All currently enrolled undergraduate students.

• $1,000 cash prize
• $1,500 towards bespoke career development opportunity  
• 1:1 consultation prize.

• Undergraduate or postgraduate student groups of two to six founders.
• The project must have originated as part of a for-credit Unit of Study undertaken in the last 18 months.

$5000

• For any undergraduate and postgraduate student groups of up to six founders. A minimum of 25 percent of founders are enrolled University of Sydney students at the time of submission.
• The startup is in the ideation or concept stage.
• No external investment has been received. Self-funded or may have received a very small grant.
• No minimum viable product (MVP) or in early development.
• Currently engaging in problem validation, customer discovery and feasibility research.

$2500 and mentorship with INCUBATE. This may be in the form of entry into an INCUBATE program or a meeting with an Entrepreneur in Residence or Program Manager.

• For any undergraduate and postgraduate student groups of up to six founders. A minimum of 25 percent of founders are enrolled University of Sydney students at the time of submission.
• The startup must be less than three years old.
• Must have a minimum viable product (MVP) in development or already launched.
• Have received less than $50,000 in external funding (excluding founder contributions or small grants).
• Generating less than $50,000 in annual revenue, or still pre-revenue.
• Engaged in early user testing, pilots, or initial sales.

$5000 and mentorship with INCUBATE. This may be in the form of entry into an INCUBATE program or a meeting with an Entrepreneur in Residence or Program Manager.

All Student Innovation and Employability Award finalists

• First prize: $1000
• Second prize: $500

• Current University of Sydney students who have completed an internship sometime between July 2023 – August 2025.
• The internship was completed whilst enrolled as a student at the University of Sydney.
• The internship must have been for WIL/academic credit (paid or unpaid) or an extra-curricular paid opportunity. 
• The internships must have been in-person (minimum of 1 day in the office per week), either domestically or internationally.
• The internship must have been at least 4 weeks (at least 96 hours in duration).

Prize for Extra-curricular (paid) Internship

• 1 return ticket economy class with Qatar Airways (Sydney to London or a European destination and return)
• CEO for a day! – Shadow a CEO or a Senior Executive. Unlock Executive Insight. Inspire Your Next Move.

Prize for Internships for WIL/Academic credit (unpaid/paid)

• 1 return ticket economy class with Qatar Airways (Sydney to London or a European destination and return)