Now open for applications, Ignition will run in Perth in late August, and for the first time in Singapore the week before as well…
Many a local entrepreneur has attended the week long Curtin Ignition program, and then used the learnings and connections to ignite their startup.
Last year we saw Backyard Market launch a few months after completing the course, as well as pitch finalists Club Soda and Money School go on to bigger and better things.
Over the years, Seqta have credited Ignition with putting a fire under their business, as has Dinner Twist (which you can hear all about in this week’s podcast episode). Last year’s WA Innovator of the Year, Udrew‘s Tom Young, is an alum of Ignition.
And the list goes on.
Not content with this success, Curtin Ignition have upped the stakes this year running a program in Singapore in the week prior to the Perth program, as well as bringing over two global startup experts in Bill Tai (pictured) and Dr Paul Herz.
For those of you who have attended previous West Tech Fests, you may have seen these two before; plus we had Bill on our live podcast last year.
Curtin University Faculty of Business and Law Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel de Bussy said the expansion of Curtin Ignition to Singapore was testament to the success and popularity of the program.
“Launching Curtin Ignition in Singapore offers a great opportunity for entrepreneurs in the Asian region who are looking to further develop their ideas to benefit from the mentorship, knowledge and expertise of the Curtin Ignition team and leading experts,” Nigel said.
Professor Nigel de Bussy
“Curtin University has been successful in securing more than $40,000 in funding from the Australian Government, which will give participants seeking to take their business idea to the next level access to two leading global experts on both the Perth and Singapore programs.
“We are delighted to welcome Bill Tai and Dr Paul Herz to Curtin Ignition 2019, where they will share their impressive technological, business and entrepreneurship expertise with the Singapore and Perth participants.”
Curtin University Executive Education Manager Ms Danelle Cross said Ignition continued to have a significant impact on business innovators within Australia and launching a similar program internationally was a natural progression.
“Curtin Ignition offers a unique opportunity for early stage entrepreneurs with a scalable idea, and from any industry sector, to come together to learn the skills required to launch and then scale their business.
“Both programs culminate in a commercial pitch to high level investors and entrepreneurs from the innovation community in either Perth or Singapore,” Danelle said.
Danelle Cross
“The program has already helped launch the successful careers of hundreds of Australian entrepreneurs and we are excited to expand our scope to support the brightest new innovators throughout Asia to foster innovation, new industries and economic growth.”
Applications for the Ignition program are now open. 60 or more businesses a year are taken through the intensive week of startup advisory sessions, mentoring, pitching and business planning. Anyone interested in registering should visit their website.
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In related news, two other accelerator programs are now open for applications:
HARVEST Agritech (Muresk, Northam)
17-21 June 2019. This residential intensive program features expert presenters, panel discussions, interactive workshops, individual reflection time, networking activities and access to the Muresk Smart Farm event on the 19th June.
K-Startup Grand Challenge (South Korea)
“Asia’s leading startup incubation program” now open. Startups participating in the challenge will get a rare opportunity to work with some of the world’s top tech companies such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai, as well as access some of APAC’s most prominent venture capital firms and angel investors.
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MAIN PHOTO: 2018 Curtin Ignition entrepreneurs
