Celebrating the Innovators of Tomorrow: The 2025 Teens in Business Awards
What do you get when you combine creativity, determination, and a spark of entrepreneurial genius? You get the remarkable young people behind the 2025 Teens in Business Awards!
At Young Change Agents we’re shining a spotlight on the next generation of business leaders, teens aged 10 to 18, who are turning big ideas into impactful ventures. From eco-friendly startups to community-focused initiatives, these young changemakers are showing that you don’t need to wait to make a difference.
Meet the Judges
Our guest judges played a pivotal role in selecting the winners, and their combined experience, knowledge, and passion made them the perfect mentors for our young nominees. Let’s take a moment to appreciate their contributions:
Bek Laksy - Esparq Ventures
Murray Hurps - UTS Startups
Mitchell Hughes - NextGen Ventures
Kirstin Hunter - Birchal
Adam Milgrom - Giant Leap
Katie Zaba - Infosys
Ben Weinberger - Giant Leap
Dom Pym - Euphemia
Bree Kirkham - F5 Collective
Margaret O’Brien - CEO and Co-Founder of Young Change Agents
Their thoughtful deliberation and heartfelt engagement with the nominees added depth to the event and inspired everyone in attendance.
Meet the 2025 Teens in Business Awards Finalists
Teenpreneur of the Year Finalists
I Heart Hoops by Amy Manole: @ihearthoops__ noticed that young female athletes didn’t have many ways to express their love for basketball beyond the court. Through I Heart Hoops, she designed and sells basketball-inspired jewellery that combines style and empowerment. Her pieces have reached customers across the world - from Australia to France and Taiwan - and her organic social media content has built a community of over 22,000 followers who celebrate her mission to help girls wear their passion proudly.
DecNova Engineering PTY. LTD. (SolarNova) by Daniel Cox: SolarNova is a revolutionary ag-tech innovation that uses concentrated sunlight to destroy weeds without the need for chemicals or fuel. Over the past year, he’s followed a structured, research-driven approach - developing prototypes, conducting field trials, and engaging with farmers to validate the system’s potential. His vision for a cleaner, more sustainable farming industry is supported by data, science, and an unshakable commitment to innovation.
Shot by Nic by Nicholas Marinoni Hanrahan: @shot.by.nic combined his love of photography and sport to launch Shot by Nic, capturing authentic sporting moments for young athletes. He’s created a platform that gives emerging players professional-quality images at accessible prices, celebrating every milestone and victory with creativity and energy.
STEMinists by Mukhter Jamshed: Through STEMinists, Mukhter is on a mission to make STEM accessible, engaging, and empowering for young women and girls. His initiative offers educational workshops and resources that encourage female students to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics without fear or barriers. By addressing the gender gap in STEM, Mukhter is fostering confidence, curiosity, and equality - proving that advocacy and education can be powerful tools for change.
Excelsior by Hannes Ennemann: Hannes is combining his curiosity about science and sustainability with a passion for space exploration through his venture, Excelsior. His business concept focuses on space recycling and resource recovery, exploring ways to make future missions more efficient and environmentally responsible. By tackling the challenge of waste in orbit, Hannes is looking ahead to a cleaner and more sustainable future in space - one where innovation and care for our environment reach beyond Earth.
Magnificent by James Huang & Darren Candra: @magnificent.solutions is a youth-led creative agency supporting small businesses and non-profits with branding, digital design, and marketing. Their collaborative approach helps clients grow their digital presence while giving other young creatives the opportunity to build real-world experience. By turning passion for design into purpose, Magnificent is showing that when young people work together, they can deliver professional results with fresh ideas and community impact.
Commend by Joshua King: Commend is an app designed to bring positivity into schools by making it easier for students to share kind words and celebrate one another’s achievements. His idea was born out of a desire to boost wellbeing and connection in learning communities. With a strong focus on user experience and inclusivity, Joshua is proving that technology can build stronger, kinder school cultures.
Tweenpreneur of the Year Finalists
Grounded Beauty by Ayla Armanwood: @grounded.beauty.co is a handmade skincare business built around sustainability and self-care. Her products use natural ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging, encouraging young people to be mindful about what they put on their skin and into the world. Through markets and local events, Ayla has turned her passion for creativity and eco-living into a growing small business that promotes both confidence and care for the planet.
Chocolate Vault by Dina, Trinity, Lorin & Georgia: this team of young entrepreneurs worked together to create Chocolate Vault, a deliciously fun business built on teamwork, creativity, and enterprise learning. Their business sells handmade chocolates, teaching them valuable skills in budgeting, marketing, and customer service. What started as a classroom idea has grown into a real business experience that highlights the joy and confidence that come from turning ideas into something tangible - and sweet!
iCare / Author & The Community Volunteer by Roy Mahajan: Roy’s projects combine innovation, empathy, and social awareness. Through iCare, he developed an app that helps users protect their eyes from digital strain - a problem affecting students and professionals alike. Alongside this, his work as The Community Volunteer focuses on writing, advocacy, and community service initiatives that inspire kindness and collective responsibility. Roy’s entrepreneurial journey shows that age is no limit when it comes to solving real-world challenges with compassion and creativity.
Beads of Grace by Cooper Hayes: began as a way to spread kindness and hope. He creates handmade beaded bracelets, each one representing a story of positivity and support for others. His jewellery has been sold at community events and fundraisers, inspiring others to give back while celebrating creativity. Cooper’s venture reminds us that small acts of kindness can spark big change.
Digital Boss of the Year Finalists
The Essentials by Lucy & Sofia: a digital platform that provides simple, accessible resources for wellness and productivity. Their goal is to help young people manage daily challenges by offering practical tools and advice. Through teamwork and design thinking, they’re using technology to make self-care both achievable and empowering.
From Beyond by Alice Footer: helps families preserve memories and share stories through AI-assisted video storytelling. The platform uses digital tools to record and store family histories, bridging generations through authentic, meaningful connections. Alice is combining technology and empathy to ensure every voice - young or old - can be remembered and celebrated.
Trendsetter by Tiffany Lee: a gamified productivity platform that helps users track habits, moods, and progress in a fun and interactive way. By blending wellbeing with digital design, she’s encouraging users to take charge of their goals while building self-awareness and consistency. Her project demonstrates how technology can empower positive daily habits and foster long-term growth.
Own It! by Gabby, Claudia, Dani & Riona: the team created a digital platform focused on confidence, empowerment, and individuality. Through blogs, videos, and interactive tools, they encourage teens to celebrate who they are and support one another online. Their work shows how technology can be used to build positivity, community, and self-belief in the digital world.
Message Scheduler by Luisa Anyango: a tool that helps users plan and send messages automatically to improve communication and time management. Her project reflects her passion for using innovation to simplify everyday tasks. By focusing on organisation and collaboration, Luisa is showing how small digital solutions can make a big impact.
SavrScan by Tia & Penny: helps households and businesses track expiry dates, scan groceries, and reduce food waste. Their idea was inspired by seeing how much food is lost due to poor tracking systems. By combining smart scanning technology with sustainability, they’re helping people make environmentally conscious choices in their everyday lives.
Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists
Legend Bound by Sherlock & Charlie: a two-player card game designed to promote social connection, strategic thinking, and fun. The game is inclusive for players with physical disabilities and encourages collaboration and creativity through play. Their project shows how innovation and inclusion can go hand in hand - using play to bring people together.
Pearl Dream Painting & Captivating Canvas by Alliyah Bromell: @pearldreampainting Alliyah’s twin ventures - Pearl Dream Painting and Captivating Canvas - blend art, culture, and education to celebrate First Nations creativity and connection. Through her artwork, she shares stories that highlight Indigenous identity and has collaborated with local councils, schools, and organisations such as Surfest and the Port of Newcastle. Alliyah’s artistry continues to build bridges between generations, communities, and cultures.
Jazzy’s Native Tea by Jaxon Moore, Jake Irwin & Zauriella Piper: the team behind Jazzy’s Native Tea are blending ancient ingredients with modern innovation. Their business introduces Australians to native herbs and flavours through a fun, bubble-tea-style twist. Their idea brings together culture, sustainability, and entrepreneurship - proving that traditional knowledge can inspire modern success.
Choo Choo Designs by Kira Turner: @choochoodesigns was born from her love of culture, creativity, and community. She designs handmade accessories and artwork that celebrate First Nations identity while supporting flood recovery efforts in Lismore. Kira’s work demonstrates how cultural pride and creativity can uplift communities and inspire others to embrace their roots.
Bunji by Ebony Ballantyne & Rakel Hywood: Ebony and Rakel founded Bunji to celebrate culture and create positive social impact. Their business sells t-shirts and jumper that feature the empowering message “We Are the Children of the Stars,” with profits helping to donate books to children in remote Aboriginal communities. Through this project, they’re promoting literacy, pride, and belonging.
Impact Boss of the Year Finalists
VermiVault by Nazeer Naqvi: turns organic waste into nutrient-rich compost through a system designed for communities, schools, and small businesses. Over the past two months, his team has conducted research, user interviews, and multiple prototype trials exploring worm habitats, airflow systems, and waste input methods. The resulting compost reduces landfill, cuts emissions, and enriches local gardens and parks. Nazeer’s early-stage work in vermicomposting demonstrates a clear pathway to scalable sustainability and collective climate action.
Be Loud and Queer by Imogen O’Shannessy: @be.loud.and.queer a platform celebrating identity, inclusivity, and self-expression. Since launching, it has grown into a community of over 120 followers with 35 published posts, seven of which share powerful personal stories that challenge stereotypes and promote understanding. Beyond social media, Imogen has represented her project at seven public events and hosted charity competitions supporting queer causes. Her impact lies not just in awareness but in fostering belonging - one story, post, and event at a time.
True Talks with Taylor by Taylor Oliver: @truetalkswithtaylor brings motivational speaking and wellbeing workshops directly to students. Her talks on self-confidence and mindset have reached more than 3,000 students, with over 10,000 Instagram views showcasing her message of authenticity and growth. Feedback from schools describes her sessions as “the best talk students have ever received,” with young audiences leaving inspired and equipped with practical tools for self-belief. Taylor is now developing a course series that extends her impact beyond the stage and into classrooms nationwide.
ReWood & Resin by Liam Phillips: by transforming discarded wood into handcrafted gifts, he promotes sustainability while raising awareness for disability inclusion. Living with a visual impairment, Liam has turned his personal challenge into a source of creativity and purpose - donating profits from market sales to Blind Sports WA and proving that entrepreneurship can empower and inspire. His products have been showcased at local markets, reflecting growing community support and meaningful environmental impact.
DriveLab by Ryan Dhanju: to help learner drivers gain confidence in a safe, off-road environment before hitting real roads. His idea responds to a major gap in driver education, offering a structured range for learners to practise parking, braking, and navigation. Ryan has conducted interviews with learners, parents, and instructors to design a course that meets real needs and improves safety outcomes. His goal is to build Australia’s first dedicated learning track for young drivers - combining education, confidence, and innovation in one.
Treet by Amara Ganglani: Amara’s wellbeing app Treet helps young people improve their mental health while supporting the planet. The app tracks users’ movement and plants a real tree for every 150,000 steps - promoting physical activity, connection, and environmental impact. Using insights from over 120 survey responses (where 82% of teens reported stress and 74% said they’d exercise more if it benefited the environment), Amara validated her model and secured a pilot partnership with Methodist Ladies’ College. After being accepted into the iGen Youth Pre-Accelerator Program, she continues developing Treet into a scalable social enterprise that could plant over 2.4 million trees each year.
Regional or Rural Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists
Virtual Vet by Britney Tarrant: a life-changing service designed for the bush. Built to operate 24/7 even offline or through SMS it connects farmers with professional vets anytime, anywhere. The platform includes an AI photo checker for early diagnosis and a relief chat to support farmers in crisis. Britney’s journey began at a local GLO Sisters entrepreneurial workshop, where she pitched solo and won - leading her to represent her business at conferences like the UNE Hack Summit.
Golf Mates by Billy, Jesse, Tom: their digital platform helps players find partners based on location, skill level, and availability, making every round more social and inclusive. After validating their concept through market research - with 70% of surveyed golfers saying they struggle to find playing partners - they built and tested an app prototype with real users. The team has since built an online presence on Instagram and TikTok, attracting early adopters and refining features through community feedback.
Cloudy Creations by Isabella Stefani & Jade Cahoon: brings handmade self-care to regional Victoria with natural, affordable beauty products like lip scrubs and hair mists. Their goal is to make wellness accessible to everyone while giving back - donating 100% of their $1,978 profit to Ronald McDonald House Charities. With plans to expand online, Cloudy Creations continues to blend self-care with social good, proving that kindness and entrepreneurship can grow side by side.
StorySteps by Layla Knight, Emma Walkington & Asher Dickson: helps young students understand and embrace inclusion through education about disabilities. The team delivers free school workshops, funded by sales of their merchandise - from books to headphones - that make learning both fun and meaningful. Their project has reached schools across Queensland, using storytelling to teach empathy and accessibility.
Plant Pilot by Angus Rae: founded to make farming more sustainable for both the planet and the people behind it. His venture focuses on increasing crop yields through data-driven soil monitoring and smarter irrigation techniques, helping small farms stay profitable amid rising costs. His mission is simple - help farmers thrive while making sustainability a cornerstone of rural innovation.
Cozy Crochet by Afsheen Habib: is a creative social enterprise using craft to improve mental wellbeing. She provides ready-to-start crochet kits and handmade plushies that help teens manage stress and anxiety through mindful making. After showcasing her products at community markets in Townsville, Afsheen has built a supportive local following.
Roxza Clothing by Fallon Robinson: is shaking up the trades industry with Roxza Clothing, a fashion-forward workwear brand that’s functional, durable, and designed to empower. Her line features high-vis hoodies, cargo jeans, and steel-toe sneakers that bring style to industrial wear without compromising safety. She’s already registered her business and begun sourcing manufacturing partners.
Pivoting Pioneer of the Year Finalists
Citrus by Isaac Fewster: @real.itscitrus is revolutionising beachwear, Citrus introduces colour-changing swimwear that’s anything but ordinary. Their interactive shorts and hats transform based on temperature, making them both fun and unique. Plus, for every order, Citrus now donates profits towards removing 1kg of plastic from our oceans, a mission as impactful as their designs. Citrus is revolutionising beachwear, Citrus introduces colour-changing swimwear that’s anything but ordinary. Their interactive shorts and hats transform based on temperature, making them both fun and unique. Plus, for every order, Citrus now donates profits towards removing 1kg of plastic from our oceans, a mission as impactful as their designs.
Money Magic - Benny the Penny Saving Bear by Sasha King: Benny the Penny Saving Bear is an AI-powered teddy bear that will grow with children, teaching essential money concepts like saving, spending, budgeting, and financial literacy in a fun and engaging way. Money Magic is set to shape financially savvy kids for a brighter future.
Youth Minds Collective (YouCo) by Team entry: YouCo is tackling the cluttered chaos of school lockers with innovative modular inserts. Customisable and adjustable, these inserts will ensure students can organise their belongings, especially valuable blazers and hats, while adapting to different locker spaces year after year.
Hive then Honey by Jibril Zahra: Fighting the devastating varroa mite, Hive Then Honey has begun prototyping a chemical-free device that lures and traps these pests, protecting bee colonies and preserving the integrity of honey, wax, and wood. Their solution is a win for bees and the planet!
Youth Entrepreneurship Mentor of the Year Finalists
Sam Lloyd-Green - Cisco: Sam has mentored dozens of young people through Young Change Agents (YINC - Youth Incubator), Cisco’s MentorMe program, and QUT’s Sport Innovation ProtoComps. He led Cisco’s Queensland YINC involvement, mentoring First Nations students to create social enterprises tackling local issues. “My goal is simple - to help young people see possibility in themselves, then give them the confidence and tools to act on it.”
Patrick Darcy - batyr: Patrick has mentored the Jail Break Phone team since their completion of the Youth Mental Health Design Challenge in 2024, empowering young voices to shape the future of youth mental health solutions. With his support, the Jail Break team validated their idea through an overwhelming survey response and began taking the next steps to grow their business. “I was so blown away by the brilliant young minds I got to work with - I was learning from them just as much as they were learning from me.”
Diane Thompson - Uni SA: Diane initially signed up to run a Masterclass session on finance but stayed on to mentor the students with great feedback from all involved. “It was a great experience to both present and mentor in the YINC program at Seaton High School. The vibe was fantastic and some great ideas and dialogue from all the student groups... I feel sure that the students will continue achieving great things!”
Peter Mai - Cisco: Peter is a serial mentor, having mentored in both the First Nations Native Foods YINC (Youth Incubator) and the Diversity & Inclusion YINC - the second of which included a four-hour round car trip. This commitment to volunteering to mentor students in two programs in quick succession and the extremely positive feedback from the teams and facilitators makes him a very worthy finalist.
Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year Finalists
Lenka Bassham, Cape Naturaliste College: Lenka has embedded entrepreneurship into the classroom, empowering her students to turn creative ideas into real-world ventures. Through programs like $20 Boss and YINC, she’s guided learners in exploring sustainability, teamwork, and innovation - helping them develop confidence and practical business skills.
Nicolette Wheaton, The Glennie School: Nicolette inspires her students to think like changemakers, leading programs that combine enterprise education with empathy and design thinking. She’s helped students create projects that tackle real-world issues, building a generation of young problem solvers who are unafraid to take initiative.
Matthew Radojevic, Strathmore North Primary School: Matthew brings creativity and collaboration into every classroom project, guiding students through the full entrepreneurial journey - from ideation to market day. His students have developed strong financial literacy and teamwork skills, gaining early exposure to innovation through hands-on learning.
Hamish Russack, Christies Beach High School: Hamish has championed inclusive enterprise learning by linking business education to local culture and creativity. He supports students in expressing identity and innovation through community-based projects, helping them see entrepreneurship as a tool for empowerment.
Emma Hart, Balmoral State High School: Emma leads by example, integrating entrepreneurship and STEM into her teaching to inspire curiosity and innovation. Her leadership in digital and enterprise education has encouraged students to explore how their skills can drive meaningful change in their communities.
Kiara Schonberger, St Aloysius College: Kiara makes innovation accessible for every student, introducing design thinking and enterprise projects across year levels. Her hands-on approach builds creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills while nurturing a culture of collaboration and curiosity.
Jasmine Jones, Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College: Jasmine empowers students to combine business with purpose, mentoring teams that create ventures addressing social and environmental challenges. Her students’ projects have demonstrated empathy, creativity, and real-world impact under her guidance.
Kim Snooks, Djerriwarrh Community College: Kim integrates entrepreneurship into everyday learning, showing students that innovation and creativity belong in every subject. Through experiential activities and applied learning, she’s helped her students gain confidence, independence, and employability skills for life beyond school.
That’s a wrap…
Congratulations again to our 2025 Finalists!
If you’re interested in partnering with Young Change Agents for the 2025 Teens in Business Awards or would like to support these young entrepreneurs, please reach out to hello@youngchangeagents.com