Make your start

Chief Student Entrepreneur, Varun Pillai (2026).

At just 21, Varun Pillai is balancing study, startups, venture capital, and opportunities across the innovation ecosystem while completing his undergraduate degree at The University of Queensland.

After first discovering UQ Ventures through the Validate program in 2024, Varun quickly immersed himself in the student entrepreneurship community, travelling interstate and overseas through Ventures opportunities and building connections with founders and innovators. Now, alongside working part-time in the corporate world and exploring venture capital through a Brisbane fellowship, Varun is building and scaling travel startup Tripzy in his new role as Chief Student Entrepreneur. Inspired by the ability to create opportunities through entrepreneurship, Varun is passionate about helping more students discover the skills, confidence, and community that come from getting involved.

““I like building things and showing people what’s possible. You don’t need to start a startup to benefit. The skills you develop through Ventures - problem-solving, communication, prioritisation - are transformative.”