About
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.
Participants accepted into the program will receive a tailored program of support designed to help early stage startup founders, plan and successfully execute their journey towards building a globally scalable and investment ready business.
Participants will also receive one-to-one mentoring from the ICC's Entrepreneur in Residence; Kirk Drage and his company LeapSheep.
The Space category, supported by the State Government's Space Innovation Fund, is the state's first program designed specifically for startups who are developing new services or products for the space industry. The program gives founders the support and tools they need to plan and successfully build a scalable and investment ready business.
The Social Enterprise category is supported by the Pank Family who support social innovation and enterprises developed by UniSA students or alumni. Through the Venture Catalyst program, the Pank Family have ensured that new ideas that come out of the University have the support and mentoring needed to set up a new and innovative social enterprise in South Australia.
The Innovation & Collaboration Centre's Venture Catalyst program has three categories for potential applicants. Our 30-second application assistance tool can help you find which category is right for you.
Venture Catalyst Space startup FireFlight uses satellite data to map fires.
Startup Weekend 2018 winners, Taboo are working to ensure women around the world have access to safe hygiene products.
This one-of-a-kind program delivers tailored support and guidance working with a global pool of industry experts.
This category is an open industry category for ideas with a focus on technology.
This category focuses on socially enterprising ideas and startups by staff, students or alumni of UniSA.
Email us at iccadmin@unisa.edu.au and we will come back to you soon.
A series of capability workshops and pitch and feedback sessions designed for founders to accelerate growth
One-on-one mentoring sessions to support implementation of your learnings
Access to co-working space in either the Adelaide CBD or Whyalla, and access to UniSA’s support services including research and placements
Access to a pool of global industry experts who specialise in advice for the startup journey
Regular group activities supporting community building, resilience and access to networking events
A stipend of up to $10,000 AUD per company. Eligible startups only
Disruption describes innovations that displace – or dramatically interrupt – how we think, behave, live and do business.
The idea must be scalable and able to grow.
Generally speaking, Venture Catalyst will not accept applications for the following reasons:
Applications open | Monday 29 January 2024 |
Applications close | 11.59pm (ACDT) Sunday 17 March 2024 |
60-minute online workshop* | 1.00pm - 2.00pm (ACDT) Monday 8 April 2024 |
Application outcome | Monday 29 April 2024 |
Program starts | Monday 27 May 2024 |
Program ends | Friday 29 November 2024 |
*This session is compulsory for shortlisted applicants. Dates will be supplied.
“Running Sport Tech Learn through UniSA’s Venture Catalyst Social Enterprise program at the Innovation & Collaboration Centre has allowed my business to grow and achieve our goal of changing the lives of children and their consideration of future careers in STEM. I was able to be connected with invaluable industry connections, fellow startups who understood my journey, and a detailed educational program that taught me the practical skills to elevate Sport Teach Learn to the next level of our startup. Anyone wanting to scale their social enterprise needs to head to the ICC as they provide help you won’t find anywhere else.”
Katie Gloede
Founder, Sport Tech Learn
“By being located in the ICC, we have had access to world-class mentors whom we meet with on a regular basis. We [were] also exposed to business leaders and potential clients through the range of ICC events and this expanded our network and possible client base.”
Noelle Smit
Co-Founder, Teamgage
“What began as a mix of hobby-development just over five years ago, has now turned into a full-time commercial venture. Apart from giving us the support and resources to focus on product development, access to the working space and resources has been immensely helpful for us pre-cash flow, which has been so valuable.”
Tim Simon
Co-founder, Studio Buddy
“The Venture Catalyst program provided us with practical tools to validate our hypotheses through user research, a framework to greatly improve our pitch deck narrative, funding that enabled one of our engineering co-founders to go full-time, and a supportive environment in which we could seek genuine feedback from mentors, facilitators, and fellow founders. It's a great program and one that I can recommend for any early-stage startup.”
Joseph Skewes
Co-Founder, ID8R
“Since winning Venture Catalyst, we have had massive exposure to the entire UniSA faculty, which has aided in getting advice from various departments. The ICC has provided us with advice on getting investor-ready as well as giving advice on when it is a good time to take on an investor.”
Lindon Lark
Co-Founder, Blend Etiquette
“Running Sport Tech Learn through UniSA’s Venture Catalyst Social Enterprise program at the Innovation & Collaboration Centre has allowed my business to grow and achieve our goal of changing the lives of children and their consideration of future careers in STEM. I was able to be connected with invaluable industry connections, fellow startups who understood my journey, and a detailed educational program that taught me the practical skills to elevate Sport Teach Learn to the next level of our startup. Anyone wanting to scale their social enterprise needs to head to the ICC as they provide help you won’t find anywhere else.”
Katie Gloede
Founder, Sport Tech Learn
“By being located in the ICC, we have had access to world-class mentors whom we meet with on a regular basis. We [were] also exposed to business leaders and potential clients through the range of ICC events and this expanded our network and possible client base.”
Noelle Smit
Co-Founder, Teamgage
“What began as a mix of hobby-development just over five years ago, has now turned into a full-time commercial venture. Apart from giving us the support and resources to focus on product development, access to the working space and resources has been immensely helpful for us pre-cash flow, which has been so valuable.”
Tim Simon
Co-founder, Studio Buddy
“The Venture Catalyst program has allowed us to progress our idea from an early stage project to a working prototype (an online mental health platform) that we’ve recently piloted in South Australia and Europe (including the Netherlands and United Kingdom). It helped us refine our offering and learn how to market it. We’re still using the Business Model Canvas from a workshop 12 months ago and pitching to a life panel helped us identify areas for improvement.”
Joseph Skewes
Co-Founder, Secure Nest
“Since winning Venture Catalyst, we have had massive exposure to the entire UniSA faculty, which has aided in getting advice from various departments. The ICC has provided us with advice on getting investor-ready as well as giving advice on when it is a good time to take on an investor.”
Lindon Lark
Co-Founder, Blend Etiquette
Applications for the 2024 program need to be submitted by 11:59 (ACDT) on Sunday 17 March 2024. If you need support with your application, please email us at iccadmin@unisa.edu.au with general enquiries.
If shortlisted, you are likely to be asked to attend a short (45 min) informal interview to expand on your idea and allow the Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) to meet the key members of your team. This may be in person or online.
Applicants in all categories will be contacted in April 2024 after their application has been assessed. Applicants will be kept up to date on the steps and status of their application.
The founder of the business must be based in South Australia and committed to establishing the business here. If you are based interstate or overseas, there is the stipend in the space category of $10,000 and may also be relocation grants available depending on your category. For regional startups, the program can be completed at either the regional ICC in Whyalla or online.
The program is offered at the ICC Adelaide and the regional ICC at Whyalla as well as online.
This program is based on individual support and mentoring to help you get your idea off the ground. This is not a grant program however eligible startups do receive a stipend of $10,000.
This program is 100% equity free. You retain any and all of your equity and IP as a participant of this program.
For more information, please download our information pack, or feel free to contact us on (08) 8302 7368 or send us an enquiry.
“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
Monday to Friday................8am to 5pm
Weekend & public holidays.....closed
Adelaide
Enterprise Hub, 9 Light Square (building access via Philip St)
Adelaide, SA 5000
(08) 8302 7368
Regional
UniSA Building L/111 Nicolson Ave
Whyalla Norrie, SA 5608
(08) 8302 7368
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