NanoPitch Discovery 2025

Get inspired by discovering the next big ideas!

The University of Sydney Nano Institute's researchers are striving to make nanotechnology part of the solution to everyday problems. The NanoPitch Discovery program is structured to advance early-stage innovations from all disciplines within nanoscience and nanotechnology, enabling them to explore diverse translation pathways. At this pitching event, our researchers will present their ideas to a panel of expert judges to compete for prizes and find potential partners to increase the impact of their work. Sydney Nano's flagship event will start with a welcome & registration, followed by the NanoPitch Discovery awards, networking with drinks and canapes.

Join this event on Wednesday 24 September from 5:30pm to listen to the latest advances in nanotechnology that are driving research at the University of Sydney.

By attending this event, you will:

• Be the first to hear about the latest innovations coming out of the University of Sydney

• Have the opportunity to network with the presenters, researchers, and industry partners

• Learn more about the art of pitching

• Find your next research and commercialisation partners

Event details:

• Wednesday 24 September 2025

• 5:30pm - 8:30pm (The event will commence with a welcome & registration, followed by the pitching event and the NanoPitch Discovery awards with networking opportunities)

• Julie Wu Lecture Theatre, Room 321, Level 3, Susan Wakil Health Building (D18), Western Avenue, The University of Sydney, Camperdown

• see map

• This venue has these accessible features. Please let us know in your registration if you require further support to attend this event.

Please RSVP by 17 September for catering purposes

Pitchers:

• Prof Maryanne Large -  Silent but deadly: methane sensing with photonics

• Dr Minh Luu - DNA-guided polymer alignment for next-gen computing cooling

• Ms Sophie Cottam - Transparent Micro-Electrode Array for Enhanced In-Vitro Studies

• Dr Fengwang Li - High-efficiency, low-cost electrochemical ammonia cracker (e-cracker) for decentralised green hydrogen production

• Prof Zongwen Liu - Self-repairing high entropy oxides

• Ms Madelaine Pankhurst - Wearable, non-invasive headset for brain imaging and neuromodulation for concussion management

• Dr Aoni Xu - AI-Designed Green Ammonia for Australian Agriculture

• Prof Wojciech Chrzanowski - Skin-Nova: Nano-Healing Systems for Epidermolysis Bullosa

Judges:

• Anne O'Neill, Director, Commercialisation and Strategic Partnerships, NSW Health
  Anne has over 25 years’ experience in the health, medical research and policy sectors. She is responsible for leading the development and implementation of major policies and programs to enhance medical research capacity in NSW, and raise the profile of NSW research and development nationally and internationally. She is responsible for the NSW Medical Device Fund and NSW Commercialisation Training Program – both have been critical to accelerating the development of NSW intellectual property and the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs in NSW. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Physiology and Pharmacology) (Hons) and an Executive Masters of Public Administration.

• Rupal Ismin, Chief Operating Officer, Deteqt
  Rupal is COO of Deteqt, with a career spanning Sydney, San Francisco, and Chicago. With 15+ years scaling early-stage ventures and leadership roles across Australia and the US, she was launch Director of the Sydney Knowledge Hub ( University of Sydney), served as interim launch head of Quantum Australia, and been a board member of the Sydney Quantum Academy. She has helped ventures grow from founding one of Australia’s early ecommerce startups to senior roles in tech and research commercialisation.

• Danielle Haj-Moussa, Investment Manager, Main Sequence
  Danielle is an investor at Main Sequence Ventures, a deep-tech fund with $1B under management and investing in companies solving global challenges including decarbonising the planet, enabling the next intelligence leap, and supercharging industrial productivity. Danielle is particularly interested in how groundbreaking deep tech research can be commercialised to achieve global impact. She is deeply committed to supporting founders in their journey to commercialise technology that solves global problems and creates lasting impact. Danielle holds degrees in both Law and Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Sydney, where she was awarded the University Medal for her work on computer vision for autonomous vehicles.

Mentors:

• Dr Leong Mar, Head of Commercialisation Office

• Lisa Linssen, Ventures Advisor, Commercialisation Office

• Natasha Rawlings, Ventures Advisor, Commercialisation Office

• Jane Cockburn, Acting Director, Sydney Knowledge Hub

• Kai Man Yuen, Program Lead, INCUBATE

• Alex Romero, Associate, Main Sequence

The NanoPitch Discovery prize funding is supported by Goldman Sachs partner Zac Fletcher