On 15 October, UQ Ventures is lacing up its runners for Giving Day and we’d love you to join us. This year, we’re celebrating the incredible impact of entrepreneurship at UQ with a community 5km run (or walk, dogs welcome!) that directly fuels the Ventures Fund, helping students take bold ideas off the whiteboard and into the real world.
Why Giving Day Matters
At UQ, we believe in the power of student-led innovation. Every gift to the Ventures Fund helps aspiring entrepreneurs, social impact leaders, and creative changemakers overcome the financial barriers that often stand between them and their first steps.
These barriers are real: the cost of prototyping, the price of attending pitch competitions and critical networking events, and the challenge of balancing study with part-time work while pursuing a venture. For students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, these obstacles can mean ideas never get the chance to grow.
The Ventures Fund is designed to break down those barriers and Giving Day is your chance to be part of that.
Impact in Action
The Ventures Fund has already made a tangible difference in the lives of students across all of our. Just listen to what they have to say:
“The $1000 we received through the UQ Ventures Validate program allowed us to take the next step in prototyping our solution, turning our ideas into something tangible… we’re deeply grateful for the support that’s helping us create real environmental impact.” – Khayil Matthew, Cofounder of Hexaroot
“Ventures and entrepreneurship have quite literally changed my career trajectory. Between the mentoring and the funding, it’s an incredible place to start your entrepreneurial journey.” – Yarra Kiseleva, UQ Chief Student Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of Seatfinder
“Programs like UQ Ventures’ Startup AdVenture offer a unique chance to dive into entrepreneurship and innovation, no matter your degree background. My time [in Singapore] taught me about the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. It reinvigorated my university experience and redefined my career path.” – Julia Bejleri, Startup AdVenture Participant
These stories highlight just how powerful early support can be and sometimes it’s the difference between an idea staying an idea, or becoming a venture that changes the world.
The Difference You Can Make
On Giving Day, your contribution will go directly into helping students unlock their potential:
- $500 could buy a student a ticket to Something Technical, Brisbane’s premier startup networking event.
- $1,000 could cover two students’ rent for two weeks, freeing them up from casual shift work so they can get their venture pitch ready.
- $5,000 could support a student for one year to validate their startup value proposition.
- $10,000 could support two students for one year to scale up their business while studying at UQ.
- $20,000 could provide two ilab Pitch Night Awards for early-stage startups.
Every gift, no matter the size is meaningful.
Join Us This Giving Day
Whether you join us on the track at St Lucia, bring your pup for a morning stroll, or meet us for coffee afterwards, your participation will help fuel the next wave of UQ founders, dreamers, and changemakers.
So, grab your runners, bring a friend, and be part of something bigger this Giving Day. Together, we can create a more inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem at UQ. One where every student with a vision has the chance to pursue it.
