ANU students present new ideas for innovation Wednesday, 04 November 2015

The next generation of software developers and entrepreneurs from ANU have presented high technology projects to potential investors and industry partners at the TechLauncher showcase.

One of 20 new projects, Design Profile, created during TechLauncher has already been used by representatives of the United Nations in Nairobi, the Kenyan health system, government and NGOs ahead of the product launch.

Project manager of Design Profile Abram El-Sabagh is a Bachelor of Software Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce student.

"Our team didn't expect it to go as far as the UN but we are really glad that it has," he said.

"To get the product to where it is today, our team have put in 1,000 hours. Working with industry has given me excellent real world experience before I graduate."

Design Profile is a psychometric test available free online and gives users across the globe an insight into their natural design tendencies, behaviours and aptitudes.

Design Profile was created by four ANU students with their client design consultancy company ThinkPlace.

Darren Menachemson from ThinkPlace said he was blown away by the technical proficiency of the ANU students he worked with. 

"The creative energy and value students brought to the technical design and the concept by virtue of the amount of hours they put in and being really smart was impressive," Mr Menachemson said.

Design Profile was one of more than 20 new projects showcased to potential investors, partners and mentors from industry and government.

TechLauncher is an ANU initiative to help students gain the professional and entrepreneurial skills to tackle complex problems and opportunities using technology.

TechLauncher is an ANU initiative in collaboration with the ACT Government, Digital Careers, and the Canberra Innovation Network.

"ANU has a long history of running student projects with industry," said TechLauncher convenor Dr Shayne Flint from the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science.

"Bringing student projects to experienced mentors and potential employers is a great way to help kickstart the careers of the next generation of high-tech practitioners and entrepreneurs."

Originally published by Australian National University on 28 October 2015.