2 minute read
Introducing BGS Ventures
Introducing BGS Ventures
Written by Tanya Neilsen Director of STEAM Education
BGS Ventures is a dynamic program introduced in 2024, that has been designed to empower students to explore entrepreneurship, innovation, and design thinking.
Led by Old Boys Julian Campbell ‘12 and Toby Vann ‘07, the BGS Ventures workshops, challenges, and mentorship opportunities have encouraged students to develop their problem-solving abilities, business aptitude and creativity. Over the past seven months, Julian and Toby worked closely with the School to launch the pilot entrepreneurship program for Year 9 students, aptly named “STEAM Tank.”
Throughout the pilot, students participated in eight immersive modules, focusing on solving real-world problems within the school community. With guidance from industry experts, students had the opportunity to pitch ideas, build prototypes, and refine business concepts, further developing their creativity and critical thinking skills.
The inaugural program culminated in each team presenting their innovative solutions at a presentation night to key school stakeholders at the end of Term 4.
With an emphasis on real-world problem-solving, students felt proud to share their concepts and visions. Whether designing sustainable futureproof solutions or exploring emerging technologies, participants were encouraged to think critically about today’s challenges.
With a bold long-term vision, founders Julian and Toby aim to evolve BGS Ventures into a robust program, inspired by the tertiary ventures program they experienced first-hand during their time as students at the University of Queensland, fostering student interest in entrepreneurship. The pilot infrastructure was set for students to seriously consider start-ups as a viable post-school pathway. Looking forward to the development phase, it’s full steam ahead.
What the students accomplished under heavy time constraints was nothing short of amazing. In many ways, [the program] felt like one of our greater achievements in our entrepreneurship journey. - Julian Campbell
