With Gippsland’s homegrown accelerator program
Do you have ambitions to grow your business in and beyond Gippsland?
Every startup requires expert knowledge and support to reach their potential, particularly if their sights are set on growing into regional, national and international markets.
The Scale Up Accelerator program is the pathway to help you grow and scale your business! If you are a founder/s of an established startup, working full time in your business and turning over a profit, and you’re ready to take things to the next level, then this program is for you.
The Scale Up Accelerator program is run by locals, for locals, along with facilitation from a team of highly experienced industry and scale up experts. Over 6 days, we will cover a wide range of scaling fundamentals, from financial frameworks and business models, to risk management and marketing, to distribution and exporting, and much more!
If you’re ready to take the next step and put your business on the map, express your interest now!
Yes. This program is particularly geared toward founders who are beyond the idea stage. While your startup does not need to be mature in age, you do need to be making sales and working on your business full time (or at least close to full time).
Absolutely! If you have an established business but you want to take it to the next step to create interstate and international sales, this program will give you the resources and support you need to make it happen. All you need is an open mind and an appetite for growth.
Definitely! Throughout the course of this program, you will not only explore scaling your business to a national level, but you’ll also hear from leading experts who have scaled internationally, to gain an understanding of both the barriers and opportunities that exist in international markets.
The program will take place between September and November, over a total of 6 days. You will need to commit a day to the Pre-accelerator Bootcamp, prior to the beginning of the program, and then 3x 2-day intensive sessions over a Friday and Saturday.
The cost of the program is subsidised by our program partners, with the co-contribution for participants of $800, and a discounted rate of $600 for Startup Gippsland alumni.
Due to Covid-19 and the uncertainty and hardship this has caused for many local businesses, the Startup Gippsland team will be co-funding your place in the program.
Participants will now pay a contribution of $300 (with $500 co-funded by Startup Gippsland).
Alumni will now pay a contribution of $250 (with $350 co-funded by Startup Gippsland).
The program will be held in Morwell. Accommodation will be available for participants travelling more than 50km to take part in the program.
The Mindful Hub
For Tegan McKay, provisional psychologist and founder of The Mindful Hub, she knows all too well the implication the current COVID-19 crisis can have on the wellbeing and mental health of communities, particularly those in rural settings.
She launched her business as a result of participating in the 2019 Startup Gippsland program, as a way to provide online psychology services and appointments to those in need. From an early age, Tegan saw the divide in the level and quality of services offered to rural communities, compared to those in the city. Whilst suffering from a childhood disease, Tegan would frequently travel a 5 hour round trip to most appointments, which were located in the city, and it was here she realised the difference in medical care.
Scarlet & Grace
Ryan and Kaitlyn, from Scarlet & Grace, inject a sense of lightheartedness and positivity into the way they approach our conversation; even amidst these tumultuous times. However, it is evident that the passion for their business, and commitment to the health of their end consumer, is no laughing matter.
This family-owned business has successfully cut through the noise of a saturated marketplace to come up with a range of products that are both beautiful and unique. After spending 4 years on research and development of their luxury homewares (candles and reed diffusers), Scarlet & Grace was launched; and their products are now stocked in lifestyle and gift stores around Australia. “Our jars are designed to be heat resistant, meaning they will never explode or burn your hands”, says Kaitlyn.
Content Queen Mariah
Content Queen Mariah has been in operation for 2 years, and is a content marketing and educational business for entrepreneurs and online business owners. I am the founder and main content creator of the business, but have a team of freelancers helping and supporting me. Together, we offer retainer and project packages for businesses wanting their content done for them, and DIY courses and templates for those who want to learn how to create their own!
CABARET ON CALL
Cabaret on Call was inspired after finding myself unable to perform in person at aged care sites during Covid-19, so I had to pivot to online delivery. Some nursing homes don’t offer live entertainment due to visitor restrictions, so I perform for residents through the screen, singing songs they love and request. I bring life back to old songs from previous decades, by dressing in the style of the era or genre.
Little Bumble Wraps
It may be hard to imagine, but food wastage makes up for $10 billion dollars each year in Australia alone; which equates to approximately $1,200 annually per household.
For Laura Eddington, founder of Little Bumble Food Wraps, her business journey began 3 years ago as a way to reduce food wastage in her own home. After struggling to find a suitable beeswax food wrap in the market, she put her studies to use and set about to develop her own. Since starting her business, Laura has seen great success in creating a product that sees avocados and bread stay fresh for 2 weeks, and leafy greens remain fresh for up to 4 weeks.
THE ONLY STRAW
The Only Straw offers an alternative drinking straw to paper and plastic. The straws are 100% biodegradable, home compostable, and completely zero waste – made entirely of natural ingredients, and safe for everyone to use. The straws will last in a drink for over an hour, which proves better than paper straws which just don’t last the distance. Our straws break down within 90 days in any environment, landfill, or waterway, and are marine life and wildlife friendly.
Aeromedical Solutions
When we think about building a business to fill a much needed gap in the marketplace, we often don’t look to crisis or unfortunate events for inspiration.
But for Erin Lord and Steve McLaren, co-founders of Aeromedical Solutions, their opportunity in business was staring them in the face during their time working for the Royal Flying Doctors Service.