- Buy and sell second-hand items
- Connect through roommate matching and tutoring.
With a scam-free environment and a ‘from students, for students’ approach, UniMates is designed to be a trusted companion for new arrivals.
UniMates’ Business Model:
- Premium memberships
- Featured listings
- Partner advertising.
Impact of the Award:
The prize will fund app development, user testing, and a university-wide rollout. It will also help build credibility and attract collaborators to scale the platform beyond UQ.
Check Out Their Concept Site Here
Path2Trial: Matching Patients to Clinical Trials That Fit
Founder: Dominique Gooden
The Challenge:
Clinical trials often face delays due to poor patient recruitment and retention. This slows down access to potentially life-saving therapies.
The Solution:
Path2Trial is an app that uses AI to match patients to clinical trials based on eligibility and personal fit. Patients input key details and rank factors like travel distance, availability, and trial modality. The app then generates customised matches. Unlike competitors, Path2Trial focuses on true fit, increasing the likelihood of trial participation and success.
Path2Trial’s Business Model:
- B2B model charging hospitals and pharmaceutical companies
- Free access for patients to reduce barriers.
Impact of the Award:
The funding will support a pilot program and marketing efforts to promote the app and reach more patients.
These projects embody the spirit of Curiosity - tackling real-world problems with creativity, empathy, and entrepreneurial drive. Congratulations to all the winners! We can’t wait to see where your ventures take you next.