At just 21, Varun Pillai is balancing more opportunities than most tackle in a year - combining study, startups, and new ventures across the innovation ecosystem.
Varun works part-time in the corporate world, explores venture capital through a Brisbane fellowship, builds and scales his travel startup Tripzy, collaborates with another early-stage tech venture, and is completing his undergraduate degree.
On top of it all, Varun is also serving as the 2026 Chief Student Entrepreneur for UQ Ventures. But his story isn’t about doing it all, it’s about knowing what matters most, moving with purpose, and backing yourself, even when others have doubts.
From "What even is Ventures?" to Chief Student Entrepreneur
Varun didn’t start his journey convinced that entrepreneurship programs were for him.
“I honestly didn’t really know what UQ Ventures did,” he laughs. “I thought it was maybe funding, or some extra coursework I didn’t have time for.”
But that changed in Semester 1 2024, when he joined Validate, UQ Ventures’ early-stage idea validation program.
Alongside a teammate, Varun explored an idea called Roadmap - a platform designed to help students plan their university journey based on where they wanted to end up.
They made it to the finals, spoke with potential users, and realised something important: they had a strong idea but didn’t yet know how to build it.
Instead of seeing that as a setback, Varun treated it as data. That mindset drew him deeper into the entrepreneurship community, jumping at opportunities to travel interstate and overseas (rom Sydney to Singapore) and connect with people who were curious, driven, and willing to build before they felt “ready.”
“That’s when it clicked,” he says. “I realised how valuable these skills are, even if you don’t end up running a startup long-term."
From travel confusion to creation: Tripzy’s start
The idea for Tripzy didn't come from a pitch deck or business plan; it came from frustration.
While travelling in Vietnam with other students, Varun noticed everyone jumping between TikTok, Instagram, Google Maps, spreadsheets, and group chats just to figure out what to do for the day.
“We were all using different tools to solve the same problem. I remember thinking that this entire process should be easier.”
That idea sat in the background for a while. Then, during another international trip, this time to Singapore through UQ Ventures Startup Adventure, Varun decided to stop waiting. Within weeks, he applied for the Ventures ilab Accelerator.
Since then, the startup has evolved beyond content discovery into a platform that handles the entire travel booking journey aiming to rethink how people plan and book experiences altogether.
Proving what’s possible at 21
Varun is very aware that not everyone understands his choices. “There’s always doubt,” he says. “People say, ‘Why are you doing this now? You’re young. Finish university first.’” He comments that the doubt doesn’t slow him down, it fuels him.
“I like proving people wrong... I like building things and showing people what’s possible.”
For Varun, entrepreneurship isn’t about dropping out or taking reckless risks. It’s about learning faster, building real-world skills, and connecting the dots between effort and opportunity.
Why the Chief Student Entrepreneur role matters
With everything already on his plate, why take on the Chief Student Entrepreneur role? For Varun, the answer is both strategic and generous.
“Having the backing of the university opens doors,” he says. “Certain rooms, certain conversations - titles do matter sometimes.”
But for Varun, the role isn’t just about access.
“There’s often a disconnect between what students think UQ Ventures does and what it really offers,” he explains.
“You don’t need to start a startup to benefit. The skills you develop here — problem-solving, communication, prioritisation — are transformative, and I want to share that with other students.”
As the 2026 Chief Student Entrepreneur, Varun is looking to:
- create and contribute to engaging events
- introduce even more students to the ecosystem earlier; and
- encourage students to stand out by finding a path that’s truly their own.
Looking ahead
When asked what success would look like at the end of his year as Chief Student Entrepreneur, Varun keeps it simple. “More students get involved with Ventures and realise what’s possible.”
And to students reading this who are unsure whether to apply for a program, attend an event, or start building something of their own?
“Just try,” he says. “I’m very glad I was proven wrong about what UQ Ventures was. Saying yes changed everything.”
Varun’s journey started in a UQ Ventures program. As he described, as something he initially saw as “extra” alongside university ended up shaping his entire university experience.
If you’re curious about entrepreneurship, want to try building something of your own, or just want to be around people who back themselves, UQ Ventures programs are a great place to start.
Sign up to explore what’s coming up and meet more students, early founders, and our ambassadors.
