A web app that helps students and young professionals understand how real-world events can affect financial markets has taken out the top prize in Adelaide University’s Tech eChallenge program.
Created by students Oliver Snoad, Tobias Cazzolato, Dular Desai and Matthew Fuhlbohm, Predikted turns news into an interactive learning experience. The app presents users with curated stories and challenges them to predict how related market outcomes may unfold.
Users can predict binary outcomes of current events, whether a listed stock or commodity will rise or fall, track whether they were right, and build a personal accuracy profile over time. They can also compete in private leagues with friends or classmates.
“We are looking to help young people better understand the world around them, the consequences of actions, and how decision-making shapes all of our day to day lives,” Snoad said.
“This is a crucial skill particularly for those in market-facing roles, such as banking, trading and consulting.
“We are incredibly proud to win the 2026 Tech eChallenge. The semester showed us the value of a diverse team: bringing together different perspectives to think critically and creatively. The talent and quality of ideas across the cohort were inspiring and a real positive signal for the future of South Australian innovation.
“Thank you to ThincLab, the Tech eChallenge team, and the mentors who supported us. We are excited for what comes next with Predikted.”
The Tech eChallenge is a 10-week Work Integrated Learning course for Adelaide University students, run through ThincLab, the University’s business incubator. The program guides students from any degree through the process of identifying real-world problems and developing tech-based solutions.
Over the course, participants explore user needs, design and build functional prototypes, and assess feasibility, desirability and market viability, without needing prior software development experience.
This year, 37 teams participated in the program, with nine finalists pitching their ideas to a panel of industry experts at a showcase event. The ventures spanned AI tools, education, health, finance, agriculture and consumer apps.
“As the first Tech eChallenge for Adelaide University, this year’s program has showcased the exceptional talent, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of our students,” said Peter Stevens, Executive Director of Industry and Government at Adelaide University.
“The quality of the teams has been outstanding, with participants demonstrating impressive creativity and capability in developing solutions to real-world challenges.”
Second place was awarded to Repix, which is a smart fitness tracking solution designed to help gym-goers train more effectively by removing the friction of manual tracking. Developed by students Sharefah Sara Al-Junied, Tidea Jambon, Zulfiqar Lakdawala and Aida Rasekhi, the app automatically counts reps and logs workouts in real time, combining performance metrics with actionable feedback to help users hit their rep goals, refine technique and train more consistently.
Third place went to Clausifai, which is an AI-powered contract platform built for the Australian market. Developed by Riniki Das Barman and Arshita Dewan, Clausifai generates legally-aware contracts, flags risky clauses and explains complex legal language in plain English.
The platform is designed to help Australian freelancers, small and medium enterprises, and early-stage founders better understand contracts without the immediate cost of a lawyer.
The top three teams were awarded cash prizes from a $6000 prize pool, as well as continued access to ThincLab facilities, coaching and mentoring, and an invitation to the ThincSeed Pre-Accelerator if they choose to keep developing their venture after the course ends.
“The pitch isn’t the finish line for teams in the Tech eChallenge, it’s the start,” said Zrinka Tokic, who heads up ThincLab.
“A lot of them came in without having built anything before, and they’re leaving with a working prototype and a real and viable business opportunity.”
Following the Tech eChallenge, the annual Australian eChallenge will begin in July as a public, statewide competition that helps early-stage entrepreneurial ventures develop their strategic business thinking.
Image: Winning team of the Adelaide University Tech eChallenge awards, Predikted, along with ThincLab members and judges.
(L-R) Judge Shantell Williams, Technology Executive, CTO and Advisor; Peter Stevens, Executive Director, Industry and International and External Engagement; Oliver Snoad; Dular Desai; Matthew Fuhlbohm; Tobias Cazzolato; Judge Craig Jones, Associate Director, Business Incubation, Adelaide University; Judge Professor Paula Geldens, Director, Attainment Model, Adelaide University; and Dr Manjula Dissanayake, Program Director.
Media contacts:
Zrinka Tokic, Senior Manager Entrepreneurship Programs, Adelaide University. Phone: +61 8313 7131. Email: zrinka.tokic@adelaide.edu.au
Lara Pacillo, Media Officer, Adelaide University. Mobile: +61 403 659 154. Email: lara.pacillo@adelaide.edu.au