When you bring 200+ curious minds, 30+ brilliant speakers, and a buffet of bold ideas into one room, you don’t just get an event. You get a feastival.

HEXPO 2025 wasn’t built for passive listeners. It was made for the hungry, the students, founders, and future builders who want to taste what real innovation feels like.

Hosted by HEX, this year’s theme, “The Feastival of Ideas,” turned Melbourne’s startup scene into a full-course experience. Part marketplace, part classroom, part chaos (the good kind). Each session served up something different: flavour, risk, and raw honesty from people building their own version of success.

The Menu: 16 Courses of Pure Energy

The day kicked off with Mitchell Hughes, Founding Partner at Next Gen Ventures, reminding everyone what hunger really means. Not for food, but for impact. His session, “The Insatiable Generation,” explored what it takes to build something meaningful when the world tells you that you’re too young or too early.

Next up, Ailene Wu, better known as @melbfoodieee, broke down how cravings can become careers in “How to Influence a Craving.” From viral videos to community trust, she showed how influence is less about algorithms and more about authenticity.

Then came “Cream of the Crop,” a panel featuring Daisy Sun from Canva, Cadon Ho from Warner Music Australia, and Josh McLeod from Local Brewing Co, hosted by Julia Tai. Together they proved that early careers can be bold, unpredictable, and deeply rewarding when you bring curiosity to the table.

Right after “Cream of the Crop,” the stage opened for one of the most exciting sessions of the day: Generation Next: Pitch à la Carte.

Five incredible youth-led startups from across ASEAN and Australia took the mic to share how they’re solving real-world problems with purpose and creativity. Each pitch proved that innovation doesn’t need permission, just ambition.

From Cambodia, Chau Lon Molika of Prohose Oficial showcased how her venture is tackling plastic waste while empowering local farmers through sustainable packaging solutions. Representing the Philippines, Mica (Monica Carmeli) Martirez of Rezbin Waste Technology Inc. redefined recycling with smart collection systems that turn waste into opportunity. Over in Indonesia, Falasifah of ALBITEC (PT Alga Bioteknologi Indonesia) shared how her team is innovating with green tech and spirulina-based solutions to power a more sustainable future. Meanwhile, Pasinee Tangsuriyapaisan of Enable Earth Co., Ltd. (Australia/Thailand) led the charge in environmental innovation, bridging purpose and profit through circular economy principles.

Together, they represented the next generation of problem-solvers, fearless, curious, and globally connected.

Scott Millar, founder of BOP Industries, led “Beyond the Kids Menu,” a lively exploration of how Gen Z, millennials, and seasoned leaders can collaborate across generations with empathy and courage.

Then came a crowd favourite: “Pop, Drop & Scale,” featuring Sam Weavers, the entrepreneurial force behind Sam’s Popcorn. From backyard batches to supermarket shelves, Sam showed how consistency and creativity can turn a childhood hobby into a national brand.

“Flavours Without Borders (APAC Edition)” took the audience global, spotlighting immigrant founders like Bass Sakdatorn from Homm. They shared stories of resilience, identity, and how culture and entrepreneurship can grow together.

In “Hot Take,” Garry Williams from GRP went head-to-head in a podcast-style showdown of startup opinions, proving that healthy debate and a bit of heat can fuel great ideas.

Stirring Up Growth and Grit

The afternoon sessions turned up the heat with a mix of hands-on strategy and future-focused thinking.

Sean Grealy from SellAnything.io ran “Burnt TOFU,” a growth workshop that took the mystery out of momentum, helping rising leaders turn attention into lasting impact.

In “Snack to the Future,” Olivia Rinato from Monash Generator, Rodney Heath from Monash Food Innovation, and Leah Tassios from Aloe Vita explored the future of food tech, from lab-grown bacon to AI-recommended smoothies.

“Spill the Tea” brought together four powerhouse women: Samar Mcheileh from Scale Investors, Paloma Newton from Elita Genetics, Jessica Christensen Franks from Wade Institute, and Frances Goh from OneRoof, for an unfiltered look at the highs, lows, and hard truths of startup life.

“The Great Food Fight” kept the debate energy going with HEX’s own Jeanette Cheah and Chris Hoffmann, alongside Brendan Leeds, Emmanuella Grace, and moderator Paz Pizarski. Together, they dissected one spicy question: are degrees still worth it?

Dessert Was Just the Beginning

After a short break, “The Lemon Twist” brought a sweet note to the stage. Jess Liementara, known from MasterChef Australia, shared her story of grit, creativity, and carving her own path in and out of the kitchen.

Then came “Table Scraps,” led by Rebecca Scott from STREAT, exploring how businesses can serve both purpose and profit, tackling social impact and sustainability without losing flavour.

In “Sipping on Success,” Tim O’Sullivan from Bae Juice shared how a Korean hangover cure became a fast-growing international brand through hustle, humour, and heart.

Finally, Jeanette Cheah, HEX’s CEO, closed the event with “The Secret Sauce,” a behind-the-scenes look at how HEX grew across regions, powered by curiosity, courage, and a commitment to hands-on learning.

And yes, there was an after-party. Because every good feast deserves a final toast.

A Feast That Fed the Future

HEXPO 2025 wasn’t about sitting still. It was about serving ideas hot and watching people dig in. From student founders to global innovators, every session fed something bigger: a community hungry to build, learn, and lead with purpose.

The conversations didn’t stop when the lights dimmed. You could feel it in the hallway debates, the quiet note-taking, the sparks between strangers who suddenly saw what they could build together. Every talk left an aftertaste of possibility.

Because this wasn’t a one-day thing. It was a collection of moments, ideas that stuck, stories that simmered, and people who showed up with something to say. Some lessons were loud. Others whispered their way into the crowd and stayed there.

And while the plates are cleared and the microphones packed away, the flavour of HEXPO lingers. In the bold questions asked. In the projects sparked. In the builders who left a little braver than they arrived.

At HEX, we’ll keep that energy cooking. Because when people come together to learn, share, and build, the feast never really ends.

This is just the beginning of our HEXPO 2025 story. Keep an eye out as we spotlight the incredible voices, ideas, and moments that made this feastival one to remember. More HEXPO stories are on the way, and they’re worth the wait.