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Innovation Garage
A six-week STEM and entrepreneurship challenge for young people who'd rather build something than read about it. Turn curiosity into a real solution - and pitch it for a share of the grants.
Turn curiosity into something real.
The Innovation Garage is a six-week STEM and entrepreneurship challenge designed to help young people turn curiosity into action. You'll tackle real-world problems, explore new ideas and learn the skills to develop your own solution — from your first idea through to your final pitch.
Build something real
Take an idea from problem to solution and learn what it takes to bring it to life.
Learn future-ready skills
Develop practical skills across STEM, entrepreneurship, design thinking, business, and communication.
Meet mentors
Get feedback and guidance from industry professionals who have built things themselves.
Join a community
Connect with other young innovators and become part of the Future Minds alumni and founder community.
Explore what's next
Build experience, confidence, and a portfolio you can take into university, work, or your next big idea.
Win the funding to actually build it.
Winners receive microgrants to scale their business, as well as practical skills, connections and ongoing support to help turn their ideas into real opportunities.
6 Weeks of Learning
Build practical skills in STEM, entrepreneurship, innovation and pitching through hands-on learning.
Access to Founder Community
Join a network of young founders, mentors and changemakers and stay connected beyond the challenge.
Certificate of Completion
Walk away with a recognised certificate celebrating your participation and the skills you've developed.
$1,500+ in grants
Bring your idea to life with funding to build, test or take your solution further.
Six steps. Six weeks.
Each week moves your idea one stage further. You finish with something you can show people.
Explore
Find a problem worth solving and explore where your idea could take you.
Build
Develop your solution and learn the fundamentals of STEM and entrepreneurship.
Test
Get feedback from mentors and other young people and make your idea stronger.
Shape
Work on your business model, story and pitch.
Pitch
Present your idea to industry experts and judges.
Launch
Celebrate your work, compete for grants and join the Future Minds community.
If you're curious, you qualify.
Innovation Garage is for young people who are curious about STEM, entrepreneurship, technology, business or innovation.
You must
Be in Year 9–12
Live in regional Australia
Be able to participate across the six-week program
Be ready to learn, collaborate and have a go
You don't need
- A business.
- A STEM background.
- A perfect idea.
- Just curiosity.
Get your spot.
Takes about five minutes. You don't need to have an idea yet - just tell us you're in.
