Generation Innovation is a Sunshine Coast-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to unleashing the innovation of young people. Founded by Ted O’Brien in 2014, it has helped countless young people strike a positive path for their future through mentoring, training and networking opportunities. 

Generation Innovation’s primary program is the GI Challenge, which supports young entrepreneurs to create and cultivate business ventures that can function viably in the real economy. 

 The GI Challenge was designed to alleviate the three greatest challenges facing young entrepreneurs: a lack of an existing network, a lack of business experience and a lack of access to industry leaders and investors. GI engages the community to source mentors and supporters in order to wrap support around participants as they design and pursue their venture. 

 The GI Challenge runs over a series of in-person and online workshops, where teams are matched with business mentors and subject matter experts to explore the elements that are required to start up their business. 

Over their journey, teams design and refine their business concepts and engage the marketplace through interviews and surveys before finalising their venture into a ‘pitchable’ product. The program culminates in a final Pitch Night where the winner is determined.