10 startups. 6 weeks of growth. 1 chance to showcase it all.

Join us for an exciting evening as we celebrate the bold ideas and entrepreneurial spirit emerging from Swinburne students, staff, and alumni through the Luminate program.

After six weeks in Swinburne Innovation Studio’s Luminate program, 10 teams are stepping into the spotlight. They’ve refined their startup ideas, tested their thinking, and now they’re ready to pitch live.

You’ll hear fresh ideas solving real-world problems, connect with founders, industry and the startup community, and witness the energy that drives early-stage innovation at Swinburne.

2025 Luminate Program Line-up:

Telesma - Founder: Alexander Alexopoulos, Swinburne Student
Agile Electronics - Founder: Alexandra Louise Uitdenbogerd, Swinburne Student
Abundant Learning Hub - Founder: Arabel Lim, Swinburne Alumni
Synaptis - Founders: Dr. Natalie Ann Grima, A/Prof Matthew Pase, Swinburne Alumni
NaviDoor - Founders: Mahbuba Jerin, Md Sarowar Hossain, Dr Muhammad Hasan, Swinburne Student
GymQuest XR - Founders: Binh Minh Le, Supitcha Wawworavit, Swinburne Student
TriggerTrace - Founder: Narendra Shukla, Swinburne Student
TouchGreen - Founders: Quentin Bechet, Melissa Mellado-Ruiz, Rory Didelin
StudyFlow - Founder: Samuella Virnik, Swinburne Student
Upgrid - Founders: Zachary Schade, Nicholas Dobie, Swinburne Student

Meet the Judges:

Our esteemed judges bring a wealth of experience from across academia and the innovation space. They’ve helped shape successful startups, advanced scientific discoveries, and driven industry growth. Meet the experts who will be selecting the winners of Luminate Showcase Night:

Professor Enzo Palombo, Acting Executive Dean, School of Science, Computing and Emerging Technologies at Swinburne

Professor Enzo Palombo is an experienced academic leader with deep expertise in microbiology, research design, and scientific innovation. With a career spanning research, teaching, and senior leadership in higher education, he is committed to translating science into real-world impact. Professor Enzo Palombo holds a BSc (Hons) and PhD in Microbiology from La Trobe University and brings a strong focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, data-driven research, and fostering the next generation of STEM innovators.

Audrey Jean-baptiste, Head of Commercial Programs & Operations at Swinburne Innovation Studio

Audrey has spent the past 10 years growing entrepreneurship ecosystems across Australia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands through leadership roles at Climate Salad, ygap, and Telstra. Her work brings together innovators, government, industry, and capital providers to design, deliver, and scale impactful programs with a focus on technology and sustainability. With degrees in Science, Commerce, and Environment, she’s passionate about using innovation and commercial strategies to tackle complex challenges.

Marijn Kortekaas, Programs and Partnerships Lead at the Product Bus

Marijn is a 25-year commercial and operational veteran, having previously worked at Nike and coming with extensive experience in scaling start-ups across healthcare, sports, retail, and hospitality globally. He was instrumental in growing health tech start-up Physitrack from MVP to IPO, and has worked extensively with founders focusing on GTM strategies, international expansion, and setting up commercial functions. Originally from The Netherlands, Marijn has an innate passion for partnerships-driven growth and brings a strong global perspective, aided by speaking five languages.

Agenda:

5pm – 5.30pm: Arrival and check in
5.30pm – 5.45pm: Welcome
5.45pm – 7pm: Showcases
7pm – 7.15pm: Judging session
7.15pm – 7.30pm: Winner’s announcement
7.30pm – 8.15pm: Networking (light food and drinks provided)

This event is free, but spaces are limited and fill up quickly. Reserve your spot now to secure your seat.

See you there! 👋