We're stoked to introduce you to our newest Protostars – these 30 join the ranks and bring our community to one with 353 young people. All of whom are building, making and creating incredible things!
A special thank you to our Protostars curators for this season who helped us review 115 applications and select our top 30: Jayden Hann, Parker Constantine, Flynn Boffo, Demi Louise, Connor Wiltshire and Raian Best.
Keep reading to learn more about the people and projects we've funded this season – or click here for the slideshow version!
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Products
STEM | Brenda Hassan is creating Aout Skin, Melanin-First Skincare, a movement revolutionising Australian skincare by delivering pharmacist-developed, melanin-first solutions and empowering women of colour through science, education, and community.
ARTS X SOCIAL IMPACT| Mary Pilkinton is creating Planet Stitch Up, a clothing brand turning thrifted garments into wearable climate action posters through machine embroidery, sparking conversations about climate change.
STEM | Chaiz Frederick is developing Arina Sciences: Project Algae Milk, a sustainable alternative milk made by genetically modifying algae to produce oat starches, challenging food import reliance.
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Software & Games
STEM | Jordan Mitchell is developing Next Generation High Frequency EM Simulation Software, an accessible, GPU-accelerated tool for 3D electromagnetic simulation that rivals commercial packages and pioneers new approaches.
STEM | Michael Kibsgaard is building Mechanistic Interp Research Lab, a research initiative focused on making AI safer and more reliable by dissecting model circuits for trustworthy applications in sensitive fields.
MEDIA / STORYTELLING X COMMUNITY | Promise Akindeju is building Alcova, a retro-inspired digital village where Kiwis discover and engage with local art through communal, avatar-guided experiences and scheduled content releases.
MEDIA / STORYTELLING X ARTS | Irini Melas is developing Foodomina, a story-rich RPG where players battle mould as personified Food Girls, blending whimsical world-building with community-driven game development.
STEM X STARTUPS | Edmund Alexander is building Rintr, an AI-powered platform streamlining property management and matching renters and landlords, with deep insights and growing partnerships.
STEM | Matthew Shu is exploring the question: Does LLM recapitulate Cellular Biology? Matthew is training AI models on biological data to uncover whether they capture real cellular mechanisms.
MEDIA / STORYTELLING X ARTS | Solomon Inyang is building The Story Machine, a research-driven project developing story generator games that evoke emotion and provide meaningful player experiences.
STEM X SOCIAL IMPACT| Shreya Mukherjee is developing Kora Technology, a mission control platform for MPs' offices that automates constituent communication and aggregates data to inform policy and media.
STEM X COMMUNITY| Sam Perkins is creating Constellation, a networking platform for creatives that leverages AI to connect individuals and make unstructured creative content searchable.
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