Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate from The University of Notre Dame Australia, Linda Khong, is part of a team heading on a sponsored trip to France after winning the inaugural Australian-French 24-hour Entrepreneurship Challenge on 2 to 3 June 2016.
Held at Australian National University in Canberra, the team’s business model, of a mobile application capable of assisting travellers to avoid diarrhoea whilst abroad, impressed the judges and audience at the landmark event.
The event challenged 45 PhD students from various industries and universities across Australia to formulate an innovative business idea into a business model. Each team had 24 hours, with very little rest, to complete this task.
For support and coaching, each team was allocated a business coach with a proven business track record, and a French representative. All teams had to present their business models to an expert panel with the two best selected for the final round.
As part of Team Guardia, Linda and her colleagues proposed innovative hardware while tapping onto existing technology that was capable of detecting a water-borne parasite (Giardia) that contributes to travellers’ diarrhoea. Through the close consideration of costing projections, sales and marketing strategies and consumer research, the team determined that its product would be highly sought after if fully developed.
“I felt that we had an edge because the business model was well thought out and questions from the jury were well managed. From the feedback of the jury and audience, we had a successful market survey and our pitch was attractive,” Linda said.
“At the start of our pitch, we brought our audience into the concept of travelling and experiencing a stomach-related illness which can impact one’s whole adventure.
“However, by creating a product that was accessible to all, a phone application that can detect traces of Giardia before it has any chance of entering the body, the team’s identified business opportunity was tangible, feasible and one that had international appeal.”
Linda will visit France in September/October 2016 with the other members of her team to further research and examine innovative business solutions.
Dr Marc Fellman, Director of Notre Dame’s Research Office (Fremantle and Broome), said Linda demonstrated excellent initiative and drive in achieving success in what was a very competitive event.
“The training Linda participated in is illustrative of the investment Notre Dame is making in transferable skills development for research students,” Dr Fellman said.
“Linda exemplifies the kind of research student who embraces training in entrepreneurship of the kind that will provide the innovation required for transition of the Australian economy.”
Linda, a lymphoedema practitioner and titled Musculoskeletal and Gerontological physiotherapist, is due to complete her PhD research in falls prevention at the end of 2016.
Linda’s research is being funded by the Australian Government’s Collaborative Research Network as part of the Healthy Ageing stream conducted by her principal supervisor, Associate Professor Anne-Marie Hill (Curtin and Notre Dame). Her other supervisors are Professor Keith Hill (Curtin) and Adjunct Professor Richard Berlach (Notre Dame).
