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At sixteen, Flynn Edwards (Class of 2023) stood in front of a panel of judges at the University of Queensland (UQ), in his QAHS blazer, and pitched a startup idea. He walked away with $4,000 and a quiet certainty that this was just the beginning. He was right.
That competition, the UQ Gen[in] Finals, was where Flynn first took an idea called quantumTranslate into the world. A translation layer for legacy to quantum code with built in optimisation. Ambitious, technically sophisticated and, as Flynn would later discover, ahead of its time. The resources to build it simply did not exist yet. So, he parked the idea, not as a defeat, but as a decision. He would come back to quantum when the moment was right.
It turns out the moment was now.
Four years on, almost to the day, Flynn is a third year Mechatronics and Computer Science student at UQ. The degree he set his sights on during his time at QAHS. Flynn is also the founder of Qubit Forge, a venture tackling one of the most consequential challenges in emerging technology. The quantum industry has a talent problem. Quantum computing is widely regarded as one of the next major technological frontiers, with potential applications across medicine, cybersecurity, logistics, finance and advanced scientific research. Roles are being created faster than engineers can fill them. Qubit Forge is building the infrastructure to close that gap.
The platform gives engineers the opportunity to develop quantum computing skills through real, progressive coding challenges. Circuits are executed and scored on accuracy and efficiency. A live leaderboard provides verifiable proof of where you rank against others globally. Verified credentials tied to actual performance, not just a certificate, give employers a genuine signal of who can actually build. It is precise, purposeful and pointed squarely at a problem that is only going to grow.
Earlier this month, Flynn took to the stage at The Princess Theatre in Brisbane alongside eight other startup teams, pitching in front of more than 300 attendees at UQ's flagship iLab Accelerator program. The twelve-week accelerator takes founders through a structured program covering business strategy, product development, go-to-market planning and investor readiness, with dedicated mentoring from UQ's Entrepreneurs in Residence and access to Queensland's startup and investor networks.
On the night, Qubit Forge walked away with not one but two awards: the Entrepreneurs in Residence Award and the People's Choice Award. Between the $15,000 SAFE note investment included upon selection in the Accelerator, the $10,000 People's Choice Award, the $5,000 Entrepreneurs in Residence Award and a $2,000 marketing package, Flynn left The Princess Theatre with $32,000 in support behind Qubit Forge. From a cohort of nine startup teams, Flynn's venture stood out among some of Queensland's most promising emerging founders.
The momentum is continuing. In two weeks, Flynn will travel to Munich to take part in the TUM Startup AdVenture Pilot Program, delivered in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich and UnternehmerTUM, widely regarded as one of Europe's leading innovation and startup ecosystems. The program is designed for student founders already building with demonstrated traction, offering access to global networks, venture labs, mentorship and hands on learning at the centre of Munich's startup scene.
A special congratulations to Flynn, who continues to inspire the next generation at QAHS and across our wider community. From a sixteen-year-old in a QAHS blazer clutching a novelty cheque, to double award winner at UQ's flagship startup accelerator, to Munich. It's been an impressive journey so far, and one that we're sure is only just beginning.
Image: Flynn – Winner of UQ's Gen[In] competition in 2022 as a Year 11 student
Image: Flynn – Winner of two awards at UQ's iLab Accelerator Program in May 2026
Following the UQ iLab event, we caught up with Flynn and asked him five burning questions.
Tell us about Qubit Forge. What are you building, and who are you building it for?
"Qubit Forge is where quantum talent gets built, measured, and deployed. The platform is designed to lower the barrier to entry for quantum computing, training quantum engineers who can actually build, and then connecting them with employers who need that skill. We're primarily building for students and developers in their twenties who want to get ahead of the curve and be part of something genuinely cutting edge."
You won a UQ entrepreneurship competition at sixteen and now you're heading to Munich as a startup founder. What did that sixteen year old version of you actually believe was possible?
"Everything. When I saw Iron Man as a kid, I decided I wanted to become Tony Stark, and that ambition never left me. Some people have scoffed at that or told me I'm being unrealistic, but I grew up in a family where the message was that nothing was impossible. I've always believed that the ceiling is something you set for yourself, and I've never been interested in setting one."
The IB teaches you to think across disciplines. Has that shown up anywhere unexpected in uni life and building Qubit Forge?
"Being a startup founder means you have to be able to do everything. I'm constantly juggling creativity and artistic thinking in how I build the product and its vision, while also needing that logical, analytical side for execution and strategy. And underpinning all of it is empathy. You have to genuinely understand your customer, because their experience is ultimately what determines whether your product is any good."
Every founder hits a moment where they almost walk away. What was yours, and what pulled you back?
"After Gen[IN], the UQ startup competition I did at sixteen, I realised my original idea was largely underdeveloped. It was a translation layer for legacy to quantum code with built in optimisation, which was a cool concept, but the resources simply didn't exist to build it yet. I didn't so much walk away as shelve it. I figured it could be a second or third company once I had more capital or the technology had matured.
I explored a lot of other directions, but quantum always stayed with me. After years of thinking, I arrived at a more holistic, executable plan. The Weekend of Startups competition pushed me to build a prototype quickly, and landing my first customer off the back of that was the moment I committed to getting it production ready. That external validation changed everything."
Beyond the startup and your Mechatronics degree, what do you love to do and how do you find balance?
"Music and driving are my two anchors outside of quantum. On the music side, I've spent the last five years writing and producing an album that blends orchestral soundscapes with progressive metal: think fantasy and video game soundtracks colliding with heavy, technical composition. I ran out of time and money before I could release it, but it's something I really want to return to.
For clearing my head, I'll take a mountain drive every month or so. There's something about connecting with the car and the road that quiets everything else down. And on the smaller, daily end of things, reading fiction before bed has been a game changer for sleep. It creates a clean break between the day and actually switching off."
You can explore Flynn's work and follow his journey at qubitforge.com.au and on Instagram @qubit_forge.
Dion Obst
HOD Global Connect