The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Advanced Engineering Building buzzed with energy for 3 days in October as over 120 students came together for Weekend of Startups (WOS), celebrating 10 years of one of Australia’s biggest student-run hackathons.
Hosted by the UQ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Society (UQIES) in partnership with Ventures, and proudly sponsored by Entain, the 2025 event challenged students to explore “The Next Normal”, asking what feels futuristic today but might be completely ordinary tomorrow.
A Judging Panel to Remember
This year’s panel was one of the strongest yet, featuring:
- Alborz Fallah, Founder of CarAdvice and CarExpert
- Cliffe Hodgkinson, CEO of Updoc, UQ alum, 2016 UQIES President, and founder of Weekend of Startups
- Chris Ward, Chief Revenue Officer at Entain, and part of its original founding team
A Weekend of Highlights
The event kicked off with an address from Entain Australia and New Zealand CEO Andrew Vouris and Entain's Head of Leadership Development, Learning and Performance Dave Levitt reminded students of the power of innovation to shape industries and careers.
Mentors from across Entain (including leaders in strategy, product, and technology) guided teams through rapid ideation and problem-solving sessions, helping turn sketches into working prototypes in less than 48 hours.
From teams working late into the night, including one group that set up a tent on campus, to Relatide, who spent the early hours cold-calling U.S. talent agencies and secured a verbal agreement for a $60,000-per-year pilot, the weekend was filled with moments of creativity, hustle, and determination.
Meet the Winners
1st Place ($4,000) – Relatide
For their bold, well-executed concept and impressive real-world customer win.
2nd Place ($3,000) – PhysiAlign
For creating a practical healthtech solution grounded in strong user insights.
3rd Place ($2,000) – Gena
For an innovative approach to using AI to enhance communication and productivity.
Spirit of the Weekend ($1,000) – Teamly
For embodying the WOS ethos of collaboration, resilience, and creativity.
All top three teams will now head into Entain HQ to pitch directly to the company’s C-Suite, an incredible opportunity to take their ideas further.
The Power of Partnership
Now in its third consecutive year in partnership with Entain, Weekend of Startups continues to demonstrate the impact that collaboration between industry and education can have.
Looking Ahead
As WOS celebrates a decade of fostering creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurial thinking, one thing is clear: the next generation of founders, innovators, and changemakers are already here.
Thank you to Entain, our mentors, judges, and every student who joined us this year. Here’s to the next 10 years of big ideas, bold dreams, and late nights at the Advanced Engineering Building.
