Keshika is a student at the University of Wollongong, a member of iAccelerate, and the founder of Cyra, a women’s health app that provides personalised insight into menstrual cycles and hormone help, with the long-term goal of breaking down medical barriers to diagnose women with PMOS (formerly PCOS) and endometriosis.  

Business Instagram:@cyra.au

Business Website: Cyra

Gemma is a proud Butchulla woman, a Rising Star Award recipient, and the founder of Raising Strong Ghundu, a culturally grounded family support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Her approach focuses on early intervention, advocacy, and strengthening families through community-led support.  

Sahil arrived in Australia with big dreams. Now he’s completed the Young Entrepreneur’s Program and won one of two Rising Star Awards. Sahil is achieving his ambitions of entrepreneurship through founding KALP, an AI powered platform where customers can turn their imagination into personalised phone cases.  

“YEP has taught me everything from managing our finances, to how to start a business, to how to have a good execution strategy.”

When Andres first moved to Australia, he struggled with the language, and feeling settled in his new home. So he created Pangea – a digital platform that helps new migrants access trusted services, employment, housing, and community, in their native language. 

“The programme has been amazing. It’s like a milestone in my life. I had the idea before starting this project, but at the same time, I didn’t feel supported. I didn’t feel confident enough to start running a business. I think without the programme, probably, it could take me another year. But now, my project is already built. This programme has encouraged me to do things beyond what I could do alone.”

Business Instagram: @pangea.australia

Business Website: Pangea App

Anubhav has built reFrame. reFrame is a personal intelligence platform that helps people understand themselves more deeply. Through an AI companion and a living personal canvas, it quietly maps who you are, where your patterns come from, and what becomes possible when you finally see them clearly. 

“Ten weeks ago, I picked up a project I had been sitting on for a long time. The King’s Trust Australia’s YEP programme gave me the structure, the time, and the push to actually build it out and pitch it.” – Anubhav

Asma is developing an online marketing and e-commerce business focused on buying and selling products through digital platforms. She plans to use content creation and targeted advertising to reach audiences and grow a scalable brand. 

Bill’s lived experiences compelled him to start Health Access Navigator, a website where individuals describe their health concerns and receive guidance on navigating the healthcare system, along with relevant questions and a pre-appointment checklist. His goal is to help Australians feel informed, prepared, and confident when handling their health. 

Bron is the founder of Tiny Tuff, a design-led home décor brand that balances child safety with modern aesthetics. The products are designed for children to use safely (or break!) while still appealing to adult living spaces. 

“It’s hard to put into words what it means to be surrounded by people who are generous with their knowledge, willing to challenge your thinking and genuinely invested in seeing you succeed.”

Business Website: Tiny Tuff

Emily has developed Highr, an app that turns hiking to trig stations into an interactive, gamified experience. She aims to make outdoor exploration more engaging, improving users’ mental health as a result.

“Thank you, The King’s Trust Australia. You change lives.”

Business Instagram: @highr.canberra

Business Website: Highr

Hamish runs Ish Stitches, a crochet business that creates artisan goods and facilitates workshops. He combines creativity and education through social, skill-based classes, focusing particularly on vulnerable and disenfranchised communities.

“The programme helped me reframe things; It’s not just about the product anymore. It’s about creating a space that supports people.”

Business Instagram: @ishstitches 

Jake is a Univserity of Wollongong student, an iAccelerate member, and the CEO of DigiWize, an engineering management platform that centralises the development stack, providing a unified, secure workspace for engineering leaders, product managers, and developers. The platform is built to optimise engineering intelligence and accelerate product velocity. 

“What made this truly special was how far it went beyond the traditional lectures I expect from an accelerator programme. Instead of just another curriculum, it built a genuine community of people who care deeply about each other and their businesses.”

Business Website: Digiwize

Julia has launched a pet photography business – Goose House Photography – that combines her passion for animals with creative photography. Through travelling to the clients’ homes and using her experience in animal handling, she captures pets at their happiest and most relaxed – creating meaningful moments for pet owners. 

Business Instagram: @goosehousephotography

Kayla is the creative force behind CartoonKayla, an art-based merchandise business. She is developing her products to sell at markets and conventions. 

Business Instagram: @cartoon_kayla

 Lara is the founder of Biodivercity Lab, a landscape design service. She integrates biodiversity into urban outdoor spaces with a focus on indigenous flora. Her work gives people the opportunity to reconnect with nature and wildlife through ecologically informed design and education.

“Beyond the practical tools and business knowledge, the biggest takeaway for me was the community. Building a business takes a whole ecosystem of people who believe in your work, challenge your ideas, and encourage you to keep moving forwards.”

Business Instagram: @biodivercitylab

Business Website: Biodivercity Lab

Lilly is using her skills and experience to found LVS Cleaning, a home-cleaning business that provides reliable, secure, and quality services to military families.  

Business Instagram: @lvs.cleaning

Lisha has created PiK.ME, a community participation platform connecting people who need practical support with nearby people willing to help. It offers flexible alternatives to traditional volunteering, strengthens belonging and community resilience, and helps rebuild the village many people no longer have around them. 

Lussa has founded Voilà Beauté, a sustainable skincare business that develops skincare from fruit waste such as orange peels and pomegranate skins. Her business combines environmental impact with natural beauty solutions. 

Mia is the founder of The ‘Money In Action’ Project, a platform designed to instill financial literacy in young Australians. The ‘Money In Action’ Project is a free, online resource to learn about budgeting, tax, superannuation, investing, and debt. Mia aims to help every young Australian become financially literate in a way that works for them.  

Nam is a University of Wollongong student, iAccelerate member, and the founder of Fresh Loop. Fresh Loop is a food-tech marketplace that facilitates businesses selling surplus food at discounted prices. The platform reduces food waste while improving access to affordable meals.  

Nargis is developing CyberSafe Connect, providing affordable cybersecurity support to small organisations. The service includes risk assessments, training, and ongoing support to improve digital safety. 

Sam is the founder of Sam’s Shears, a barbering business providing gender-affirming haircuts to regional LGBTQIA+ communities. He creates a safe and inclusive space for those who need it, demonstrating the true power of an amazing haircut in promoting confidence and wellbeing. 

Business Instagram: @sams.shears

Business Website: Sam’s Shears

Sebastian is developing a portable music production box, GRV, that allows musicians to create and collaborate anywhere. The concept aims to make music production more accessible and social. 

Val is designing a student-focused study space, Study Haven. The space will offer quiet areas, tutoring, and group learning. Val aims to improve accessibility to educational support by designing a space where students’ needs are prioritised.