Rising to the challenge: Monash Fastrack students pitch solutions for a better tomorrow

11 November 2024

A new breed of student entrepreneur is emerging, one that prioritises purpose over profit.

Monash Business School’s Fastrack program is at the forefront of this movement, nurturing a generation of founders intent on addressing real-world issues.

Professor David Gilbert, speaking at Evo Day.

“Fastrack is a values-based program that builds businesses with a clear understanding of their social and environmental impacts,” said Professor David Gilbert, Director of Entrepreneurship and the visionary behind the competitive-entry accelerator.

“Our founders have an intuitive understanding that being socially responsible when founding a business is a given, and they bring greater sophistication in using cutting-edge technology to create meaningful impact.”

Prof Gilbert said the program’s diverse participant base fostered ingenuity. “Our participants come from eight different Monash faculties, and that broad mix of expertise drives innovation, helping students explore how technology can improve our world,” he said.

This values-driven approach shone on 24 October at Evo Day (or Evolution Day) – the program’s annual showcase.

The culmination of two semesters of intense preparation, Evo Day featured ten teams pitching their ideas to a panel of industry experts, with four awards up for grabs: the Business Launch Award, Impact Award, Runway Award, and Chrysalis Award.

Here’s a closer look at their inspiring solutions for real-world impact.

Streamlining patient care

Patiently, winners of the Business Launch
Award.

Patiently aims to reduce chaotic clinic visits with a pre-consultation chatbot that helps patients communicate their problems and provides doctors with vital insights to enhance care from the first interaction. This innovation earned the team the Fastrack Business Launch Award, while team member and Fastrack student Zoe Tay received the Chrysalis Award for transformation during the program. “Receiving the awards was an incredibly validating moment,” said Ms Tay. “We’re so grateful for the opportunity to work on something that drives real impact with the support of amazing mentors in Fastrack.”

Change is brewing

EarthBrew, winners of the Impact Award.

Earthbrew taps into beer and quarry waste to create a nutrient-packed fertiliser that is eco-conscious and effective. It’s designed to help Australian gardeners cultivate healthier soil while giving industrial waste a new lease on life. This sustainable solution clinched this year’s Impact Award. “Watching all that waste get produced, we knew there had to be a better way - and that’s how EarthBrew began,” Ned Murdoch said. “Winning the Impact Award is a great encouragement, showing us that others believe in this journey too.”

Beating procrastination

LearnOS, winners of the Runway Award.

As students themselves, the LearnOS team understands the pain of procrastination. Determined to reclaim lost time, they developed a platform that breaks down tasks and automates scheduling to keep students on track. “Procrastination steals time that could be spent learning, growing, or simply living,” said Vincent Su. “With LearnOS, we’re giving students like us a chance to break free, take control, and reclaim their potential.” The team’s unique approach to productivity earned them the Runway Award.

Humanising hiring

Finding a job when you have no experience can be a challenge. At the same time, employers sometimes struggle to spot talent when CVs don’t tell the full story. Charismate tackles this by connecting students with hands-on projects, integrating skill-building and community engagement. “We’re making hiring more human, connecting students and employers in a way that actually works,” said Natasha Nguyen.

Diabetes lifeline

The Troche team wanted to take the guesswork out of medication management for the 1.3 million Australians living with type 2 diabetes. Their portable device combines a smart pill dispenser with an app that tracks blood glucose, sends reminders, and offers health insights. “After seeing diabetes impact my own family, I know how vital it is to stay on top of treatment with a solid routine,” said Arvin Hay. “Troche takes the stress out of diabetes management, giving patients the support they need to stay healthy.”

Green gardening

Every year, around 1 billion plastic pots end up in landfill where they take up to 500 years to decompose. Plot Pots Australia is helping green thumbs garden responsibly with a revolutionary solution: a compostable pot that's not plastic, not toxic and definitely not trash. “As a team, it’s important to us to make a positive impact - we believe even small initiatives can help create a better world,” said Kayhan Jamali.

Court to couture

Every year, millions of sports balls serve their purpose, sometimes after only a few hours of play, and then head straight to landfill. Team Ludis plans to repurpose these sports cast-offs into stylish, sustainable sandals. “Would you like to help us ace the waste?” said Lilian Xu. “The ball is in your court.”

Sustainable dreams

The René Living team believes bedding should nurture both your skin and the planet. Made from eco-conscious banana fibre, their pillowcases provide natural antimicrobial and hypoallergenic benefits. “Bedding is a deeply personal part of our daily lives, and we want to elevate it by ensuring it’s kind to your skin and the planet,” said Kezia Grace Wongsodirdjo.

Fresh tech

Bakery goods represent 12 per cent of edible food waste in Australia. The SustainaByte team has created a platform to help independent bakeries reduce waste, lower costs, and manage stock based on real-world factors like weather and local events. “We’re passionate about bringing smart, accessible technology to the backbone of our community and contributing to a greener future,” said Anastasia Makogon.

Workplace wellness

In the past five years, workplace mental health injuries have increased by 80 per cent, leading to 400,000 weeks of lost work and $11 billion in lost productivity. The MindSuit team pitched an advanced wellness tool to support employee wellbeing and productivity, combining organisational psychology and data analytics to give employers clear insights into workforce health and resilience.

The 2025 Fastrack cohort

Prof Gilbert expects next year’s Fastrack cohort to be one of the most diverse and ambitious yet, with a strong focus on technology-driven solutions that address societal needs.

“We’re seeing a really strong pipeline coming through from Monash’s STEM-based clubs, which is great,” he said.

“We’re also excited to see an increase in female founders next year, many of them from STEM disciplines. This will translate to a cohort with a powerful focus on leveraging technology for positive social impact.”

Learn more about the Fastrack program.