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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.
Programs
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.
The Innovation & Collaboration Centre welcomes six innovative startups to its 2024 Venture Catalyst program
A digital notebook for new business ideas and professional services employment opportunities for people experiencing disadvantage are among six new innovations breaking into South Australia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with the Venture Catalyst acceleration program.
Delivered by the University of South Australia’s Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC), the six-month program bolsters startups with funding, resources and industry expertise to help them accelerate.
UniSA Deputy Director: Business Incubation Craig Jones says despite the program being in its ninth year, he continues to marvel at the creative scope of innovations the program attracts.
“I am constantly impressed by the multidisciplinary talent that comes through the Venture Catalyst program,” says Jones.
“Seeing these creative innovators come through in the early stages of their growth is exciting; there’s huge potential, and the appetite for growth is immense.”
Think It Do It (TIDI) founder Kelly Payne says she hopes to harness the Venture Catalyst program’s resources to refine her vision of supporting entrepreneurs via a mobile app that guides users through the stages of creating a new business.
“Success in the Venture Catalyst program means unlocking doors to new opportunities and collaborations, fostering TIDI’s expansion,” says Payne.
“I envision the Venture Catalyst program as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, nurturing TIDI’s journey towards excellence.”
Michael Brown is the founder of Critiqal Path, a profit-for-purpose social enterprise that recruits people experiencing disadvantage and barriers to employment to deliver the company’s specialist project management services to industry.
"Nurturing a startup is hard and being part of a network of co-founders means having access to a trusted source of advice," he says.
As part of the ICC community, startups can access a pool of global industry experts to support their progress over the next six months, as well as a $10,000 stipend, tailored workshops, university resources and one-on-one mentoring.
The social enterprise component of the Venture Catalyst program is partly funded by the Pank Family, who support social innovation and enterprises developed by UniSA students, staff or alumni.
Social Enterprise category | |
---|---|
Critiqal Path | A profit-for-purpose social enterprise employing people experiencing disadvantage and barriers to employment, with the aim for this cohort to make up 95% of the company’s workforce. Critiqal Path provides specialist project management and associated services to industry. |
Lumina Vista | Guiding IT graduates towards successful careers by offering practical knowledge of IT functions, roles, responsibilities, job-ready training and career counselling. |
General category | |
Think It Do It (TIDI) pron. ‘tidy’ |
A mobile app for people starting a business offering practical, accessible step-by-step guidance on aspects like planning business ideas, managing finances and reaching customers. |
Ardant Advantage | As well as connecting allied health professionals with clients, Ardant Advantage’s digital health platform utilises AI and automation to navigate tasks like referrals, contracts, invoices, and dispute resolution to reduce administrative burden on therapists. |
SiteSeer | The SiteSeer platform enables visualisation of complex data sets within a three-dimensional digital environment, currently focusing on a phone app for 3D navigation of semi-permanent events incorporating ticketing, marketing, and social communication. |
InnovateAI | A tech startup with a user-centric approach to solving business problems with technology, so businesses can operate efficiently and effectively to reach their goals. |
The 2024 participants began the six-month program in May, with a four-week induction featuring workshops from leading industry experts. Learn more about the program at icc.unisa.edu.au
Media Contact:
Leda Kalleske M: +61 412 175 805 E: Leda.kalleske@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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