Council supports mentoring program for business ideas
Date published: 1 November 2016
Townsville City Council has been supporting some of the city’s creative entrepreneurs in a program that hopes to fast-track start-ups from a concept stage to a market-ready product.
The Creative Industries and Young Entrepreneurs Mentoring Program has run for the past nine weeks focusing on creative start-ups that are identified to have high growth potential.
The winner of the program will be announced by Mayor Jenny Hill during the Festival of Ideas tomorrow at the Civic Theatre with the successful start-up receiving prizes and services valued at over $15,000.
Chair of council’s Business and Innovation Advisory group, Cr Maurie Soars, said council was sponsoring the project with support from the Queensland Government’s Startup Queensland fund and a Together Townsville partnership with the Philip Leong Youth Programme. The comprehensive program is being delivered through Innovation NQ (iNQ).
“We worked with eight participants and these are all highly enthusiastic and innovative minds working together to deliver innovative new concepts,” Cr Soars said.
“The future begins with creative minds like these. We need to enable them to bring their visions into reality.
“The final part of the program will include an investor pitch at the Festival of Ideas with the top four entrepreneurs and an award winner.
“The Festival of Ideas is a collaboration between the Townsville Bulletin, James Cook University and council to bring together talented people who will exchange knowledge and ideas that will shape the future of our city.”
The eight participating start-ups are:
- Jade Croatto: The Creative Eden - Handmade Chalkboards for Business and All Occasions
- Lindsay Allen: Ecodo Smart Farming Systems
- Andrew Dutton: Fundideaz - Equity Crowdfunding Platform
- Tyler Guides: Tyler Giudes Designs
- Ruth Landsberg: WhatColourGrout
- Jacinta Warland: Engaging with young people through practical heritage tours.
- Johanna Beningfield: Art at Jezzine
- Rike Wolfe: FruitCycle
For more information about the Festival of Ideas including the full program and guest speakers visit festivalofideas.com.au
