Curtin University’s popular Ignition program – currently in its 11th installment – has opened registrations.
The one-week intensive program is set to run from September 5-10 and provides a unique opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs, corporate investors and academics to develop and trial their business ideas through workshops, mentoring sessions and clinics.
Since its inception the program has created close to 300 jobs with its alumni raising more than $56 million in startup funding through various avenues including grants, investments and donations. The program was also launched at Curtin’s Singapore campus back in 2019.
Professor Nigel de Bussy, Curtin University’s Faculty of Business and Law Pro Vice-Chancellor, said Ignition had a strong track record of kick-starting businesses of early state entrepreneurs throughout Western Australia.
“Since its inception in 2011, Ignition has helped launch nearly 450 new businesses and has successfully upskilled more than 500 entrepreneurs who benefitted from the mentorship, knowledge and skills of the Curtin Ignition team and top experts,” Professor de Bussy said.
The Curtin Ignition Program is proud to continue to play an important role in helping to diversify WA’s economy and revitalise our start-up ecosystem.
Professor Nigel de Bussy, Faculty of Business and Law
The program provides information surrounding marketing, business models, intellectual property, finance and investment, team building, presentation skills and selling your idea along with clinic and business plan presentation.
Success Stories
Danelle Cross, Head of Executive Education at Curtin, said the program had facilitated the launch of many thriving businesses, such as ClimateClever – an enviro-friendly app that allows schools, homes and businesses to track and improve their carbon footprint while saving money.
“Another of Ignition’s notable alumni is WA Innovator of the Year Award-winning SEQTA, which developed software to help schools better manage teaching and learning and went on to secure major contracts with the WA Catholic Education Office and Adventist Schools Australia and has more than 600 client schools in Australia and South East Asia,” Ms Cross said.
Whether it be the initial spark of an idea for a new business that is ready to become reality, or an established venture set to be taken to the next level, Ignition is the ideal platform for this.
Early stage entrepreneurs from any industry sector wanting to launch and then scale their business will learn the skills to do this. The Ignition program also includes the chance to make a commercial pitch to high level investors and entrepreneurs from the innovation community.
Danelle Cross, Curtin Executive Education
Other notable alumni include Marc Berryman, the Founder and Director of Rhinohide, who found funding just half a year after attending the program back in 2015.
Prior to Ignition I didn’t know where to begin to seek investment in the business and only six months later I have received two rounds of funding. I’ve met people to whom I can turn in times of need, people who are not associated with the business who will take a call from me and give me help and advice and not expect anything in return. The network is fantastic.
Marc Berryman, Rhinoride
Scholarships available…
As part of the program, 54 fully funded scholarships will be available, which will be assessed by a competitive application process.
A diverse cohort sponsor the scholarships; these include the City of Canning, City of Cockburn, City of Vincent, City of Wanneroo, Constable Care Foundation, Curtin Commercialisation, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Landgate, RSM, , Town of Victoria Park, University of Western Australia, WA AustCyber Innovation Hub, Woodside, Wrays and – yours truly – Startup News.
AusIndustry and Business News also sponsor the program.
The program will be held at Curtin University’s Perth campus and will be delivered face-to-face along with some digital components in one intensive week.
Applications are now open with scholarships closing on 16 July and the successful applicants being notified by 23 July. Applications officially close on 28 July.
For those wanting more information, you can visit Ignition’s website and Curtin will be holding several information sessions, both on multiple campuses and online.
Wednesday 2nd June
11:00am – 12:00pm
Curtin University, Boardroom, 137 St Georges Terrace Perth 6000
Thursday 10th June
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Online
Wednesday 16th June
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Room 408.4000
Monday 21st June
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Online
Tuesday 29th June
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Curtin Graduate School of Business, 78 Murray Street
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Disclosure: Curtin University and RSM are both sponsors of SN and as mentioned in the article, SN offers a scholarship for the program. We highly recommend the program to you; that’s why we help sponsor it. It’s fantastic.
