ANU students race against time to compete at a high-stakes hackathon

Think you can build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in under a day? 

That’s exactly what students at The Australian National University (ANU) were challenged to do in a recent hackathon designed to spark entrepreneurship and innovation. 

Hosted by the ANU Entrepreneurship Club (ANUEC), HackANU takes students on the ultimate test of ingenuity, on campus in the Innovation Space, Birch Building. Participants from a wide mix of disciplines come together for 24 hours to create an MVP – and with this year’s theme, they focused on creating tools to support local Australian businesses. 

“We get students from all sorts of degrees, not just tech or business. Across the Club, we have more than fifty different degrees represented. When you put that many different minds in a room for 24 hours, amazing things happen.” says Tejas Tagra, President of ANUEC.

Hackathon judges and the ANUEC committee. Photo credits: ANUEC

Behind the scenes

With a sizeable organising crew, ANUEC spends months preparing every detail of the hackathon - from food and venues to judges, tech, and marketing. But the real chaos begins the moment the doors open. 

“Right when you think you have everything sorted, a hundred students show up at the same time. We started setting up at 4pm on Friday and finished cleaning at 4pm on Sunday. Some of us slept maybe an hour in total. The rush and excitement push you through, and it ends up being such a fun experience,” says Tejas. 

Committee member Benjamin Mchechesi, who joined the club in August 2024, shared his first experience with the community. 

"The Hackathon was my first real look behind the scenes of the Entrepreneurship Club. It was inspiring to see the collaborative spirit between the competitors, who arrived as complete strangers but quickly became teammates building ideas that genuinely felt like viable ventures.” 

“It was also a great chance to get to know the committee better as we shared stories, pizza, and plenty of laughter. Those 24 hours felt like a perfect snapshot of what makes ANUEC such a special community," he adds. 

“I was so impressed with the hackathon this year that I decided to join the committee. I'm proud to be serving as the 2026 Director of Engagement and Events for the club,” says ANUEC member Andrea Massaro. 

Last year’s projects reflected that same energy and ambition. Teams produced a tool that supports people with dyslexia by transforming tricky text into simpler formats in real time; a speech-therapy concept powered by audio analysis; and a platform that helps detect early-stage cognitive decline using visual biomarkers, with potential applications in dementia diagnosis and head injury recovery.

Students using AI at the hackathon. Photo credits: ANUEC

Making innovation more accessible 

This year, ANUEC expanded access to artificial intelligence (AI) and low-code tools, empowering more students to take part and pursue their most ambitious ideas yet. In teams of three to four, students applied what they learned in class to build practical solutions. 

“Some of the stuff that got built this year would have been impossible with traditional coding in 24 hours. For us, the hackathon really stands out because it always ends up creating ideas that can genuinely help people,” Tejas explains. 

“It really showed that research can be transformed into something valuable for society.”

A group of students discussing over the whiteboard. Photo credits: ANUEC

Students also sharpened their pitching skills, explored business models and market research, created a two-minute advertisement for their project, and presented their MVP to a judging panel. 

“HackANU gave us the perfect environment to validate our idea, build rapidly, and receive guidance from mentors who helped sharpen the product’s real-world impact,” says psychology student and HackANU participant Megha Netra Brahmani.

2025 winners 

This year’s HackANU judging panel included representatives from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, ANU Research and Innovation Portfolio, Commercial Business Advisory at RSM Australia, and the former CEO of ANU Connect Ventures. Competition was tight, but three standout teams took home the top prizes. 

‘Apprentice’ group presenting. Photo credits: ANUEC 

First place: Apprentice 

This tool pulls insights from popular workshops and real-world applications. It helps construction businesses generate instant, accurate quotes using 3D scanning and automated calculations. With this in hand, consumers and contractors can move faster, get clarity sooner, and keep projects progressing smoothly. By using this system, companies also save the cost of inviting contractors on-site just to begin a quote and significantly reduce the time that would otherwise be lost to delays. 

Close up shot of ‘Apprentice’ group. Photo credits: ANUEC 

‘ExportMate’ group presenting. Photo credits: ANUEC 

Second place: ExportMate 

Ever wondered if exporting could be as easy as following a recipe? ExportMate helps businesses find the cheapest and most efficient way to export goods to any country, which is a major boost for MSME industries. It turns complex export rules and logistics into a simple step-by-step plan. By linking live data from FTAs, tariffs, compliance requirements, and shipping options, ExportMate cuts costs, saves time, and makes global trade more accessible for small businesses.

Close up shot of ‘ExportMate’ group. Photo credits: ANUEC

‘Clear Skies’ group presenting. Photo credits: ANUEC 

Third place: Clear Skies 

Clear Skies is a carbon accounting platform that helps Australian businesses keep a close eye on their emissions. It automates data collection from utility bills and fuel receipts so companies can see their emissions in real time. The platform uses industry-specific models to pinpoint where emissions and costs originate and recommends practical actions that reduce both. These actions include equipment upgrades, shifts in energy or fuel choices, and available incentives. By linking emissions data to operational and financial outcomes, Clear Skies turns regulatory requirements into financial advantages.

Close up shot of ‘Clear Skies’ group. Photo credits: ANUEC 

Congratulations to all the teams who took part in HackANU this year!

Learning on the fly 

ANUEC’s advice to the next HackANU cohort? Don’t be afraid to take risks and use AI to bring your idea to life. And remember that innovation makes the biggest impact when it's driven by heart and purpose. 

HackANU participants sitting. Photo credits: ANUEC

“The hackathon teaches you how to build fast and fail fast. You get a real sense of how modern tools can help bring ideas to life. We are big believers in collaboration, and this gives people a real taste of that.” says Tejas. “We love impact and so does everyone else, and the world always rewards those who bring something meaningful to the table.” 

“ANUEC brought together such an energetic mix of people - everyone was keen to build and support one another. The panel of judges challenged us to think differently about our approach and inspired us to keep building beyond the hackathon,” says a HackANU 2025 participant. 

Learn more about the ANU Entrepreneurship Club and upcoming events such as hackathons on their website.

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