Cutting-Edge Digital Security Project Wins Top Prize in University of Adelaide’s Tech eChallenge

Typpio, devised by students Naveen Aravkar, Lok Yiu Savannah Fung, Pragya Kaushik, and Oveena Widyaratne, is an authentication solution which analyses unique typing patterns, and comes with a competitively priced subscription model.

“No more juggling multiple devices or waiting for codes to arrive. Typpio promises streamlined access to accounts by leveraging AI to enhance security and ease of use with just your regular keyboard,” Naveen explains.

“We’re so excited about the win. The team has worked hard and undertaken countless hours of work for this project – we’re very grateful to win this award.”

The Tech eChallenge is a 13-week course run out of ThincLab, the University’s business incubator, which is designed to empower students to create innovative tech ideas, design unique apps, and develop software solutions.

Guided by industry experts, students gain practical skills and experience steered through the entire process of evolving a tech-based idea into a viable product.

“Tech eChallenge continues to be a platform where students leverage technology to develop innovative, future-oriented solutions,” says Dr Manjula Dissanayake, Academic Director of ThincLab and Entrepreneurship Programs, and Associate Head of Learning and Teaching at Adelaide Business School.

“The 2024 cohort impressed us by using emerging enabling technologies to illustrate their solutions across various domains, including cyber security, aged care, sustainability, entertainment, healthcare, retail, and construction.”

Through the program, students assess their idea’s potential, develop a robust business model, and analyse key factors such as feasibility, desirability, and market viability with no prior software development experience required.

By addressing the problem their tech solution aims to solve and by identifying its target market, the Tech eChallenge equips participants with the tools and knowledge needed to bring their ideas to life and succeed in the market.

“Tech eChallenge continues to be a platform where students leverage technology to develop innovative, future-oriented solutions.”Dr Manjula Dissanayake, Academic Director of ThincLab and Entrepreneurship Programs, and Associate Head of Learning and Teaching at Adelaide Business School

There were eight finalists out of 35 teams who participated in the program. On Tuesday night, finalists pitched their concepts to external judges including Dr Eva Balan-Vnuk, SA Government’s Chief Information Officer in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; Eloise Leaver, National AI Centre Industry Program Manager; Matt Anderson, Defence Trailblazer Seed Funding Manager; and Fiona Goodsite, winner of eChallenge 2023 and co-founder Tutbob.

Second place was awarded to Guardian Eyes, a project by Erfan Safiri, which is a smart camera system for elderly residents living alone or in aged care. The system automatically detects emergencies alerting incidents to caregivers’ phones.

Meanwhile, taking third place is the GenLite project by Cameron Scott, Muhammad Ghazi Ramadhan, Louis Rust, and Gerald Freislich, which is an automated AI-driven event lighting software which synchronises with music streaming services.

The three winning teams were awarded cash prizes with a prize pool of $8000, while also gaining continued access to ThincLab.

“ThincLab incubation provides the winning teams with a fully supported and nurturing environment to help them navigate their entrepreneurial journey. We want them to graduate with a viable business as well as a degree,” ThincLab Director Zrinka Tokic says.

Following the Tech eChallenge, the annual Australian eChallenge will be kicking off its program in July as the public statewide competition-based learning experience that develops strategic business thinking for early-stage entrepreneurial ventures.