Meet Joshua King, a driven Year 11 student from regional New South Wales, Australia, who’s already disrupting the education space. After completing the HEX High Accelerator program in Term 1, 2025, Josh didn’t just leave with knowledge, he left with a startup in action.

His project, Commend, is a digital tool designed to overhaul school house points systems, reducing admin work and boosting student engagement.

Josh’s journey through HEX High Accelerator:

From the moment Josh joined HEX High Accelerator, it was clear that he was serious about making an impact. He was one of the most engaged students, attending every session, participating actively, and refining his idea until it was ready for the spotlight. His dedication paid off when he was selected to pitch Commend to mentors and investors at the end of the program.

But the story doesn’t end there. Since completing the program in March 2025, Josh has achieved incredible milestones:

• Developed the full product - Josh coded and launched Commend’s software and app completely on his own.
  
  
• Secured his first customer - His own school is the first to adopt the tool.
  
  
• Gathered feedback - He’s spoken with dozens of schools to learn what might be holding them back from using Commend.
  
  
• Integrated Wonde - Josh connected his tool to Wonde, streamlining data management for schools.
  
  
• Met with investment analysts - Josh has already pitched his startup to investors at NextGen Ventures.
  
  

Going above and beyond

But here’s where Josh truly stands out: After the program ended, he wasn’t content to just rest on his laurels. He reached out to me on LinkedIn, persistent and proactive, to ask for referrals to schools and advice on raising venture capital. And I’m not talking about a casual message. Josh followed up consistently, showing real determination.

Josh met with Jeanette, our CEO, where she gave him advice on brand building, attracting support, and positioning himself as a credible, larger-than-life founder before approaching investors and customers.

🚨 FOUR DAYS LATER 🚨

What did Josh do after his meeting with Jeanette? He didn’t waste any time. Just four days later, Josh had:

• Built a website for Commend.
  
  
• Developed a brand for his startup.
  
  
• Convinced industry advisors like Stuart King, GM of Education at Lenovo, and Hollie Oates, Educator at Parkes Christian School, to join his advisor team.
  
  
• Launched a LinkedIn content campaign to gather feedback and traction.
  
  

Let that sink in, Josh is still in Year 11, with no funding, no resources, and no team. Yet, he’s executing at a level that many seasoned entrepreneurs only dream of.

What makes Josh stand out? Speed of execution.

In a world where starting a business has never been easier, Josh proves that execution is everything. He’s a perfect example of how moving quickly, gathering feedback, and learning on the go can lead to success. He didn’t wait for the perfect moment, he made it happen.

Key Lessons from Josh’s Journey:

• Done is better than perfect - Don’t let perfectionism stop you from moving forward.
  
  
• Feedback is a gift - Share your idea early, gather feedback, and iterate.
  
  
• Think, build, launch, test, learn, repeat - The process is never linear, and that’s okay.
  
  
• Eyes on the BIG prize - Set ambitious goals and think beyond your immediate surroundings.
  
  
• Get supporters on board - Building a network of people who believe in your vision will help you go further.
  

Looking to Build Your Own Startup?

Josh’s journey is a testament to the power of the HEX High Accelerator program, where young minds get the tools, mentorship, and community they need to turn their ideas into reality. If you know a student who’s ready to take on the world and launch their own startup, Term 4 enrolments for HEX High Accelerator are now open.

Let’s create more JOSH-s.

p.s. Interested in learning more about Commend? If you’re a school administrator looking for innovative ways to manage house points, reach out to Josh directly for more info!