Bond ramps up entrepreneurial program with launch of Bond Business Accelerator
Bond University has ramped up its entrepreneurial portfolio with the launch of a second program for young business start-ups.
Bond Business Accelerator is offering six teams of budding entrepreneurs with innovative business start-up ideas the opportunity to win $5,000, receive expert mentoring and also take part in a tour to Silicon Valley in the US later this year.
The new program, which is open to Bond University students and graduates, will be run in collaboration with the Start Up Really Fast (S.U.R.F.) accelerator run by local not-for-profit Silicon Lakes. The Bond Business Accelerator is funded by the Bond Faculty of Business.
Bond Business Accelerator Program Manager Tres West said the initiative was a structured commercialisation program coupled with expert mentoring, networking and pitching opportunities.
He said the collaboration with Silicon Lakes’ S.U.R.F. provided participants with exposure to experienced mentors, access to their commercial start-up program and the chance to share the company’s working space.
“Over a twelve-week period, the start-ups who have qualified to be part of the Bond Business Accelerator evolve and then pitch their ideas and business plan to a panel of mentors and experts, with the one thought to have the greatest chance of success receiving $5,000 to enable that team to progress their business further,” he said.
“There are also a lot of other non-monetary benefits for all the participants, including the chance to join the Australian start-up contingent travelling to Silicon Valley and San Francisco this December.”
Mr West said the current program had evolved from the successful INCUBATE program which ran at Bond University earlier this year in partnership with The University of Sydney Union and Google for Entrepreneurs.
“The INCUBATE program was a huge success, with many of our participants now up and running, attracting funding and turning a profit,” he said.
“We gained some excellent learnings through our participation in INCUBATE, which we’ll capitalise on with our new program.
“The Bond Business Accelerator curriculum will be more structured and provide more and richer educational content for participants. Our Bondies will also be more engaged with the local start-up community and be exposed to more learning opportunities, including internships.”
One of the six participants in the Bond Business Accelerator program, Jackson Johnston, has established a business, Global Agricultural Exports, which has partnered with Australia’s leading camel exporters and is currently facilitating the development of a sustainable camel industry in Australia that satisfies domestic and international demand for camel products. Globalex operations also support Australian business, indigenous employment and education and efficient livestock solutions that create economic benefits for stakeholders.
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