Celebrating our 2025 UQ Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award Winners
Published on: 21 August 2025
Nominations for FaBA Food & Beverage Startup of the Year open 1 May 2026.
Nominations for all other UQ E&I Award categories open 3 August 2026.
The UQ Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards showcase and celebrate the breadth and impact of entrepreneurship across The University of Queensland community.
Presented by UQ Ventures and proudly supported by UniQuest, Australia's Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA), UQ's Indigenous Business Hub, and Safety Culture, the E&I Awards recognise outstanding entrepreneurial achievements by students, researchers, alumni, and industry partners who are creating solutions to local and global challenges.
From student-led ventures to research-based startups driving positive change, the Awards showcase the diversity and strength of entrepreneurship at UQ and beyond.
Awards and recognition
Each category winner will be awarded $5,000 in prize money, along with university‑wide recognition through UQ Ventures channels and showcase events.
Submit your nomination for one or more of the award categories listed below and help us celebrate entrepreneurial excellence at UQ.
Terms and conditions for the FaBA Food & Beverage Startup of the Year Award.
Nominations for FaBA Food & Beverage Startup of the Year will open on 1 May 2026.
The Awards are proudly sponsored by:
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Award categories and announcement timelines
In 2026, the awards will be announced across 2 major showcase events. Keep up-to-date with the following timelines and make sure to submit your nominations before the specified deadlines.
FaBA Food & Beverage Startup of the Year
- Nominations open: 12 noon Friday 1 May 2026
- Nominations close: 11:59pm Sunday 7 June 2026
The winner will be announced at the FaBA Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs Showcase in August 2026, which is delivered in partnership with Ventures, recognising excellence in food and beverage innovation and commercialisation.
| Time | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2026 | Nominations open | To make your nomination, please fill out the linked form. |
| 7 June 2026 | Nominations close | Submit your nomination before nominations close to ensure your nomination is reviewed. |
| 19 June 2026 | Shortlisting | All nominations will be shortlisted for judging. |
| 8 July 2026 | Judging | Judging to be finalised for the award ceremony. |
| 5 August 2026 | Award ceremony (invite only) | The awards will be presented by a senior executive leader from UQ. Finalists and guests will be invited to come together for the announcement of this award during the FaBA Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs Showcase. |
All other UQ Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards
- Nominations open: 12 noon Monday 3 August 2026
- Nominations close: 11:59pm Sunday 13 September 2026
Winners for the UQ Student Entrepreneur of the Year, UQ Entrepreneur of the Year, and the UQ Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year will be announced in November 2026 at our UQ Ventures Showcase event celebrating entrepreneurial excellence across the broader UQ ecosystem.
| Time | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 3 August 2026 | Nominations open | To make your nomination, please fill out the linked form. |
| 13 September 2026 | Nominations close | Submit your nomination before nominations close to ensure your nomination is reviewed. |
| 28 September 2026 | Shortlisting | All nominations will be shortlisted for judging. |
| 16 October 2026 | Judging | Judging to be finalised for the award ceremony. |
| 26 November 2026 | Award ceremony | The awards will be presented by UQ Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Deborah Terry AC. FInalists and guests will be invited to come together for the announcement of all award winners. |
Award categories
FaBA Food and Beverage Startup of the Year
This award recognises exceptional startups within the food and beverage sector within Australia. Nominations for this award open 1 May 2026 and the award winner will be announced at the FaBA Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs Showcase on 5 August 2026.
UQ Entrepreneur of the Year
This award recognises current UQ students (or most recent graduates) who have developed innovative entrepreneurial ventures while at UQ. Nominations for this award will open 3 August 2026 and be announced on 26 November 2026.
UQ Student Entrepreneur of the Year
This award recognises exceptional entrepreneurs and founders within the innovation and startup community within Queensland. Nominations for this award will open 3 August 2026 and be announced on 26 November 2026.
UQ Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year
This award recognises exceptional entrepreneurs and founders who identify as an indigenous entrepreneur in the Queensland innovation and startup community. Nominations for this award will open 3 August 2026 and be announced on 26 November 2026.
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Have a question?
For more information about the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards, please contact UQ Ventures.