September 2 2016
Venture Catalyst returned triumphant after winning the Best Entrepreneurial Support Initiative & People's Choice Award at the KCA Research Commercialisation Awards 2016 held in Brisbane on 1 September 2016. Jasmine Vreugdenburg, Manager of the Innovation & Collaboration Centre, attended the awards and pitched against several other competitors to take out the prize.
Venture Catalyst supports student led startups by providing up to $50k to the new enterprise as a grant. The scheme targets current and recent graduates who have a high tolerance for risk and an idea for a new business venture that is both novel and scalable. The scheme takes an ‘IP and equity free’ approach and encourages students to collaborate with different disciplines and externals to encourage a diverse skill set for the benefit of the new venture. Venture Catalyst is a collaboration between the UniSA and the South Australian Government, and is supported through UniSA Ventures as well as representatives from industry and experienced entrepreneurs.
This year’s awards were judged by commercial leaders of innovation: Erol Harvey, CEO, MiniFab, Dan Grant, PVC Industry Engagement, LaTrobe University and Anna Rooke, CEO, QUT Creative Enterprise Australia.
