National Grand Final 2024 – Pitch Winners revealed

Published 25 November 2024

E-Scooter Trailers from Brisbane State Secondary College was crowned the winner of the Future Anything National Grand Final 2024 at a high-profile event broadcast live from The Triffid in Brisbane last week.

In the culmination of Future Anything’s Activate 2024 program, eight teams of school-age entrepreneurs pitched their innovative, scalable and sustainable social enterprise ideas live on stage, before facing tough questions from judges Alana Kennedy (Founder and CEO of Ochre Sun , Chrisanthi Demos (Publishing Manager at InQueensland Media) and doctor and lawyer, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM

The event was generously supported by Major Partner the Queensland Government though the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and a host of epic organisations who contributed prizes to support the school-age entrepreneurs.

On announcing the pitching winners, Dinesh Palipana said “ “It was an amazing group of pitches and it was a very difficult decision, but we all agreed that solving important problems with both simplicity and a bit of sass is always good.” 

E-Scooter Trailers was crowned Future Anything Grand Final 2024 winner, taking out a prize package worth more than $35,000. Founder Alexander is a student at Brisbane South State Secondary College. His prize pack included a cash prize of $2500 plus a business growth support package from Social Impact Hub, an extensive brand identity development package from Made by James, personal brand support from Be Social Be Smart, financial coaching from CFO Plus. Alexander will also enjoy a Discovery Day with Advance Queensland at The Precinct and inclusion in the 2025 cohort of YouthX, Australia’s only accelerator program for school-age entrepreneurs.

Built using carbon fibre, the patented Carbon Cart increases safety by reducing crashes from overloaded e-scooters, helping riders transport groceries and other goods safely and easily.

Congratulating Alexander on his win, Dinesh commented “You’ve considered so many different factors, and you’ve got a plan, and I think this is something that could really work. I loved it!”

Judge Chrisanthi Demos added “E-Scooter Trailers is an amazing idea with incredible through that’s gone into it. And it was an incredible pitch too. The research and work that Alexander had done to put together a business plan and costings, combined with a bit of sass, are really important parts of entrepreneurialism.”

Safe Surf from Matthew Flinders Anglican College took out the Grand Final Runner Up spot with their innovative inflatable rash vest and a wristband that boosts surfer and swimmer safety at the beach.

Their prizes include $1500, a Discovery Day with the team at QUT Entrepreneurship, a mentoring package with Greater Outcomes and personal brand support from Be Social Be Smart, financial coaching from CFO Plus and including in the YouthX 2025 cohort.

This award was particularly notable, as Safe Surf are the first-ever Primary school team to pitch in the Future Anything National Grand Final.

Announcing their win, judge Alana Kennedy said “It was a very tough decision.  We chose Safe Surf as the Grand Final Runner Up because we really want great ambassadors coming out of our country and we really felt this team will become great ambassadors globally, and we really see promise in this business.” 

The Highly Commended spot went to Kikjabs from MacGregor State High School. Founder Fakiha’s idea for branded, comfortable hijabs are designed to empower girls and promote inclusivity in sport.

Fakiha took home $500, and can look forward to a Discovery Day with the Queensland Social Enterprise Council and a host of other prizes to help pursue her entrepreneurial journey.

The pitches weren’t the only feature of the Future Anything National Grand Final 2024. The event also celebrated eighteen teams of school-age entrepreneurs who shared their social enterprise ideas in the 2024 Showcase. Read more about the Future Anything National Grand Final Showcase winners here.

The Grand Finalists’ enterprises were developed as part of Future Anything’s Activate in-school entrepreneurship program, which tasks school-age students to create innovative, sustainable and scalable businesses that solve the problems that matter to them. Finalist teams were selected from over 280 applications from schools across Australia and NZ in a series of competitive live National Semi Finals held in October.

In addition to showcasing the best student-led social enterprises, the Future Anything National Grand Final celebrated the teachers who have led  entrepreneurial thinking in their classrooms with the second Future Anything Educator Awards 2024. Read more about the winners here.

Reflecting on the event, Nicole Dyson, CEO & Founder of Future Anything, said “We know schools have a really crowded curriculum with lots of competing demands, and the educators and school leaders that work with us through Activate take a chance on doing learning a little bit differently for the benefit of our young people. I send a huge thank to them all for backing us.”

Nic added “All of tonight’s teams have shown us the very real impact this can have, and we can’t wait to support them in their next steps of their enterprising journeys.”

Watch the pitches from the Future Anything National Grand Final 2024 on YouTube here.