The program will provide five entrepreneurs with invaluable support to increase their presence in the market, grow their network and achieve early stage traction for their businesses. This will be done through the support of RMIT Activator, RMIT University’s home of entrepreneurship, where participants will have access to world-class self-guided learning including enrolment in courses, face-to-face workshops, masterclasses and sessions with a start-up coach.
Selected candidates will also be given the opportunity to work for a year in Hub Collins Street, one of Australia’s premier coworking and flexible work spaces in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD.
The five participants who have been selected for the pilot program are:
· A Good Man - a personal shopping and styling service for men. Established in 2009, the business aims to makeover men’s wardrobes by making fashion more accessible for all by shining a spotlight on, and supporting, independent retailers in the City of Melbourne.
· Accessibly - a location review platform for people with disability, creating a barrier-free world in which every individual can fully participate in society with their friends, families and communities. The platform aims to help position Melbourne as a truly accessible global destination.
· Hospo Hire - an online pre-screening assessment tool that aims to streamline recruitment in the hospitality industry, by ensuring venues make an informed choice on who to hire. Hospitality venues in Melbourne will benefit through increased retention, highly skilled talent and a faster recruitment process.
· Mingle - a business committed to empowering Australians to cook healthy, fuss-free meals with a range of all-natural seasonings. Mingle wants to create a unique, customer-centric retail experience and reframe the way Melbournians view cooking.
· Supply Hub - Australia's first free, fully vertical cloud-based hospitality purchasing platform. It integrates three core components; a “one order for all suppliers” ordering portal, a marketplace of the industry’s best suppliers and a contract management portal. The platform aims to drive cost competitiveness for hospitality businesses in the City of Melbourne.
On Wednesday 14 August 2019, all five successful start-ups will present their business idea to councillors and other guests at Melbourne Town Hall. After completing the program they will each have continued opportunities to make connections with City of Melbourne businesses to help expand their venture.
Councillor Philip Le Liu, Deputy Chair of the Knowledge City portfolio, City of Melbourne says, “As Australia’s fastest growing city, Melbourne offers unlimited opportunities for startups to generate and develop new ideas. The City of Melbourne is proud to be part of this climate of opportunity and to work together with our partners RMIT and Hub Australia to support some of the wonderful ideas sparked in our city.”
Matt Salier, Director of RMIT Activator says, “The selected start-ups have innovative ventures that aim to stimulate both the day and night-time economies in the City of Melbourne. We look forward to helping these businesses grow the seed of a good idea, so everyone in Melbourne can benefit from their innovation”.
Hub Australia CEO and Founder, Brad Krauskopf, says, “The CoM X program is based on a mutual goal of stimulating and supporting innovation-driven start-ups in the City of Melbourne. Together with the City of Melbourne and RMIT Activator, we have identified an opportunity to leverage the collective assets of the parties to create this innovative program. It’s so important we encourage and support new, creative and diverse business activities that will contribute to a thriving and competitive business environment within the city”.
For more information on The City of Melbourne Accelerator Program (CoM X) please visit: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/business/start-a-business/startups/Pages/accelerator-program.aspx
