When it comes to digital, you can't beat QUT know-how.
The university's innovation arm, bluebox, has shortlisted its Innovation Challenge entrants down to five finalists - and all are working at the pointy end of digital disruption.
The annual competition unearths innovations that have great commercial potential.
bluebox Director of Innovation and Engagement Brent Watts said the five finalists all had products and services with the power to transform a range of industry sectors," Mr Watts said.
"They are clever people with clever concepts, and they're demonstrating that digital solutions can make a significant impact on the real world.
"QUT is a leader among technology universities so it's not surprising our competition turned up some very high-calibre digital products and services."
Ran Heimann is a finalist for his Haystack app, which stores and updates the business cards you receive, and lets you share your own business card directly from your phone.
Tasmin Trezise, Jake Phillpot, Josh Cameron and Alex Ghiculescu developed digital timesheeting solution Tanda, which is already helping health professionals and medical centres track staff attendance in real time and automatically calculate payroll.
Successful serial entrepreneur Stephen Sherlock made the cut for Pablow API, a personalised travel insurance product that combines bid data with business intelligence to better match what consumers want and need at the time of booking flights and travel.
Mathew Myers created Outfound, web-based software for small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs that promises to take the dread out of finding, short listing and hiring new staff. The Brisbane-based entrepreneur also cofounded successful e-newsletter software company Vision6.
Ryan Mets and Chris Greben are finalists for Boardcave, web software that is revolutionising the surfboard cottage industry by bringing together manufacturers and retailers together in one of the the largest selections of surfboards and surf accessories online.
Mr Watts said alumni and students accounted for about 65 of the 77 entries and the majority of the entries were digital.
"This year's $100,000 cash prize pool is by far the largest we've ever offered and for the first time we opened the Innovation Challenge up to our 211,000-strong alumni as well as staff and students," Mr Watts said.
"We received a great response from our alumni community both here in Queensland and overseas.
"The digital dominance of our finalists reflects the ongoing digital revolution in the economy. QUT is at the leading edge of that transformation, particularly in the areas of personalisation, big data and automation."
Finalists must now submit a 30-second speech pitch video in September and present a 10-minute pitch to a judging panel and a live audience in October. The winners will be announced at the event.
For more information visit the bluebox website.
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Media contact:
Kate Haggman, QUT Media, 3138 0358 or kate.haggman@qut.edu.au.
After hours, Rose Trapnell, QUT Media team leader, 0407 585 901.
