Timeline
Timeline
Everything in one thread, newest first: the work, the writing and the milestones in between.
Project
EnergyLab Ignite
An eight-week climate tech accelerator run by EnergyLab, funded by the NSW Government and taking no equity. I joined a cohort of ten as the youngest participant they have ever accepted, and I am using it to explore my thesis that implementing renewable energy projects is a much bigger concern than the technology itself.
Milestone
Startmate Student Founder Bootcamp
Two residential days in the Yarra Valley on 1–2 October, run by Startmate. The only high schooler among 75 student founders, with mentors and investors in the room.
Milestone
Top 25% of 179 projects
Results from Apart Research's Secret Loyalties hackathon came back three weeks after the sprint, with reviewer feedback.
Project
Apart Research Secret Loyalties Hackathon
A 48-hour research sprint on whether a hidden loyalty planted in a model can be detected from the outside. Loyalties were installed by system prompt and by LoRA weight distillation, then probed at increasing levels of access. Placed in the top 25% of 179 projects, against graduate researchers, industry ML engineers and software engineers.
Project
DocQAGroundingEval
An open-source harness measuring whether five OpenAI and Anthropic models rely on the document in front of them or on their own parametric knowledge, when the source is perturbed or the answer simply isn't there. Built on Australian regulatory documents.
Writing
A Case Study in the Limits of Takeoff Automation
A documented attempt at building a full automation for traditional construction takeoff. A worthwhile read for operators in the construction industry, vertical AI founders and ML researchers.
Project
QuoteReady
An offline-capable SaaS that helps electricians and plumbers quote faster with AI, alongside other job-management features. Launched at quoteready.com.au and sold pre-revenue.
Milestone
Finished the VCE a year early
Received my Victorian Certificate of Education a year ahead of my cohort, through the Select Entry Accelerated Learning program. Everything above this line happened in the year it freed up.