Young Business
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Young Business Mind Awards -

INSPIRE

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INNOVATE

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ACHIEVE

Pitch Your Big Idea to Win!

The Young Business Mind Awards (YBMA) has been rewarding young people for their big ideas since 2017 and is all about encouraging students and schools in the Hunter to think like entrepreneurs, to express their creativity and develop the self-confidence to present their ideas.

The awards program, will see our region’s youngest innovators and entrepreneurs have their ideas for a business, product, service or solution brought to life, recognised and rewarded by local business leaders and with winners being mentored to take their ideas further long after the awards are over.

Our aim is to help our young people to develop the skill sets required to prosper in the rapidly changing contemporary business and employment environment.

Open to students and schools across the Hunter including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Upper and Lower Hunter, and Port Stephens. Teachers are also encouraged to enter their own innovation in the classroom project for their chance to win.

The 2024 YBMA was a Huge Success!

In 2024 the Young Business Mind Awards attracted 44 entries from 150 student and teacher participants from 13 primary and secondary schools across the Hunter region. Watch our video below to learn more or head to our past winner videos to see what it takes to be a winner!

Key Dates

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How to Enter

YBMA is dedicated to encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship in youth and recognising it in teacher innovators. Students enter a business idea, design a new product, showcase a community or creative project to win cash prizes for themselves and their school, trophies or medallions and industry mentorship. Teachers can enter for innovation in the classroom.

Students and/or teachers are encouraged to explore the concepts of innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, business and social enterprise and look to create their own ‘big idea’. There are resources available to assist with this process as well as the opportunity to have a Career Links staff member visit the school to give a short presentation and to answer any questions.

CHOOSE FROM 6 CATEGORIES

Innovation Award

An idea that is so original/out of the box we can’t believe you thought of it! Something that could have global impact- think big for this one!

Community Project

We are looking for something that will improve the lives of our local community, whether it is up and running now and we can see its positive benefits - or an idea for something that should be happening in the Hunter.

Sustainability Award

Step lightly on the earth and think of something feasible to implement that will help our local environment.

Start-up Business

Got a business already up and running? Pitch it to us for funding and mentorship.

Business Idea

An original concept or idea for a business that has mass appeal. Think of a creative solution to a problem that we will all want to buy from you!

STEAM Award

This is for the best product or prototype that is designed or engineered and could be manufactured or handmade. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

Additional Prizes are Awarded for

Primary School Award

Just for the under 13’s – enter into any category. You can also take out the other prizes as well!

Most Creative Video

Wow us with your videography skills and be creative with your pitch!

Encouragement Award

This will be awarded to a person or team that we think deserves to be acknowledged for their fabulous attempt!

Young Business Mind of the Year

This award goes to the absolute standout of the competition!

*And of course, TEACHERS – Enter for Innovation in the Classroom.

Prizes

School or Independent?

Participants in 2025 are required to specify if they are entering as part of their school or independently of school. If they are entering as part of their school, the school will win cash and a school trophy, if they are entering independently, the school will not receive any prizes.

Hunter Innovation Festival

Winners from secondary schools will also be given the opportunity to attend the Hunter Innovation Festival in 2026. 

Mentorship

All winners will be given the opportunity to be mentored by industry professionals appropriate to their project over the course of the next 12 months.

Category School Prize Student/s Prize Independent Student Prize (No School Prizes)
Innovation $200 + school trophy $50 + certificate + medallion $100 + trophy + certificate
Community Project $200 + school trophy $50 + certificate + medallion $100 + trophy + certificate
Sustainability Award $200 + school trophy $50 + certificate + medallion $100 + trophy + certificate
StartUp Business $200 + school trophy $50 + certificate + medallion $100 + trophy + certificate
Business Idea $200 + school trophy $50 + certificate + medallion $100 + trophy + certificate
STEAM Award $200 + school trophy $50 + certificate + medallion $100 + trophy + certificate
Additional Primary School Award $200 + school trophy $50 + certificate + medallion $50 + certificate + medallion
Most Creative Video $50 + certificate + medallion $50 + certificate + medallion
Encouragement Award $50 + certificate + medallion $50 + certificate + medallion
Teacher Award $200 + certificate + medallion
YBM of the Year $200 + school trophy $200 + certificate + medallion $200 + certificate + trophy

Steps to Enter

Explore the online resources to learn more about categories, business models, how to pitch & idea creation.

Create your BIG IDEA, practice your pitch and film your 2 – 4 min video.

Enter your BIG IDEA into the awards before 26 Oct.

Attend the awards ceremony in November to find out if you’ve won!

Judging Criteria

Entries need to address these key criteria

What is the problem or issue your idea is tackling?
What is the big benefit of your idea?
Who will benefit from your idea and why?
Why are you passionate about this idea

Judges will also consider the feasibility of the project to implement, it’s originality, whether or not it addresses a societal/environmental problem and whether or not the pitch is clear and concise.

Pitching Tips

Communication of the Idea/ Product or Project

Does your communication of the idea create the potential to influence others? (Investors, Engineers etc.)

The Outcome

2024 Past Winners

Videos of Previous Awards

Photos of Previous Awards

Sponsors

The YBMA are made possible through the support of Hunter businesses like yours. This is a unique opportunity to promote your organisation while supporting the next generation.

As a YMBA sponsor, you have the chance to show your confidence in young people within the Hunter region and their development as creators, innovators and entrepreneurs of the future.

Identify your business as a leader in innovation across the categories being awarded. Support young people and be a part of the development and empowerment of our region’s NextGen innovators, creators and business leaders. It’s time to lift up our youth, to help them grow and prosper in a way that meets the future demands of our rapidly changing contemporary business and employment environment. Our kids deserve no less.

We are currently seeking sponsorship for the 2025 YBMA. Download the Partnership Prospectus here or contact us to discuss a bespoke collaboration.

“From what I’ve seen here tonight, there’s plenty of very impressive young minds that are going to be solving the world’s problems in the years ahead.”

Rob Cooper, Senior Manager Corporate Affairs, AGL, Gold Sponsor.

2025 Sponsors

The Young Business Mind Awards thanks the following sponsors and partners for their continued support.

SILVER SPONSORS

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Resources

Get your hands on these awesome free resources that will help you create a winning pitch.

Business Models

The Business Models breakdown is a great resource to help you choose a model for your idea. Use this guide along with the pitch preparation resource to create a strong video pitch for the awards.

Entrepreneur Definitions

The entrepreneur world is full of terms and acronyms that can be confusing so to help you learn more about the entrepreneurship mindset we’ve put this document together to help you learn common terms used within business.

Validating a Business Idea

Validation is the process of testing your product or service to increase the likelihood of success. The reason you need to validate a business idea is to avoid producing a product or service that no one wants. This guide will help you to validate your business idea.

Pitch Preparation

Preparing your pitch before you film it is a good idea. A good pitch is extremely important and can be the deciding factor in getting support for your business idea or program. Use this to guide you through the pitch process.

Primary Students Idea Toolkit 1

This toolkit will support Primary school aged students to think about and identify an environmental challenge to solve but the concepts can be used to build ideas for any category.

Primary Students Idea Toolkit 2

This toolkit will support Primary school aged students to identify their ‘secret sauce’ and find solutions to an environmental challenge. Again, the concepts can be used to find solutions for any category.

Primary Students Idea Toolkit 3

This toolkit will support Primary school aged students to present their solution for the YBMA! It is the final of three toolkits.

Young Preneur Magazine

YBMA Young Preneur Magazine

Fun and Free!