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Our innovation and enterprise programs are the first step, whether you're launching a startup, exploring new tech, or leading real-world change in your community.
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Step-by-Step Learning
Every founder starts somewhere. Here's where ours begin.
Reserve seats for your students. We handle everything else.
Students turn a rough idea into a real venture. Something they can actually launch.
They present to real founders, mentors and investors. The kind of room most people wait years to get into.
Problem-solving, communication, working through the messy middle. The capabilities every future needs, picked up by building.
They meet angels, mentors and founders throughout the program. They leave with contacts in industry most adults spend years trying to build.
They take an idea and turn it into a working business, tested on real customers. By the end they've got something real to show for it.
The best teams walk away backed. What starts as a school program becomes a business that outlives it.
They've stood in front of real founders and investors. They stop doubting whether they belong in the room
They leave knowing they can make things happen. A story they carry into every application and interview after.
Problem-solving, communication, working through the messy middle. The capabilities every future needs, picked up by building.
They meet angels, mentors and founders throughout the program. They leave with contacts in industry most adults spend years trying to build.
They take an idea and turn it into a working business, tested on real customers. By the end they've got something real to show for it.
The best teams walk away backed. What starts as a school program becomes a business that outlives it.
They've stood in front of real founders and investors. They stop doubting whether they belong in the room
They leave knowing they can make things happen. A story they carry into every application and interview after.
testimonials
Real stories from real learners sharing their experiences, growth, and success with Future Minds.
“Future Minds gave me the perfect support I needed to launch my business. I wouldn't have been able to do it myself."
Founder @ Kayya Crafts
“I’ve grown so much. I've gained the confidence to show my art business and tell my story, and it made me more comfortable applying for future galleries and markets.”
Independent artist
“Future Minds helped us sell at real markets, and we had our best sales day yet. Nearly everyone bought something because they'd come to support us. It was humbling to be so supported and recognised.”
Co-founder @ Gumnut Echo
"It's like a kickstarter for your business. I'm making more connections and building more opportunities than I ever expected."
CEO @ HennaHQ
"It's something you shouldn't miss. The journey of running a business can feel lonely at times, since it's not always seen as a 'stable' path, but the people in this program are truly amazing and inspiring."
Founder @ Floria Touch
“Future Minds surrounds you with people who inspire you to grow, so many incredible connections and really cool people who can genuinely help you.”
CEO @ Ashan Industries
“Future Minds was exactly what I needed. There are many problems in the world, and I knew I wanted to solve them, but it was always difficult to discuss these issues with students my age. It gave me the opportunity to meet with students who wanted to change the world."
Co-founder @ Startup Link UniMelb
"Participating in FutureHack was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The program opened up my eyes to the power and impact of social entrepreneurship. It helped me see that I could combine my love for helping others with business ."
Founder @ Letters Against ISO
"Future Minds kickstarted my career in the social impact space. Their mentorship and guidance helped change me as a leader. "
Former Chair at Victorian Government's Youth Congress
"Future Minds opened my mind to entrepreneurship and social impact, something I think I wouldn’t have discovered not participating in the hackathon.
Through the program, I was inspired to attend the Yale Young Global Scholars program, where I met startup founders from all around the world."
Analyst @ Reserve Bank of Australia
"Future Minds has been one of the most influential events in my life! Their ability to scout some of the best mentors and generate an environment of productive innovation is incredible.
Through the program, I was even able to land an internship at an edtech startup, that molded me into a better entrepreneur."
Founder @ Aurora
"It’s different from any other event I’ve participated in. Whether you want to work in a startup or not, Future Minds allows you to meet so many new people and make new connections."
National Lead @ Encode Justice
A day in the life
Students arrive and check in.
An energising kick-off that sets the tone for the day. Facilitators open by sharing the moments that defined their journeys, the risks, the failures, the breakthroughs. From the very first minute, students start seeing themselves differently.
What does it really take to think like an innovator? This session unpacks the mindset behind every great idea, exploring how the world's boldest problem-solvers approach challenges differently, and how every student in the room can too.
Students are thrown headfirst into a challenge that demands creativity, communication and quick thinking. By the end, they've built something together, and discovered what they're capable of when they back themselves and each other.
A chance to recharge and keep the conversation going, connecting with facilitators and swapping ideas with peers from other schools.
Students take everything from the morning and push it further, refining their concepts and stress-testing their thinking. Facilitators move through the room, challenging assumptions and helping teams uncover angles they hadn't considered. It's where students explore how what they've built can create genuine impact in their school or community.
Facilitators bring the day to a close, celebrating what's been built and how far everyone has come. The Top teams have the opportunity to access our 6-week program, to take their idea from today into reality.
The next cohort starts soon.
Join the upcoming cohort. Seats are limited to ensure personalized mentorship and code reviews.
28 March – 5 April
(Application Deadline: 25 March)
Kick-start your learning with immersive workshops, real-world projects, and guidance from experienced mentors. Build practical skills and connect with a community of passionate learners.
28 August – 5 September
(Application Deadline: 20 August)
Advance your knowledge through project-based learning, industry insights, and career-focused sessions designed to help you confidently apply your skills in real-world settings.
learning made simple
No new subject, no new timetable, no extra prep for your teachers. Our facilitators deliver the whole program. Your school gives students the time and space, and we handle the rest.
Same Goal. Different Experience.
Learn smarter with a modern education experience built for real growth and success.
Sit through the same fixed lessons as everyone else.
Fund your idea entirely on your own.
Share one teacher with thirty other students.
Stay cut off from the industry you want to break into.
Study content that lags years behind the real world.
Chase marks, grades and graduation.
Stay stuck in one classroom, one time, one place.
Earn a pathway to real university credit, through our Monash partnership.
Win real grants of up to $1,000 to bring your idea to life.
Learn from many mentors, each an expert in their field.
Connect directly with the founders and companies shaping it.
Work with content we refresh every single year.
Build real skills, real ventures and a real career.
Learn in person or online, wherever works for you.
Two tickets. Lunch is in both.
Partner with Future Minds and help create meaningful learning experiences while gaining valuable brand exposure and community recognition.
Perfect for individuals. Get full-day access to all talks, workshops, and event activities.
per ticket, GST included
what 2025 looked like.
Partner with Future Minds and help create meaningful learning experiences while gaining valuable brand exposure and community recognition.
Questions we get asked
Find quick answers to the most common questions about our programs, process, and learning experience.
Six weeks, six jumps forward.
Every moment is hands-on and fast-paced, built to show young people what they can create when they're trusted to lead. There's no sitting and listening, just doing, from the first idea to the final pitch.
Teamwork
You'll be placed into a team and meet students you've never worked with before. You'll learn to collaborate under real pressure, play to each other's strengths, and discover what you can build together.
Real-world challenges
You'll take on a genuine problem worth solving, from your own community to the wider world. You'll learn to look past the obvious, spot opportunities others miss, and turn a real issue into the seed of an idea.
Industry mentorship
You'll meet real founders and innovators from your own region, right there in the room. They'll share how ventures actually start, guide you as you shape your idea, and answer the questions you've always wanted to ask.
The pitch
You'll finish by pitching your team's idea to a real audience. You'll learn to shape a clear, compelling story, present with confidence, and get genuine feedback on your very first idea. By the end, you'll have gone from a blank page to a real pitch, in a single day.
Learn Smarter, Grow Faster
Gain practical skills, expert guidance, and real-world experience designed to help you achieve your goals with confidence.
Class of 2026
Meet the exceptional learners, innovators, educators, & changemakers who have demonstrated outstanding achievement, leadership, and impact within the Future Minds community.
Sareya Taylor is a 19 year old White Mountain Apache and Navajo student. Sareya’s pronouns are they/them/she/her. Sareya is a poet who focuses on the Indigenous peoples of America and the trauma they may have experienced in their lives. Sareya also brings attention to and counters the stereotypes and misrepresentations of Natives that our society’s media and culture supports. They served as the Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate of Phoenix and currently serve as a member of the International Indigenous Youth Council and a honorary 25 under 25 youth leader.
Headline Impact
Sarah Syed is an award-winning young scientist and innovator, who is designing a more sustainable method to remove oil spills from oceans using esterified pomegranate peels. Their scientific research has led them to speak at Canada's biggest AI conference (Big Data Toronto), the David Suzuki Foundation, HWY H2O, York University, and the Fora Global Summit. In 2022, they shared their work to over 7000 C-suite executives, researchers and young people across 7 countries. They are currently designing a more efficient rotating solar panel, which will leverage nanotech like graphene quantum dots and perovskites. Sarah Syed is also the founder of You Are the Change, which runs international hackathons and coding workshops. To date, they have empowered over 1000 young people to create solutions to the future whilst learning from leading tech experts at Microsoft. Sarah's work has been recognised as Diversity in Actions' 20 Under 20, 25 Under 25 Environmentalist in Canada, and as the youngest Developer in IBM Canada's 30 Under 30.
Headline Impact
Hailing from a drought-prone area of Maharashtra, Sanskruti understood the problem of declining groundwater. Over the course of three years, Sanskruti and her team of 25 other girls started spreading awareness and generating volunteers to build water management infrastructure like trenches, rainwater harvesting systems and drip irrigation. At first, it was not easy; people didn’t believe girls should or could do the kinds of work they were promoting, and they faced opposition and discrimination from all sides. But following a heavy rainfall, the resources she and her team had built started to work, and the tide began to turn – for both water management and attitudes towards women and girls in her community.
Headline Impact
Ryan Hickman realized at age three that he didn’t like seeing discarded bottles and cans lying on the ground, so he did something about it. Hickman started collecting his family’s recyclables and then went with his dad to the local recycling center, where he got $5 for the haul. Now 13, Hickman is running his own business, called Ryan’s Recycling Company. To date, has raised more than $14,000 and helped recycle 1.5 million cans and bottles. All profits from the sale of his merchandise and recycling go to the rescue organization Pacific Marine Mammal Center.
Headline Impact
mconsultinglist.com - built and scaled management consulting resource and list site to over 10,000 college students across the world in 3 monthskalviprep.com - Cultivated strong relationships with 200+ clients and 10+ employees, generating $127,000 in sales and achieving 97.5% profit margin; Led engineering team through product lifecycle to launch “Teach Alert” app on Apple App Store and Google Play Store with 2K+ users
Headline Impact
the 10x Fund
Every standout idea can win a grant to make it real. Because for a young
person who's never had a dollar of capital, a little goes a long way.
Max grant per idea
Young founders backed
Paid directly to students
Pitch your idea
Showcase your idea at Demo Day and present it to industry experts. Demonstrate your vision, explain your solution, and make your case.
Receive funding
Outstanding ideas receive funding, mentorship, and resources to help turn potential into progress.
Build your dream
Leverage the grant to create, launch and rgrow your project - from first prortoype to real-world impact.
Past Recipients
See how grant recipients turned their ideas into real products, projects, and opportunities after receiving funding.
Ava Williams
"Receiving this grant allowed me to turn an early concept into a working product. It gave me the resources and confidence to move forward and build something with real impact."
Daniel Carter
"The funding helped me take my project from planning to execution. It opened opportunities to test ideas, improve the product, and gain valuable real-world experience throughout the journey."
Ava Williams
"Receiving this grant allowed me to turn an early concept into a working product. It gave me the resources and confidence to move forward and build something with real impact."
Daniel Carter
"The funding helped me take my project from planning to execution. It opened opportunities to test ideas, improve the product, and gain valuable real-world experience throughout the journey."
Ava Williams
"Receiving this grant allowed me to turn an early concept into a working product. It gave me the resources and confidence to move forward and build something with real impact."
Daniel Carter
"The funding helped me take my project from planning to execution. It opened opportunities to test ideas, improve the product, and gain valuable real-world experience throughout the journey."
Our industry network
We have industry mentors and experts who offer personal guidance, business advice and academic support.
These are Australia’s most experienced founders, investors and partners who show up for young people every day. Together, they open doors most students never get to walk through, turning ambition into real opportunity.
Supporting ambitious learners on their journey toward growth, opportunity, and long-term success.
Challenge Overview
Solve real-world retail challenges and create innovative solutions that shape the future of shopping.
Future of COVID19
At the height of COVID-19, young people across Australia were living through disruption they had no say in shaping. Casual work disappeared overnight, study was interrupted at the worst possible moment, and isolation stretched long enough to leave a mental health toll that outlasted the lockdowns themselves. Meanwhile the recovery was being designed almost entirely by people it would affect least.
How might we build a recovery that reflects what young people actually went through, using solutions they generate themselves?
Delivered in partnership with Futures Collective and Bridging Us
Evaluated by Industry Leaders and Visionaries
Our panel brings together experienced entrepreneurs, investors, educators, and innovators who carefully review every submission to recognize the most impactful ideas and outstanding achievements.
Ziyaan Virji is the Founder and CEO of For The Menstruator. (previously known as AASW), a global initiative of over 100 volunteers advocating for menstrual equity. For The Menstruator has served over 8500 people in 7 countries globally. They have co-designed a reusable sanitary pac, raised over $50,000 through campaigning and hosted an international Period Month collaboration with 30 organisations globally.
Ziad Ahmed is the CEO and Co-Founder of JUV Consulting, a purpose-driven Gen Z consultancy that works with clients to help them reach young people. The company has worked with over 20 Fortune 500 companies, has been profiled by the New York Times, and has established full-time offices.
Zach Latta is the co-founder and executive director of Hack Club, where he works to bring coding clubs to high schools worldwide. By the time he turned 17, Zach haddropped out of high school to work in tech and built the backend architecture for Yo – an app with more than 3 million users. Not long after, over 5 million people were using his software. Today, Hack Club provides baseline coding curriculum, software tools, and community-building training to 14,000 students in 400 high school clubs. Many of the websites or apps that members of Hack Clubs have built are on display on its site. There’s Kenko, for example, that describes itself as “shazam for food,” where you take a photo of any food and receive health insights. In 2020, Elon Musk and the Musk Foundation donated $500,000 to help expand Hack Club,[8] and donated another $1,000,000 in 2021.
Yuma Soerianto is a 5X Apple WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) scholarship and Swift Student Challenge winner. At ten years old, Yuma was the youngest scholarship winner at WWDC17. Since then, Yuma has published 10 apps, won awards for two of them and regularly speaks at international conferences. Yuma also teaches coding on the YouTube channel, Anyone Can Code. With almost 15,000 subscribers, Yuma is an inspiration for many young people out there looking to take their first steps into STEM.
Put your name on the stage
Open to students aged 10 to 18 at an Australian school, or who finished within the last year. Educators must currently work at an Australian school.
Choose Your Level of Impact
Partner with Future Minds and help create meaningful learning experiences while gaining valuable brand exposure and community recognition.
The whole awards, presented by you.
naming partner . one per year
A major presence on the night.
up to four available
Sponsor one award, with your name.
open number of awards
Trusted by Organizations Driving the Future
We're proud to collaborate with leading organizations, educational institutions, and industry partners that share our commitment to empowering the next generation of learners.
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