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Since 2015, the Innovation & Collaboration Centre has supported early-stage startups through providing workspace, mentoring and funding. Read more about our staff and our startups.
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The Innovation & Collaboration Centre is home to Venture Catalyst and the state's first space incubator program Venture Catalyst Space. These programs are designed to help founders start their business.
24 November 2022
Team members working on business concept at Startup Weekend 2017.
Adelaide’s business sector is set to gain fresh talent as the city prepares to host a weekend-long competition dedicated to developing new startups.
Hosted by the University of South Australia’s Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC), Techstars Startup Weekend Adelaide will commence on Friday December 2 and conclude Sunday evening, activating a new community of future founders in just one weekend.
It’s the same competition where the globally recognised social enterprise TABOO was first formed.
In 2017, co-founders Eloise Hall and Isobel Marshall, both of whom had just completed year 12, were able to kick-start their venture after winning Adelaide’s first Techstars Startup Weekend.
TABOO has gone on to fight period poverty in Australia and overseas through the provision of high quality and sustainable period products.
Eloise Hall says the event helped turn TABOO from just an idea into the impactful business that it is today.
“We had a very early-stage concept of a business and pitched it to a room full of strangers and, much to our surprise, a passionate group of men decided to support our business,” Hall says
“The biggest outcome from the weekend was affirmation and assurance that our business would work, thanks to the generous support of our team and mentors.
“After the weekend ended, the team that worked with us throughout the competition continued to support us in refining the new website, putting together promotional videos, and so on.
“It was a really supportive space to be initially introduced to the broader startup ecosystem in South Australia.
“This support gave us solid foundations to grow from.”
Eloise Hall and Isobel Marshall at startup community event.
This December, more than 80 emerging entrepreneurs will follow in the footsteps of these successful ventures, and work at UniSA’s ICC to discover what it takes to launch a business.
Participants will spend the weekend networking with industry-leading mentors, investors, co-founders and sponsors to develop their business ideas before delivering a final pitch to the judging panel.
Event organiser and ICC Director, Jasmine Vreugdenburg, says the final pitches will showcase the learning and business development of each team.
“These types of events are important to run because they engage new would-be founders to test out ideas and meet new people in a risk-free environment.” Vreugdenburg says.
“We are also focusing on encouraging high school and university students have just finished their exams and have an idea for a startup to give this a go
“This weekend will pave the way for new, innovative businesses in Australia, that will likely have a global impact in years to come.”
This year’s winning team will have the chance to advance their startup concepts over the next six months through mentoring, support, and workshops through the Innovation & Collaboration Centre, including hot desking in the Centre’s co-working space.
Prizes also include tickets to _SOUTHSTART 2023, signed copies of “The Essential Entrepreneur” by founder of ZEN energy Richard Turner, and a lunch experience sponsored by Office of the South Australian Chief Entrepreneur.
Adelaide Techstars Startup Weekend begins December 2 and concludes December 4.
Register now: https://icc.unisa.edu.au/event/student-to-startup/#Startup%20Weekend
Media Contact:
Georgia Minarelli M +61 413 314 726 E georgia.minarelli@unisa.edu.au
Samantha Dawes M: +61 457 289 282 E: samantha.dawes@unisa.edu.au
“The most important things you need to do to make your startup successful are not on your task list or in your inbox.”
– Terry Gold, Entrepreneur in Residence 2019
“Don’t compare yourself to the superhumans who started the latest and greatest tech wonder companies. It will only discourage you. Learn from them, but be thankful that you have what it takes”
– Terry Gold, Entrepreneur in Residence 2019
“Who you hire is more important than what you sell.”
– Terry Gold, Entrepreneur in Residence 2019
“Having lots of things on your task list means you have the opportunity to choose what is most important that only you can do. If it isn’t important, why is it on your task list?”
– Terry Gold, Entrepreneur in Residence 2019
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