Startup Innovatex

Startup Innovateˣ (4-5, 14 & 18 July 2026)

🚀 Startup Innovateˣ 2026 @ Asia Pacific University: Empowering Future Entrepreneurs Through Innovation

Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) successfully hosted Startup Innovateˣ 2026, bringing together 14 groups of passionate student entrepreneurs alongside experienced founders, industry mentors, and startup professionals across four engaging days of learning, collaboration, and innovation.

💡 Learning Through the Startup Bootcamp

The first two days of the programme featured an intensive startup bootcamp led by Mr. Dash Dhakshinamoorthy (Dash), Founder of Act2 and StartupMalaysia, together with Ms. Vani Mahadevan (Vani). Participants explored the principles of effectuation and entrepreneurial thinking through interactive activities. Key takeaways included:

  1. Identifying what they know, who they know, and what they have to transform available means into entrepreneurial opportunities.
  2. Applying and embracing the affordable loss principle when making startup decisions.
  3. Demonstrating their learning through practical activities that focused on entrepreneurial thinking rather than simply presenting ideas.

The bootcamp encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to take their first venture steps by building confidence, developing an entrepreneurial mindset, and exploring new possibilities.

📈 Designing Viable Business Models

The programme continued with a business model development session, where Dr. Tom Tan commenced the event with inspiring opening remarks, encouraging students and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds to develop practical, impactful, and feasible startup ideas. He also expressed his appreciation to the industry mentors before the programme continued with mentor introductions and the presentation of tokens of appreciation, followed by participants refining their business concepts.

🎤 The Finale Pitch

Teams presented their innovative startup ideas while showcasing the knowledge and entrepreneurial skills gained throughout the programme to a distinguished panel of judges:

  • Tengku Mubiin, CEO, Katalist Venture
  • Jay Wong, Google SEO Specialist and Team Lead, RankPag
  • Sebastian Tai Jian Haw, Principal, Digital, Commerce and Transformation, Digital Commerce Advisory

🏆 Results:

1. Winner — Lowen: Turning waste into biodegradable products that promote sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives.
2. First Runner-Up — T.G: RideShare, A student-focused ride-sharing platform that enables students to share rides and split transportation fares conveniently.
3. Second Runner-Up — Onix: SkillBridge, A campus-vetted talent marketplace connecting students with nearby businesses by matching verified skills to real-world opportunities.

🎯 Closing Reflections

In his closing remarks, Professor Dr. Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer at APU, thanked the participants, mentors, judges, and organising team for their dedication and encouraged students to continue embracing the startup spirit by refining their ideas, learning from every experience, and creating innovative solutions beyond the programme.

Startup Innovateˣ 2026 went beyond developing startup ideas—it provided aspiring entrepreneurs with practical skills, valuable industry connections, and the confidence to transform innovative concepts into meaningful ventures.

Winner: Lowen

First runner-up: T.G

Second runner-up: Onix

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Past Winners

Startup Innovateˣ August 2025 (15-16 August 2025)

Winner: Globify
First runner-up: Elva
Second runner-up: Converge

Startup Weekend August 2025 (15-16 August 2025)

Winner: Camposter
First runner-up: CMore
Second runner-up: Recircle

 

Startup Weekend April 2025 (18-20 April 2025)

Winner: Resonant Krown
First runner-up: EasyKaps
Second runner-up: Onix

 

Startup Weekend August 2024 (9-11 August 2024)

Winner: ThreatPlay
First runner-up: Newbies
Second runner-up: FutureMinds

 

Startup Weekend August 2023 (14-16 July 2023)

Winner: Data Rangers, APU
First runner-up: Innovus, APU
Second runner-up: Team Allay, APU

 

Startup Weekend August 2022 (5-7 August 2022)

Winner: Lowkey, Universitas Indonesia
First runner-up: Team 3, Can Tho University, Vietnam
Second runner-up: The Lotus, Can Tho University, Vietnam

 

Startup Weekend March 2022 (18-20 March 2022)

Winner: Foodport
First runner-up: Styled
Second runner-up: 3R