Ejoe Tso is a Microsoft Most Valued Professional (MVP), Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub Expert Mentor, and award-winning innovation educator based in Perth, Australia, whose work bridges academic learning with real-world impact. His mission is to empower students through experiential entrepreneurship, civic responsibility, and emerging technologies. In 2025 alone, Ejoe coached three student projects shortlisted for the national iAwards and led BeachBot AI—an environmental robotics initiative—to become a finalist in the prestigious WAITTA INCITE Awards. Ejoe’s impact spans the Asia-Pacific region. His mentorship portfolio includes over 259 graduated ventures, with more than 100 personally coached by him. Notable projects include: SAFERIN – an AI-powered elderly care system, EzantiFall – wearable fall detection technology for seniors, BadgeGPT – an AI-powered micro-credentialing platform. Collectively, his efforts have supported 116 female founders, created 400+ startup jobs, and maintained a 55% startup survival rate. As an educator, Ejoe has designed and delivered 12 accelerator cohorts, personally overseeing curriculum design, methodology, and faculty recruitment for the last six. He currently teaches at Torrens University and Southern Cross University, where he integrates AI, blockchain, and sustainability into interdisciplinary learning experiences. Ejoe’s accolades include: RUNNER-UP Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year Award in Triple E Award Asia Pacific 2024 Teaching Excellence Award (2021) Top 10 Educator in GBA STEAM Excellence Awards (2024) His leadership style is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and a growth mindset. Looking ahead, Ejoe plans to: Expand innovation programs across regional Australia and underserved communities. Introduce VR-based learning to foster immersive education. Launch a global student innovation exchange, connecting changemakers across continents. His vision: to cultivate the next generation of responsible innovators who will shape a smarter, more inclusive, and sustainable world. https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/mvp/profile/77adbe5d-03ce-ed11-a7c6-000d3a5603d3 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/mvp-blog/microsoft-edupreneur-riding-waves-from-class-to-beach/4210244 https://www.aceeu.org/news/spotlightarticle/id/71 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/mvpawardprogramblog/ai-guide-dog-how-technology-boost-accessibility/4049748 https://naivo.org/index.php/2024forum/presentations/download/123/presentation
Finalist
Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year Award
Kar Ho Tso
Finalist Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year Award
Torrens University - Australia
"Where Education Meets Innovation – Transforming Ideas into Action"
Summary
Key People
Professor Christina Hong
Deputy Vice President
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY
Emeritus Professor Chun Che Lance Fung
Director
IEEE Asia Pacific Region (R10)
Dr. Andy Lai
Formerly Head
Techological Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong,
Department of Innovation and Information Technology
Dr. Peter CY YAU
Assistant Professor
School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow
Acknowledgements
Ejoe is deeply appreciative of the administration of VTC and Torrens University, his colleagues, and all of his students, whose unwavering inquiry and enthusiasm make his work so rewarding. Additionally, he is grateful for the assistance provided by educational partners and technology companies, which have collaborated on a variety of initiatives to enhance the educational experiences of his students. His family deserves special recognition for their unwavering support and forbearance throughout his professional career.
Images
Entrepreneurship Award
Educator Startup Suggestion Scheme
Asia Geneva Project Award
Startup Project Award in The 21st Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (APICTA) Awards
Industry Professional Recognition
Teaching Award
Edupreneur Talk Session
Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year Award
Hong Kong ICT Award 2024
APICTA Awards 2024.
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
Ejoe Tso’s impact as an innovation educator transcends traditional academic instruction. As a mentor, technologist, and entrepreneurship coach, Ejoe has led numerous student-driven ventures that bridge classroom learning with real-world problem-solving. He currently resides and teaches in Perth, Western Australia, where he continues to empower learners by fusing cutting-edge tech education with community-centred impact projects.
In 2025, three of Ejoe’s co-created student-led projects were shortlisted as finalists for the prestigious iAwards – Australia’s leading technology innovation platform – and his own flagship initiative, BeachBot AI, was named a finalist in the WAITTA INCITE Awards, Western Australia’s premier innovation award.
1. EmpathIQ (Technology Category – Open Group)—Finalist of iAwards 2025
Project Summary: EmpathIQ envisions a future where mental health professionals are empowered with intelligent, AI-driven tools that enable them to make data-informed decisions, enhance therapeutic outcomes, and proactively support patient wellbeing.
2. Neuronet (Technology Category – Open Group)-Finalist of iAwards 2025
Project Summary: To develop and deploy an AI-powered, mobile-first platform that enables early, accurate, and explainable skin cancer detection through simple smartphone imaging — improving access to life-saving diagnosis for individuals, clinics, and underserved communities.
3. Blockchain-based Digital Credentials (Tertiary Education Group)-Finalist of iAwards 2025
Project Summary: This project focuses on creating secure, tamper-proof digital records—such as degrees, certifications, or licenses—stored and managed on a blockchain. It represents a modern evolution of traditional credentials, offering enhanced security, portability, and verifiability.
Real-World Projects with Regional & Global Reach
1. SAFERIN – AI Nursing System for Elderly Care
Developed with a Hong Kong social enterprise, this AI-powered nursing system enhances safety and efficiency in elderly care.
Awards: Winner Teritary Education - APICTA 2024. HKSTPC Silver Award (YDC Dare to Change), ITCC Gold, Smart Cities Gold
Hong Kong CityChallenge - Innovation Award 2024
Hong Kong ICT Award 2024 - Smart People - Merit Award
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202412/08/P2024120800602.htm
https://ictawards.hkcss.org.hk/en/2024-hong-kong-ict-awards-smart-people-award-presentation-ceremony/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDeh2pTTv2a/
https://daretochange.ydc.org.hk/en/showcase-saferin.aspx
https://www.citytechgc.hk/en/co-creation/innovating-senior-living-one-solution-at-a-time/
https://www.sinovatedtech.com/saferin
https://www.citytechgc.hk/zh-hk/co-creation/%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80%E8%88%87%E5%B0%88%E6%A5%AD%E8%AD%B7%E7%90%86%E7%B5%90%E5%90%88-%E5%AE%88%E8%AD%B7%E5%AE%89%E5%BF%83%E6%99%9A%E5%B9%B4/
2. BeachBot AI – Smart GreenTech Cleaning Robot
Built in Australia and field-tested in WA, BeachBot combines AI vision, robotics, and solar navigation to classify and clean coastal waste.
It directly supports WA’s sustainability goals and coastal protection efforts.
Awards: NICITE Award 2025 Finalist, GBA STEAM Silver, ITCC Silver, YDC Innovation Award
https://www.inciteawards.org.au/latest-news/finalists-of-the-34th-incite-awards/
3. ETbadge – Micro-credentialing for Future Skills
A pioneering AI-driven platform that uses blockchain to issue verifiable skill badges, enhancing employability and assessment transparency.
APICTA Merit Award, Winner—Alibaba Jumpstarter
https://hkiit.edu.hk/en/news/2326/
4. EzantiFall—AI Fall Detection for Aged Care
Combining wearable tech and AI sensors, this project protects vulnerable populations by instantly alerting caregivers in case of falls.
HKHS Gerontech Gold, ITCC Innovation Silver
https://www.thinkhk.com/article/2022-10/18/57682.html
http://www.thinkhk.com/tags/%E9%98%B2%E8%B7%8C%E6%98%93/
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
Ejoe’s journey as an educator has been driven by one core belief: "Education must empower students to shape the world, not just understand it."
His leadership philosophy includes:
He prioritises coaching over instructing, guiding students to independently discover solutions.
He employs Agile methodologies in student startup development to foster fail-fast innovation.
Values-led technology – instilling civic responsibility through design thinking and ethics.
Ejoe teaches across multiple Australian universities, including Southern Cross University and Torrens University. He has championed curriculum reforms to embed project-based learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry engagement.
He received the RUNNER-UP Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year Award 2024 in the Triple E Award Asia Pacific, the Teaching Excellence Award (2021) in Hong Kong, and was listed in the Top Ten Educators in GBA STEAM 2024 for his transformative approach.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
Scaling Impact: From Classrooms to Communities
Ejoe’s upcoming goals include:
Expanding interdisciplinary STEM programmes that integrate AI, blockchain, and IoT into real-world Australian contexts – from mining tech to environmental conservation.
Enhancing industry partnerships in Australia, allowing students to co-develop prototypes with startups, SMEs, and social enterprises.
We are launching a virtual reality learning hub, co-developed with students, to simulate workplace scenarios and entrepreneurial journeys.
With the support of local councils and environmental groups, we are scaling up the deployment of BeachBot across Western Australia.
Establishing a Global Student Innovation Exchange, connecting innovators in Asia-Pacific and Australia.
By 2030, Ejoe aims to support 5,000 students across the Asia-Pacific and regional Australia through tech-enabled social innovation projects.
