Peter Farrell Cup

UNSW’s most prestigious startup idea pitch competition, helping students and HDR candidates become the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The Peter Farrell Cup is the program to take your idea from inception to pitch night with our support, guidance and the chance to share in a $20,000+ cash prize pool.

Express your interest for 2024 below!

Program details

Peter Farrell Cup (PFC) offers applicants the necessary tools, skills, guidance and support to take their ideas from that initial light bulb moment to test and pitch, and potentially launch a real business! The PFC builds up to a final pitch competition where participants get the opportunity to win a share of an incredible $20,000 cash prize pool, generously contributed by the Farrell Family Foundation, to help take their ideas to the next level.

Applications for 2024 will open in 29 April, but you can express interest here!

  • You’ll gain new skills, knowledge, ways of thinking, friends and opportunities:

    • Get matched with industry mentors and coaches with extensive "been there-done that" experience.

    • Participate in educational hands on workshops.

    • Get access to a world-class Makerspace and startup community.

    • The opportunity to pitch for a share in a huge $20K+ prize pool.

    Participants retain the copyright and any other intellectual property rights in their idea and startup. Except in some cases for research-related ideas in accordance with the UNSW IP Policy.

  • Teams must comprise of at least 2 and no more than 5 members. 1 team member can be a non-UNSW student.

    The team leader must:

    • Be a current UNSW (under/post-grad) student or HDR candidate at the time of application

    • Have played the primary role in conceiving the idea

    • Not participate in any more than one team

    • Submit the PFC application form

    Your idea must be self-funded and pre-revenue (i.e. your business and idea has received less than $3,000 from investors, paying customers, prize money or grants) at the time of the application. Research funding is exempt from this requisite. If you would like more details, contact us at pfc@unsw.edu.au.

  • The PFC program will be delivered in person / on campus at the Michael Crouch Innovation Centre at UNSW Kensington.

  • 2024:

    Applications Open: 29 April - 27 May

    Workshops: Wed T2 (5 weeks)

    Semi Finals: T2 Week 8

    Finals Night: Thursday 10 Sept

  • For further information about the Peter Farrell Cup, get in touch with us at pfc@unsw.edu.au.

Peter Farrell Cup Highlights