Synbio Pitch Night

Can synthetic biology become the next biotech startup? 🧬

Join us for an evening where science meets entrepreneurship as the 2026 University of Queensland teams competing in the Australasian Synthetic Biology Challenge (ASBC) pitch their innovative research and startup concepts ahead of the national finals in Sydney.

Each team will deliver a 10-minute pitch, sharing the inspiration behind their project, their biological and genetic design, experimental findings, and vision for translating synthetic biology into real-world impact.

Presentations will be followed by live Q&A with a panel of researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals working across biotechnology and commercialisation.

Whether you're interested in biotechnology, startups, research, medicine, engineering, or simply curious about innovation, this is a fantastic opportunity to discover how scientific ideas evolve into ventures with real-world potential.

What to expect

🧬 Four exciting startup pitches from the UQ ASBC teams
🎤 Live Q&A with researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals
🏆 Vote in the People's Choice Award and help choose the audience's favourite team
💬 Networking with students, researchers, faculty, and industry over refreshments
🚀 Learn more about the Australasian Synthetic Biology Challenge and future opportunities to get involved

Event Details

📅 Date: Monday, 21 September 2026
🕕 Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
📍 Location: Goddard Building (08), Learning Theatre 139, The University of Queensland, St Lucia

Tickets

$5 Entry

All ticket proceeds will be equally distributed among the four UQ ASBC teams to help subsidise travel and accommodation costs for the national finals in Sydney. There will also be an opportunity to make an additional donation if you wish to further support the teams.

Come along to support student innovation, meet Queensland's next generation of biotech entrepreneurs, and experience how synthetic biology is shaping the future.