Imagine being at a sporting event and biting down on your favourite player's face, or being able to design a sweet treat that resembles your favourite movie character.
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Crystal and Cheree Hunter are making it possible thanks to their start-up business Social Pops.
The duo is using 3D printing technology to create custom chocolate pops in any shape your heart desires.
"The possibilities are endless," Crystal said.
Social Pops is a Brisbane-based company and is one of 15 start-up businesses to receive funding through round six of the Lord Mayor's Budding Entrepreneurs Program.
The program offers aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to access up to $5000 towards developing their business.
"This funding is a huge step forward for me and the business and will help ensure we're on a path to success," Crystal said.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the program has provided more than $200,000 in funding to nearly 60 local entrepreneurs since launching in 2013.
"Today, startup companies, which have relatively low entry costs, have the potential to reach global markets and bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the Brisbane economy," Cr Quirk said.
Brisbane chief digital officer Cat Matson said the program gave startups the opportunity to tap into development funding to grow their business and compete with larger companies.
"The Lord Mayor's Budding Entrepreneurs Program is an important part of the Digital Brisbane Strategy which aims to create an economic climate conducive to digital startups," Ms Matson said.
Grant winner Adrian Dudok, whose business developed inventive new designs for airborne drones, said the Budding Entrepreneur scheme would allow him to attend an event in Singapore to pitch his company's product.
"The program will give us the opportunity to accelerate our product to the local and global market at this early stage of our start-up venture," Mr Dudok said.
"We'll be able to showcase our product on the world stage."
Mayor's Budding Entrepreneurs Program Winners
Melissa Sinopoli (28)
LawyerQuote – a website designed to help users get the right lawyer, at the right price, instantly.
Ruari Elkington (35)
Altruistix – allows arts event patrons to contribute to the purchase of new, paid tickets for underserved education and community groups to attend arts and culture events they choose.
Sarah Moran (31)
Girl Geek Helpdesk – all-you-can-ask mentoring for women via subscription, over email.
Anthony Brewer (33)
agAlytics – a smartphone-enabled sensor that allows farmers to measure the level of nutrients in their soil available to feed their plants.
Jason Andrew (28)
SmartBooks Online – a virtual bookkeeping firm that provides a completely digitised and outsourced bookkeeping solution to small-business owners.
James Oliver (33) & Mason Kratz (45)
Conweigh – a mobile freight container weighing service.
Adrian Dudok (26)
Skyborne Technologies – two UAV prototypes in development, Cerberus and Chimera, which utilise ground-breaking tri-tilt rotor technology.
Alexandra French (23)
NADU – developing a device to increase proactive and preventative health care practices for sino-nasal health.
Kristen Souvlis (30)
PIXAPOPS – a gamified content platform that kids need to engage with in order to receive content.
Nathan Krisanski (30)
HomePrezzo – provides a tool for real estate agents and property professionals to generate informative and engaging content in the form of videos and infographics.
Skye Anderton (36)
Ruby Olive Jewellery – enables consumers to become part of the design process through user-generated design jewellery.
Todd O'Brien (25)
Urban Swagman – natural, manly soap and cologne.
James Beamish-White (39)
XY Gaming – an online platform where video gamers can challenge each other for cash and glory in all the biggest video game titles.
Crystal Hunter (30)
Social Pops – using 3D printing technology to produce custom chocolate pops.
