THE 2025 TEENS IN BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS
Teenpreneur of the Year Award | Winner
DecNova Engineering - 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.
Teenpreneur of the Year Award | Runner Up
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.
Teenpreneur of the Year Award Finalists
I Heart Hoops - Amy Manole
Magnificent - James and Darren
Excelsior - Hannes Enneman
Sticky-aid - Emma Boyd
Shot by Nic - Nicholas Hanrahan
STEMinists - Mukther Jamshed
Tweenpreneur of the Year Award | Winner
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.
Tweenpreneur of the Year Award | One to Watch
iCare by Roy Mahajan
An innovative app designed to help users protect their eyes from digital strain. Recognising how much time young people spend on screens, Roy developed a simple, practical solution that reminds users to take breaks and practise healthy screen habits. His idea blends technology with wellbeing, aiming to reduce the impact of digital fatigue while promoting mindfulness and self-care.
Tweenpreneur of the Year Award Finalists
The Community Volunteer - Roy Mahajan
Chocolate Vault - Dina, Trinity, Lorin, and Georgia
Beads of Grace - Cooper Hayes
Digital Boss of the Year Award | Winner
From Beyond by Alice Footer
From Beyond 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.
Digital Boss of the Year Award Finalists
The Essentials - Lucy & Sofia
Trendsetter - Tiffany Lee
Own It! - Gabby, Claudia, Dani & Riona
Message Scheduler - Luisa Anyango
SavrScan - Tia & Penny
Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year Award | Joint Winner
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.
Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year Award | Joint Winner
Jazzy’s Native Tea by Jaxon, Jake, & Zauriella
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.
Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year Award Finalists
Legend Bound - Sherlock and Charlie
Pearl Dream Painting & Captivating Canvas - Alliyah Bromell
Bunji - Ebony Ballantyne & Rakel Hywood
Impact Boss of the Year Award | Winner
Treet by Amara Ganglani
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.
Impact Boss of the Year Award Finalists
VermiVault - Nazeer Naqvi
Be Loud and Queer - Imogen O’Shannessy
True Talks with Taylor - Taylor Oliver
DriveLab - Ryan Dhanju
ReWood & Resin - Liam Phillips
Regional or Rural Entrepreneur of the Year | Winner
Virtual Vet by Britney Tarrant
Virtual Vet is 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 - Billy, Jesse, Tom
Cloudy Creations - Isabella Stefani & Jade Cahoon
StorySteps - Layla Knight, Emma Walkington & Asher Dickson
Plant Pilot - Angus Rae
Cozy Crochet - Afsheen Habib
Roxza Clothing - Fallon Robinson
Regional or Rural Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists
Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year Award | Joint Winner
Kim Snooks from 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.
Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year Award | Joint Winner
Nicolette Wheaton from 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.
Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year Award | One To Watch
KIARA SCHONBERGER FROM 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.
Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year Award Finalists
Matthew Radojevic - Strathmore North Primary School
Hamish Russack - Christies Beach High School
Emma Hart - Balmoral State High School
Jasmine Jones - Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College
Youth Entrepreneurship Mentor of the Year Award | Winner
Sam Lloyd-Green from 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.
Youth Entrepreneurship Mentor of the Year Finalists
Patrick Darcy – batyr
Diane Thompson – Uni SA
Peter Mai – Cisco