FloodConnect Takes First Place at UNSW Founders New Wave Showcase
Malaika Schmitz, the founder of FloodConnect, has won first place in the UNSW Founders New Wave Program (Cohort 16, 2025), an outcome she shared on LinkedIn alongside news of a $7,500 equity-free…
Malaika Schmitz, the founder of FloodConnect, has won first place in the UNSW Founders New Wave Program (Cohort 16, 2025), an outcome she shared on LinkedIn alongside news of a $7,500 equity-free grant that comes with the win.
FloodConnect, a flood preparedness and disaster relief venture, was one of the top 10 teams selected to pitch at the New Wave Showcase, carrying the tagline "Your Neighborhood, Ready When It Matters." The platform reflects a clear focus for Malaika. She describes FloodConnect as being "built on a simple belief: Tailored flood preparation, personal guidance, and strong community connection keep people safe when every second counts."
That emphasis on community readiness connects to Malaika's own background. Alongside her studies at UNSW Business School, she lists volunteer experience as a Community Volunteer at a refugee centre, and her work spans Amaranth Advisory and the Berlin Metropolitan Area. The through-line across her experience is a focus on preparedness and support for people at moments when help matters most.
In marking the New Wave result, Malaika thanked Melanie Portelli of Westpac for the opportunity and for "believing in the vision behind FloodConnect," a note that points to Westpac's involvement in the program. The recognition adds to a year that also saw Malaika receive a DAAD scholarship for her master's studies, issued in February 2025.
The first-place finish gives FloodConnect both validation and resources as Malaika continues to develop a platform designed to keep neighbourhoods ready before flooding strikes. It is an opportunity she is building on with a clear sense of what the work is for.