A room full of tech start up founders, investors and members of the innovation ecosystem gathered in Newcastle in late February as the Business Centre sought to unearth more local tech talent to become part of its Start House accelerator program.
Innovators and entrepreneurs were given the chance to meet with leaders of the local innovation ecosystem and hear what Start House can offer them.
More Discovery Sessions are being held in Singleton, Wyong and Maitland as Start House builds four region-based cohorts to lead through its unique distributed incubator and accelerator model.
Steve Wait, CEO of the Business Centre, said the Discovery Session gave local intenders or those already with a minimum viable product a chance to meet mentors and experts in residence and understand the advantages of the unique Start House program.
“Start House is a no-equity incubator and accelerator program with the aim of mentoring some of the incredible local tech talent we have in the region to lead them to scale their businesses globally,” Steve said.
“We have the intention of developing diversity in innovation – be it diversity in location or diversity in the age, background or life stage of the founders.
“Not every start up or existing business fits the mould that other accelerator programs may cater for.”
Powered by the Business Centre, Steve said Start House will support 50 start up and globally scalable enterprises across the region over the next year.
“Start House will provide mentoring and business education to entrepreneurs right across our region, working with partners in Maitland, Newcastle, the Hunter and on the Central Coast,” Steve said.
“We will connect more diverse innovators to the opportunities in Sydney while showcasing innovators who are geographically isolated.”
The Business Centre announced recently that it was the recipient of $189,500 in Australian Government funding under the Incubator Support initiative for its accelerator program, Start House.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews congratulated the Business Centre and the other five national successful applicants, which received the funding under the $23 million initiative.
IMAGE | A room full of tech start up founders, investors and members of the innovation ecosystem gathered for the Start House Newcastle Discovery Session.
