2026 PITCH COMPETITION APPLICATION

How to Participate

Submit your innovative idea or business solution by 5:00pm on 30 March 2026.

Your entry may be submitted as:

A written response to the form questions,
A video uploaded with the form, or
A combination of both.

You may also upload up to two supporting documents.

Shortlisted participants will gain access to the Press Play Masterclass Series, a Networking x Open Pitch Night, and may progress to a 1:1 mentor session if selected as a finalist.
Only five finalists will be invited to pitch live at the WYNnovation Pitch Grand Finale on Thursday 7 May 2026.

Any questions, attend our Online Info Session on Thursday 12 March 2026, 5 pm

Join us in creating a vibrant local future for Wyndham — where innovation, collaboration and community shape a thriving tomorrow.

Who is eligible?

You must be one of the following:
• A Wyndham City business
• A Wyndham City resident
• A student studying in Wyndham City

You may enter as an individual or a group of up to three people.

Not eligible:

Wyndham City Council staff and Councillors
Employees of Press Play ventures; partner organisations involved in the delivery of WYNnovation 2026
Immediate family members of the above
Winners of previous WYNnovation Pitch Competitions

Important Conditions

• An assessment panel will select a maximum of 30 participants for the Pitch Masterclass training.
• Selected participants must be available for all scheduled sessions, both online and in-person.
• A final group of five will be chosen to pitch at the Grand Finale and compete for cash prizes and SPARK memberships.

Privacy Collection Statement

Your personal information is being collected by Wyndham City Council for the purpose of administering the WYNnovation 2026 Pitch Competition. Your information may be disclosed to members of the judging panel and program facilitators supporting the competition.

By submitting an entry, you consent to the use, disclosure and publication of your personal information as outlined in these terms. For more information about how Council manages personal information, please refer to the Council’s Privacy Policy.

Please ensure that this Privacy Collection Statement is reviewed by the Privacy team before these T&Cs are finalised.

Your Details

Given Name (required)

Family/Surname (required)

Contact Number(required)

Email Address (required)

Are you entering on your own or as part of a group? (required)

On my own

As part of a group

Are you or any of your group members (if applicable) under 18? (required)

Yes

Please confirm your/your group’s eligibility to enter the competition (required)

You are a Wyndham resident

Wyndham-based business owner

Wyndham-based student

Business with at least 50 percent of its client or user base (actual or projected) in Wyndham

Specify suburb of residence

Specify business

Specify school or educational institution

Which of the following best describes you/your group (required)

Individual/s (a person or group of people with an idea/solution to put forward for the competition.)

Established organisation (a recognised and organised group of people with a particular purpose, such as a business, not-for-profit, social enterprise or government department

Startup (a newly established business with growth potential and investability.)

A business that is in the process of expanding and entering new markets.

Do you require any support to participate in the events (pitch trainings online and in person, pitch competition) e.g. translating and interpreting services. (required)

Yes

Please specify

Your Entry

Your entry may consist of your written response to the questions below, in a video to be uploaded with this form, or a combination of both. You may also submit additional supporting documents to this form with your entry.

Note: your response to each question must be no more than 500 words

Provide a brief description of your idea/solution (required)

At what stage of development is your idea/solution? (required)

Idea/early concept phase (a rough prototype has been developed but may not have been tested)

Early viable product phase (a prototype exists and has been demonstrated)

Available on the market

Which opportunity area(s) is your idea/solution solving for? (required)

Local Economy & Enterprise – e.g., supports local business, circular economy, local jobs, local supply chains

Community Wellbeing – e.g., health, social connection, inclusion, access

Environment, Land & Sustainability – e.g., climate resilience, waste reduction, biodiversity, smart use of resources

Mobility, Safety & Accessibility – e.g., transport innovation, safer places, digital access

Culture, Heritage & Identity – e.g., strengthening local pride, culture, arts, First Nations-led innovation

Other…

Respond to your best ability to selection criteria:

How is your solution unique, original or different from what already exists—particularly within a local Wyndham context? (required)

Local Impact: What is the potential impact of your solution for Wyndham residents, businesses, or environment over the long term? Consider: community benefit, wellbeing, local resilience, inclusivity, sustainability. (required)

Feasibility: How can your solution translate into a sustainable, implementable, and cost-effective model? Include delivery approach, early validation, and realistic next steps. (required)

Scalability: How could your solution grow or be replicated while still keeping its focus? Consider: expansion plans, partnerships, adaptation to other precincts or populations. (required)

Why are you the best person(s) to deliver this?

If you were to win a cash prize or access SPARK resources, how would Wyndham City Council and/or partner organisations help you progress or scale your idea? (required)

Please attached any supporting slides or documents. Note: a maximum of two supporting attachments may be provided

Maximum 2 files.
5 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt pdf doc docx ppt pptx.

Declaration

I acknowledge that by entering the WYNnovation Pitch Competition 2026, I agree to the WYNnovation Pitch Competition Terms and Conditions which I confirm that I have read and understood. (required)

WYNNOVATION PITCH COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This competition is run by Wyndham City Council in the state of Victoria, Australia only.
By entering, you (and your group members, if applicable) agree to these terms and conditions. Entries that do not comply will be deemed invalid.
Entry is open to people aged 16 years and over who live, study, run a business within Wyndham. Council staff, Councillors, delivery partners and their immediate family members, as well as previous WYNnovation Pitch Competition winners, are not eligible.
If you are entering as part of a group, the group may have a maximum of 3 members and you must have the consent of each group member to include them in the entry and that they agree to accept these terms and conditions of entry.
Entrants aged under 18 years must have their parent/guardian’s consent to enter the competition.
You acknowledge that Council may contact the group members and/or the parent/guardians specified in your entry form (as applicable) at any time to confirm that the relevant consent has been provided.
Entries must be submitted at www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/pitch-competition between 8:00am on 2 March 2026 and 5:00pm on 30 March 2026. Late, incomplete, or incorrectly submitted entries will not be accepted.
Written submissions must adhere to the word limits in the form.
Video submissions must be in avi, mov, or mp4 format and no larger than 5MB.
A maximum of two additional supporting documents may be uploaded.
Only one entry per person will be accepted (individual or group)..
Entries must be original and must not contain objectionable, offensive, defamatory or infringing content.
If requested, you must provide evidence of your right to use any material or intellectual property included in your entry.
Judging will commence on 31 March 2026 by a panel of Council representatives and external facilitators. Maximum 30 entrants will be shortlisted to participate in the Press Play Masterclass Series and Networking x Pitch session. Shortlisted entrants will be contacted by Council by 4 April 2026.
Shortlisted participants must attend the following sessions:

Compulsory Masterclass Series powered by Press Play Ventures

In person Masterclass 1 + Kick Off Event: Tuesday 7 April 2026, 9:00am –12:30am
Online Masterclass 2: Tuesday 14 April 2026, 9:00am –11:00am
Online Masterclass 3: Tuesday 21 April 2026, 9:00am –11:00am

Networking x Open Pitch Night

Thursday 24 April 2026, 5:00pm–7:00pm
Location: SPARK Business & Innovation Hub, 600 Sneydes Road, Werribee 3030

At the conclusion of the Networking x Pitch session, facilitators will select up to five grand finalists.
Finalists must participate in one 60-minute virtual 1:1 mentoring session between 28 April and 7 May 2026.
Finalists must present at the WYNnovation Pitch Competition Grand Finale on Thursday 7 May 2026, held from 3:00pm–5:00pm at Werribee Racing Club.
Three competition winners will be selected to receive the following prizes (total prize pool: $10,000 cash + SPARK memberships valued at $6,300):

Winner
$5,000 cash
12-month SPARK membership
Runner Up
$3,000 cash
6-month SPARK membership
Peer Choice Award
$2,000 cash
3-month SPARK membership

Acceptance of a SPARK membership requires winners to enter into a membership licence agreement with Wyndham City Council. Additional conditions may apply.
Winners will be announced at the Grand Finale and published on Council's website and social media channels. Entrants consent to publication of their names if selected as a winner.
If prizes are unclaimed by 31 May 2026, Council may re-award them at its discretion.
Entrants retain copyright of their submissions.
Entrants acknowledge that participation is at their own risk.
Entrants indemnify Council and its representatives against all claims, costs and liabilities arising from participation or breach of these terms.
Council is not responsible for late, lost, corrupt or invalid entries.
Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable.
Council may require proof of identity, age and eligibility from any entrant or winner.
Session dates, times and locations may change at Council’s discretion.
If the competition cannot run as planned, Council reserves the right to cancel, suspend, modify or terminate the competition.
Council may modify these terms at any time.
All decisions made by Council or the judging panel are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians

Wyndham City Council recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first Peoples of Australia. We acknowledge the Bunurong and Wadawurrung Peoples as Traditional Owners of the lands on which Wyndham City operates. The Wadawurrung and Bunurong Peoples have and always will belong to the Werribee Yalook (river), creeks, stars, hills and red clay of this Country. We pay respect to their Ancestors and Elders who always have, and always will, care for Country and community today and for future generations.