Empowering Melbourne's International Students: PassMe proud finalist in Open Innovation Competition

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Empowering Melbourne's International Students: PassMe proud finalist in Open Innovation Competition

RMIT students Hoàng Anh and Ngọc Nguyen's vision of an innovative trading marketplace connecting international students was brought to life in Open Innovation Competition, earning PassMe a coveted spot in RMIT’s LaunchHUB Bootcamp.

Studying abroad is an exciting experience, but it also comes with unique challenges, especially for international students. Two ambitious RMIT students, Hoàng Anh and Ngọc Nguyen, recognized these difficulties and decided to create an innovative solution – PassMe.

Through their participation in the Open Innovation Competition, they not only brought their vision to life but also secured a spot in RMIT’s prestigious LaunchHUB Bootcamp.

PassMe emerged from the personal experiences of Hoàng Anh and Ngọc, both international students in Melbourne. They struggled with finding affordable household items and dealing with excess baggage during their studies. Together they conceived the idea of PassMe – an all-in-one trading marketplace catering to international students' needs. The platform connects students looking for second-hand items, making their study abroad experience more comfortable, sustainable, and cost-effective.

The duo saw the Open Innovation Competition as an excellent opportunity to contribute to Melbourne's inclusivity for international students, perfectly aligning with PassMe's vision.

Launched in 2018 with a different theme each year, the competition calls for innovators, entrepreneurs, students and community members to submit their bright ideas to solve the challenge. This year’s challenge was to create an 'Inclusive City for International Students and Alumni'.

Two students standing with Phil Ore

Anh & Ngọc being presenting with their award by Phil Ore, CEO and Co-Founder at 25eight Group.

We saw the competition as a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the enhancement of Melbourne's inclusivity for international students, aligning perfectly with our PassMe vision - RMIT student Anh

“I have always wanted to create a business,” shared Ngọc.

“The competition is to challenge yourself and your ideas. We took second prize and we’re proud of ourselves, especially as neither of us are business students, so it definitely feels like a win in our hearts.”

Creating PassMe

Anh and Ngọc took their personal experiences as a starting point and worked hard to shape PassMe into a practical solution. With backgrounds in IT and Professional Communication, they brought complementary skills to the table. The first round proved challenging, but with perseverance and the support of mentors, they honed their pitch and secured their spot as finalists.

“As teammates, we have learned a lot from each other from presentation skills to problem-solving skills. The diversity of perspectives and talents brought to the table allowed us to refine our ideas and approach challenges from different angles,” said Anh.

PassMe Open Innovation Competition students

Ngọc and Anh celebrating their success.

Taking PassMe to RMIT’s LaunchHUB Bootcamp

As proud finalists, Anh and Ngọc earned a spot in the RMIT LaunchHUB Bootcamp, a pre-accelerator program designed to support early-stage startups. This opportunity will allow them to refine and accelerate the growth of PassMe, gain valuable insights, mentorship, and networking opportunities. With RMIT Activator's help, they plan to launch the PassMe website by November 2023, testing the prototype and building a robust marketing plan.

Both Anh and Ngọc would encourage all students to take the plunge and pitch their ideas.

“Just do it! Even if you’re scared, it’s better to make a move than none,” shared Ngọc.

“The opportunity will come to those who keeps making effort. Don’t feel unmotivated if you fail a competition. Each competition has different criteria, and you’ll keep strengthening your idea, then you’ll find ‘the one’ that fits.”

26 July 2023

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