iAccelerate launches program to help bushfire-affected business in Eurobodalla

The University of Wollongong’s business incubator and accelerator iAcceleratewill launch an education program to support bushfire-affected businesses on the south coast.

The state and federal Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund awarded iAccelerate $999,570 last year, and the resulting Rise program will be up and running from Thursday, May 5.

Rise will initially target businesses in the Eurobodalla region with a particular focus on entrepreneurs, said iAccelerate ecosystem evangelist Chris Petersilge.

“We are delighted to launch this unique program in Eurobodalla and look forward to welcoming entrepreneurs who have a business idea, business owners who may want to step back and look at their business, and community enterprises or government agencies with a project to develop,” he said.

Entrepreneurs will be able to test their business idea with experts, before applications open for an eight week series of sessions where budding business owners will workshop their concepts.

Finally, a public pitch will be held in August, held in Batemans Bay.

Mr Petersilge said the program was based on prior programs delivered on the South Coast and developed in consultation with the local community.

“Having launched the Bega Valley Innovation Hub in NSW’s Far South Coast, iAccelerate is familiar with the challenges and opportunities faced with supporting regional entrepreneurs. With over a decade of creating new industries and over 700 jobs in Wollongong, we’re ready to bring this model created in the Bega Valley to more bushfire-affected areas.”

At the public launch event on Thursday speakers and leaders from local industry and government will share their strategies for success.

The Eurobodalla is the first of 10 bushfire-affected regions – including four Local Aboriginal Land Council areas – where Rise will roll out, aiming to create 300 jobs over the course of the program. in 2022, Rise will travel to Snowy Monaro, Queanbeyan-Palerang and Goulburn Mulwaree regions and the Wingecarribee Shire.