Dantia Smart Hub (DaSH) and The University of Newcastle (UON) are ready to unveil the region’s newest initiative to grow local entrepreneurial businesses to national and international success with the I2N Incubator @ DaSH in Charlestown.
The I2N Incubator @ DaSH will provide a month-to-month program supporting eligible entrepreneurs and SMEs who have been operating for under a year.
DaSH Community Manager, Harry Balding said the incubator will expose successful applicants to platforms and services that are essential to business growth.
“The I2N Incubator @ DaSH is about supporting those startups in an early-stage who aim high,” Harry said.
“The entrepreneurs behind these startups are our future employers, business leaders and role models. If Steve Jobs grew up in the Hunter 5 years ago, he would have left for Sydney. We don’t want the Steve Jobs’ of the future leaving our region when they can actually do what they want to do from right here.”
Supported by the NSW State Government’s Boosting Business Innovation Program, which aims to accelerate innovation by supporting greater collaboration between research organisations and their business communities, the I2N Incubator @ DaSH will see UON and DaSH working together to provide specific programs and infrastructure for the region’s fledgling businesses.
“The best innovation ecosystems are those where new industries and opportunities are delivered through collaboration between research, business, community and government,” said UON Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Professor Kevin Hall.
“Many of the world’s most successful startups were born out of university research projects or harnessed university-affiliated research to give their businesses a competitive edge on a global scale.”
“With support from the NSW State Government, the Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) is linking UON students and researchers with partner incubation and acceleration hubs across the region and we are delighted to be partnering with DaSH on this key I2N initiative to nurture the next generation of local innovators and entrepreneurs.”
The incubator runs for six months and offers a subsidised workspace and a membership to the valuable DaSH co-working community, a chance to liaise with and be mentored by successful entrepreneurs and industry experts, scholarship discounts with companies such as HubSpot and IBM BlueMix, and regular workshops on relevant topics.
The i2N Incubator @ DaSH will be launched at a networking and information event being held at 5:30pm on Friday 3 February at the Mattara Hotel in Charlestown.
IMAGE | The DaSH co-working space in Charlestown.
