Curtin student Tim Kenworthy has impressed some of the leading ICT minds in the world to take out first prize at the WApp Awards ceremony, held at the Burswood Convention Centre recently.
The Big Help Mob application, a concept Tim developed in collaboration with team members Leon Delpech, Darcy Laycock and Benjamin Kowalski, would organise thousands of volunteers across Australia, and wowed the panel of investors and entrepreneurs to see the team awarded cash and prizes totalling over $80,000 to help build and launch the app.
Mr Kenworthy said the app would assist not-for-profit organisations in reaching thousands of young people willing to lend a helping hand around the country.
“Seventy-six per cent of Australian non-profit organisations are saying they need more volunteers to help them carry out their community work and initiatives,” he said.
“This app will help to bring those volunteers to the organisations when they need them, through a number of features including a core social function.
“Young people want to know what their friends are doing to help and by having access to those networks through this app, they can choose to join in or make their own suggestions.
“It will also allow people to plan their volunteering activities, as well as receiving instant notification of opportunities as they become available.”
This year’s WApp Awards attracted 95 submissions from students, staff and alumni from Curtin, UWA, Murdoch and Edith Cowan University, with the winners chosen by a judging panel headed by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Bill Tai, and featuring representatives from heavyweight companies such as Apple.
Curtin student Dane McKnight was also one the five applicants chosen to present to the panel, with his MyWishList gift-registry concept, and also took home $15,000.
Curtin Director of IP Commercialisation Rohan McDougall, said the judges were extremely impressed with the quality of applicants at this year’s WApp Awards.
“Many people at the Awards also said the Big Help Mob presentation was one of the best they had ever seen,” he said.
“The Big Help Mob app is a fine example of the quality of innovation coming out of Western Australia. This app has the potential to mobilise hundreds of thousands of volunteers, not only within Australia but internationally as well.”
