Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia
And the winners are....
Announcing our Spark Tank 2023 Winning Teams
CONGRATULATIONS to our five winning teams who pitched to a full house at Pittwater RSL Auditorium on October 21st. Such an inspiring group of young people!! This year Share the Spark awarded $15,200 in cash and prizes to our five winning teams.
15 - 23 Age group Winners
Watergate Labs NitroNet w/ Benjamin and Oliver
Disability Support Pillow w/ Sahara and Austin
8 - 14 Age group Winners
Wet Dry Wipes w/ Georgia, Ivy, Giselle and Alice
Soap on the Go w/ Willow, Libby, Sadie and Livia
Rescue Dog Matching App w/ Cade and Alex
Brand Package Award - Watergate Labs NitroNet and Wet Dry Wipes received a professional branding package worth $3000 each from Relax Brand Design.
Young Wisdom will be coaching and prepping our finalist teams and helping them get ready for their pitches on the big day. That means that finalist teams are already winners with over $3200 in coaching packages!
Young Wisdom is a social enterprise based in Sydney, Australia, working with schools wanting to nurture and support their innovative and entrepreneurial students. Our unique approach ensures a balance between educational and commercial outcomes, as well as promoting student wellbeing. Ask us about our work at Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College and for the James Ruse Agricultural High School Foundation to see how your school could benefit from identifying and nurturing creative problem solvers in your student population and broader community.
Shahe Momdjian is the founder and director of Young Wisdom Pty Ltd, working with schools to create innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives, and Metamorph Marketing, a communications consultancy he launched in 2012. He has additionally worked at Deloitte, UNSW Founders and Western Sydney University, the latter two in entrepreneurship support and education roles. Through his businesses and jobs, he has worked with hundreds of leaders in early-stage startups, small businesses, enterprises and educational institutions. Pitch coaching is one of his favourite passions, and his down-to-earth, fast-paced and practical coaching sessions help you get the best possible results from upcoming presentations. Shahe was born and raised on the Northern Beaches and is married with two young daughters. They are a big part of his motivation to support initiatives like ours.
James Smith has worked with Young Wisdom Pty Ltd since 2015, bringing his highly engaging and entertaining coaching style to students of public speaking across a range of startup, university and corporate innovation clients. Equally comfortable working with students (from primary school to post-grad), academics, professionals and executives, James brings perspectives informed by his 10+ years as a founder, coach and adjudicator running the leading debating and public speaking education company for NSW school students between 2007 and 2019. With James’ guidance, your students will feel empowered and energised to implement a range of new speaking techniques to significantly improve their comfort on stage and their impact on their audience. James was born and raised on the Northern Beaches and currently lives in Elanora Heights.
Meet the 2023 'Sparks' Panel Judges
Neil Webster – Solutions Architect
Michelle McDonald - Founder and Marketing Executive Offleash Marketing
Michelle McDonald - Founder and Marketing Executive Offleash Marketing
Neil has been CEO of Mills Group for the past 8 years, working with many of Australia’s best known retailers and brands across a wide range of products and services.
Outside of his most important role as a husband and father of 3 boys, his other passion is football (soccer) and he is involved with his local club as vice-president, coach and player.
Neil is also the Finance Director for Share the Spark.
Michelle McDonald - Founder and Marketing Executive Offleash Marketing
Michelle McDonald - Founder and Marketing Executive Offleash Marketing
Michelle McDonald - Founder and Marketing Executive Offleash Marketing
A purpose-driven Marketing, Brand and Communications Leader with a track record for innovation, enterprise transformation, building brand equity and driving sustainable growth.
Michelle has led marketing, brand and engagement teams at two of Australia’s leading universities. Most recently, she has run her own marketing consultancy, working as a trusted strategic advisor to CEO/COOs, Boards and Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) across diverse sectors including Higher Education, Technology, Mining, Travel, and NFP.
Out of the office she has raised awareness, funds and food donations for the hungry. She has actively supported military families in Australia and the United States who have been separated from, or have lost loved ones in the service of their country. In 2022, she was awarded the United States Army Meritorious Public Service Medal.
Michelle is a Certified Practicing Marketer (CPM) with the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) and a previous mentor in AMI’s Emerging Marketers program. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcdonaldmichelle/
Tom McCutcheon – Banking Technology
Michelle McDonald - Founder and Marketing Executive Offleash Marketing
Tom McCutcheon – Banking Technology
Tom is currently at NAB building banking technology systems.
He has experience in "venture capital" teams and did work with larger startups and made investments in a few. Tom has reviewed business plans, mentored companies on opportunities, and helped them work in the corporate world.
He has three talented young people in his family and is a keen sailor, exploring the world for a year with his family on a catamaran.
Paul Wood – Solutions Architect
Barbara Jordan - Z Zuruch Foundation Engagement Manager
Tom McCutcheon – Banking Technology
Paul is a problem-solving web expert with over 20 years in the industry, architecting and developing software in operational and management roles. Since 2002 he has founded and built 2 web development companies to help small and medium sized businesses use the web and web-based systems to their advantage. Through his business he enjoys developing and encouraging the gifts in his employees, working on startup products and partnering with experts in their field to see their vision come to life by creating online software using the latest technologies
As a family man and active community member, Paul loves seeing the potential in kids activated and encouraged through sport and any initiative utilising their gifts and interests.
Paul proposed the idea for Spark Tank in 2019.
Barbara Jordan - Z Zuruch Foundation Engagement Manager
Barbara Jordan - Z Zuruch Foundation Engagement Manager
Barbara Jordan - Z Zuruch Foundation Engagement Manager
Barbara is a dedicated and result-driven professional with international experience. With her background in communications, her interlinked thinking, and her interest in societal and ecological topics she identifies activities and positions that add value to the business, its employees, customers, and its wider environment.
Barbara has experience in developing thought leadership positions through effective communication and leveraging networks and partnerships. She supports charities in the APAC region and is excited to be part of the Spark Tank panel so she can share her many talents with young entrepreneurs.
Simon Holloway – HOC Vegepod
Barbara Jordan - Z Zuruch Foundation Engagement Manager
Barbara Jordan - Z Zuruch Foundation Engagement Manager
Simon is Head of Community at Vegepod Global. He is also a previous winner of Austrailan Shark Tank, so he knows the ropes from inside! Simon was part of the Vegepod team since the very beginning when they were local to Terrey Hills. Since then it’s been fantastic to watch them grow locally and internationally.
Simon beleives it’s hard to find a better industry than gardening. It invariably makes people happy and healthy, both in body and mind. That in turn makes him stoked. Their idea for Vegepod has made edible gardening available to absolutely everyone, in any location, whatever the abode, every single day and without fail.
Simon is keen to see what amzaing ideas this years Spark Tank entrants have in store for us!
ConGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2022 WINNInG TEams!
2022 Spark Tank Winners
Share the Spark Inc. is pleased to announce the winners who made their business pitch at our live Spark Tank Event in the Glen Street Theatre, Belrose on October 13, 2022.
It was a very hard call for the judges to pick their teams to sponsor as all the presentations were superb. Congratulations to all the young entrepreneurs who pitched at the event!
Pitches in age category one (8-15 year olds):
Cooper T, Thomas, Elias, Charlie & Cooper N: Kids job hub - awarded $3,500
Vivien, Amelia & Sherry: Biodegradable gum - awarded $2,750
Amelia, Lily & Madeleine: Sustainable youth swimwear - awarded $2,250
Pitches in age category two (16-23 year olds):
Jovan & Jude: Headcount app - awarded $4,000
Rebecca & Grace: Safety jewelry - awarded $2,500
Creativity award for customised shoes - $410 to Armand and Elijah
Vision award for electric roads - $410 to Eddie and Oliver
In addition to their cash award, every team that pitched has six weeks of business coaching with their mentor(s) and a business building workshop from The Officient worth $500 per person.
Brand Package Award - Works Like a Charm and Tween Taskers received a professional branding package worth $3000 each from Relax Brand Design.
WIN A $3000 Branding package By Relax
RELAX was established in 2006, after Chris Bowyer, the Creative Director
for the CHILLI GROUP in the UK, (top 100 UK Design Consultancy) relocated
to Sydney to set up a smaller boutique offering. Fast forward 15 years and there are two operations, one based in the UK and the other here in Sydney, both have a major focus on branding and food packaging design.
The Australian team is much smaller, is independently owned and managed by Paul Frost who has the support creatively from CHILLI, and hand-picked chosen designers based in Sydney and around the globe.
The philosophy behind RELAX is to help and support smaller brands, start ups, and challenger brands and the business has helped launch dozens of products to market through creative and unique branding and packaging design.
RELAX is offering professional branding packages to 2 Spark Tank finalist teams.- Brand Strategy - Logo Design - Finished Artwork - The young people will be treated just like regular clients and be taken through the entire branding process, step by step to develop and achieve their own vision.
The Great LOGOS Designed by RELAX for our Previous Winners
2021 Spark Tank Winners
Better Yew Foundation
Better Yew Foundation
Better Yew Foundation
Remee and Gabriella are forming a surf camp program focusing on resilience through tackling key issues facing adolescents. The Sparks judges awarded them $3,200 seed funding, a $3,000 brand package, and 10 weeks of business coaching with change expert, Barbara.
Radio KBTO
Better Yew Foundation
Better Yew Foundation
Melodie, Alice, Luke, and Rosie are forming a radio station for young people named Radio KBTO - Kids by the Ocean. The Sparks judges awarded them $2,300 seed funding, a $3,000 brand package, and 10 weeks of business coaching with start-up and media expert, Nigel.
Wasted Potential
Better Yew Foundation
Wasted Potential
Beth and Joe form the team Wasted Potential, the name for their upcycled vintage clothing line that gives back. The Sparks judges awarded them $3,500 seed funding, a $3,000 brand package, and 10 weeks of business coaching with professional business expert, Anne.
Uncle Nathan
Next Step of Nature
Wasted Potential
Nathan and Tiarna are creating a blog, podcast, and social media community built with one purpose - to bridge the gap between high school and adulthood! The Sparks judges awarded them $5,000 seed funding, a $3,000 brand package, and 10 weeks of business coaching with funding expert, Nikolas.
Next Step of Nature
Next Step of Nature
Next Step of Nature
April, Cienna, Grace, and Skye form Next Step of Nature with their idea to educate young people about how the earth is being treated and how they can help. The Sparks judges awarded them $2,000 seed funding, a $3,000 brand package, and 10 weeks of business coaching with Bush to Bowl founder, Clarence.
Gaming Anonymous
Next Step of Nature
Next Step of Nature
Luka and Arjun form the Gaming Anonymous team with their idea to create a peer-to-peer help group and educational app to combat gaming addiction in young people. The Sparks judges awarded them $3,000 seed funding, a $3,000 brand package, and 10 weeks of business coaching with IT expert, Paul.
2019 Spark Tank Winners
Every entry we received from our Northern Beaches youth was about helping others or the environment. We are very proud of their selfless nature and the unique and well thought out entries we received.
Share the Spark Inc. is happy to announce our six winning teams that made their business pitch at our Spark Tank Event 2019.
Pitches in age category one (8-16 year olds):
Austin & Lucas: E-waste recycling
Chloe & Tegan: Youth Mental Health app
Alex & Luka: Project AL Active Life for youth app
Pitches in age category two (17-23 year olds):
Rebecca, Nicolas & Jack: Future Tech: STEM program for young people on the autism spectrum
Jvon & Aethan: Vertical micro-green farms
Ethan & Hayley: Sand Bar Project, advising youth on the negative effects of using alcohol and drugs