What do five companies that focus on virtual reality, financial solutions, communication confidence, construction equipment hire and landlord/renter relationships all have in common?
They are all startups that have been selected to take part in the six month Plus Eight Accelerator for 2019.
Based in Perth, the Plus Eight Accelerator is a partnership between startup hub Spacecubed and Telstra startup accelerator muru-D. Now in its third year, the program allows mentors, investors and partners to come together and support high growth startups. Companies are given access to a A$400,000 pool of seed funding, structured content and mentoring, a trip to Silicon Valley and a full time working space that aims to develop their company in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Spacecubed General Manager Chandra Sundareswaran says the Plus Eight Accelerator program is able to provide positive support in the startup community.
“We’re seeing a significant shift in the evolution of the startup ecosystem in WA and we’re excited to play a part in enabling this positive change,” he said.
“Over the past two years we’ve established a very strong program, and the Plus Eight alumni have been kicking goals in Australia and overseas.”
Chandra Sundareswaran
The five companies accepted in the 2019 Plus Eight Program are:
- Absolute VR. Transforming and improving processes across a variety of industries through virtual reality technology
- Ari Save. The turn key financial solution for the everyday Australian that holds users accountable to their spending and saving habits.
- Art of Communication. A platform designed to help you become a great speaker and communicator, by providing a peer-to-peer learning, sharing and feedback.
- Idle. Helps companies manage and hire construction equipment through an online web app.
- Perch. Creates empowering technology to strengthen the relationship between self managed landlords and renters.
The teams recently returned from San Francisco where they travelled with Program Coordinator Coordinator Kate Kirwin, Spacecubed founder Brodie McCulloch and Entrepreneur in Residence Derek Gerrard. This is Derek Gerrard’s first year as Entrepreneur in Residence, taking over the position from Tim Brewer 2017-2018.
In San Francisco, the teams were able to visit Berkeley and Plus Eight Alumni Humm at the Skydeck Accelerator, as well as having the opportunity to visit Salesforce Tower and Facebook HQ. The trip gave teams the chance to learn from product managers, investors, mentors, and talk with competitors.
Back in Western Australia, the teams will now have continued access to the Plus Eight entrepreneur education program with additional local and international mentors for the duration of the accelerator.
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For more on Plus Eight program, visit their website.
MAIN IMAGE: Plus Eight team at the University of Berkeley, California. Photos Supplied.
