PJ Legaspi (right) celebrates with his team and ThincLab members after winning first place in the University of Adelaide’s Tech eChallenge this year.
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA — Nagueño and City Government of Naga Investment Promotions Officer Paul John Collantes Legaspi, along with his team, emerged as the top winner in the prestigious Tech eChallenge 2025 at the University of Adelaide, besting 59 participating teams from across the university.
The winning project, named Quixly, is an AI-driven mobile application designed to enable students and parents to effortlessly convert study materials into quizzes, flashcards, and review guides with a single tap. The platform — developed with Mr. Gerald Mendeja, also from the Philippines, and Vlad Popkov — garnered recognition for its innovative strategy to enhance accessibility and engagement in learning.
“Experiencing and witnessing educational struggles firsthand, Quixly was born from the aspiration to make academic learning accessible and enjoyable for everyone,” Legaspi said in the article published by the university.
The Tech eChallenge is a rigorous 12-week venture development program offered by ThincLab, the University of Adelaide’s business incubator. Participants are tasked with identifying real-world issues and crafting technology-based solutions. The top three teams were awarded a portion of the AUD 8,000 prize pool and will continue to benefit from incubation support.
Mr. Legaspi has been awarded the Australia Awards Scholarship for 2025, an international initiative funded by the Australian Government aimed at fostering the next generation of global leaders. Through this scholarship, he is currently pursuing a Master of Technology Innovation and Leadership—an advanced degree designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to lead in technology-driven industries.
“Being an Australia Awards Scholar here in Adelaide comes with many advantages, as well as high expectations. We strive to ensure that everything we do will, in turn, contribute to building a better Philippines. Studying in Australia goes beyond academic experiences. It also means learning to adapt to new cultures and embracing global citizenship,” Legaspi said.
Legaspi is with the Investment Tourism Promotions Office (ITPO) of the City Government of Naga. He leads the implementation of initiatives designed to foster the development of tech innovators through the IDEA2STARTUP Program. This initiative is a core component of the city’s Startup Development Program (Ordinance 2021-057), supports student-led senior-year or capstone projects with the potential to evolve into successful startup ventures.
“It is a unique privilege for a local government employee like me to pursue higher education at one of the world’s top 100 universities and a proud member of Australia’s Group of Eight — The University of Adelaide. Beyond the degree, I’m gaining lifelong experiences, technical skills, and networks that I can bring back to my hometown and workplace. Naga City has been part of my identity that I am always proud to share with colleagues and industry professionals here in Australia,” he emphasized.
Legaspi is currently on a one-and-a-half-year scholarship leave and is expected to return to their home countries upon completing their studies and implement a Re-Entry Action Plan (REAP). This plan ensures that the skills and knowledge he gained in Australia are effectively applied to address local development challenges.
Legaspi’s victory showcases the creativity of Filipinos, international teamwork, and his dedication to fostering positive developments in Naga City and further afield.
Written by: Angelica May C. Clarito | ITPO
Sources:
https://bit.ly/AIstudy-helpappwinsTecheChallenge
https://bit.ly/Australia_AI-PoweredEdtechToolforPersonalisedLearning
