Aspiring business owners are being encouraged to apply for the 2023 Curtin Ignition program, which brings together entrepreneurs, academics and innovators to help kick-start new businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The programs 13th intake will run from September 3 to 8 at Â鶹ֱ²¥\u2019s Bentley campus, with a week of mentoring and expert clinics designed to support the development of pioneering ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Â鶹ֱ²¥ Faculty of Business and Law Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Vanessa Chang said the program had helped upskill many aspiring business owners, turning their ideas into profitable business models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Curtin Ignition program has seen many success stories since it was established in 2011, supporting job creation in Western Australia and raising millions in start-up investment,\u201d Professor Chang said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe program gives budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from experts in the start-up space, helping to provide guidance and support as they start their business journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith so many new pathways to turn ideas and passion projects into businesses in our interconnected world, Curtin Ignition helps to foster these start-ups locally to help power the WA economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A record 94 scholarship positions are available for the program that are funded across a wide range of industries, alongside 50 Trailblazer openings designed to support business operations in the resources, energy, and minerals sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of this year\u2019s program, Silicon Valley technology investor and start-up expert Marvin Liao will be travelling to Curtin to open the program, before helping to support and guide the attendees throughout the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStart-ups are an incredibly important part of the modern business landscape, bringing with them a swathe of new ideas and the ever-growing potential to change the way companies operate,\u201d Mr Liao said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is innovation – new blood brings in a new perspective, a new view and with it, a lot of energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnderstanding how to navigate this landscape – and having the skill set to do so – is half the battle for taking your idea from paper and into reality, and it\u2019s something Curtin\u2019s Ignition program has been teaching for more than a decade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Curtin Ignition program has upskilled more than 700 entrepreneurs and 550 new businesses over its 12 years of operation, helping to fuel success in Western Australia\u2019s start-up industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One success story is Kevin Mitchem from Curtin Ignition\u2019s 2020 intake, co-founder of architecture and design networking start-up CO-architecture<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Ignition program played a pivotal role in transforming our idea into a Venture Capital-backed start-up,\u201d Mr Mitchem said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile only a one-week intensive program, the learning journey that began during Ignition has continued to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLooking back over the last couple of years, I can confidently say that the network of mentors, colleagues and investors who have supported our venture would not have been possible without the invaluable opportunity provided by Ignition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n CO-architecture recently secured $330,000 of seed funding for its platform for professional designers, and is one of a growing number of Ignition success stories including Dinner Twist<\/a> and Noisy Guts<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of the ongoing drive to promote inclusivity, diversity and new perspectives in WA\u2019s start-up sector, Curtin Ignition 2023 will be collaborating with VentureX HQ to help strengthen participation of female entrepreneurs and challenge the biases women encounter as business owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Applications for this year\u2019s program are open from May 25, with registration cut-off occurring on July 26 and scholarship submissions closing on July 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Limited scholarship places for the 2023 program are being offered with support from WA government departments, local councils and businesses, alongside program sponsorship from Business News and RSM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n