The official launch event of the Western Sydney University “StartUp SydWest” Accelerator program on 14 September heard from two inspiring Start-Up Founders about their entrepreneurship Journey at the University’s Launch Pad Business Incubator Centre in Parramatta.
Faith Foster, who ran an online transformation collaboration business through a Microsoft Incubator whilst in the UK and Roman Teslyuk, a current Launch Pad member who is a Geologist and founder of “Earth AI”, an artificial intelligence company working in minerals prospecting.
Both speakers noted the imperative of creating solutions that will benefit customers. As Forster put it – “in an early stage company, if you are not meeting a customer need you don’t have a business”. Roman Teslyuk founded earth AI in 2016 and has since won 60 trial customers identifying seven greenfield prospects with Copper, Zinc, Lead, and Vanadium mineralization. Teslyuk reflected on the critical importance of his team saying, “ building a highly competent team who are passionate about creating solutions drove technology to new heights and also delighted their customers and targets”.
Don Wright, Head of the Launch Pad program at the University noted the opportunity the accelerator program in helping to transform industry in Western Sydney towards a digital future. “This accelerator program has been supported with $500k in funding from the Australian Government’s Incubator Support Initiative, this injection will enable Western Sydney to grow at least 30-40 new start-ups that will lead the way in developing technologies such as machine learning, virtual reality, data analytics and Blockchain” which will be key in delivering new major projects such as the regions range of health precincts and the new airport and Aerotropolis”, Wright said.
As an outcome focused accelerator, Startup SydWest will help Start-ups Identify pathways to markets to drive international market opportunities – with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific region (leveraging Western Sydney University’s international collaboration networks).
Don Wright commented at the launch event, “a year-long accelerator program is a change from traditional programs that are typically 3 or 6 months in duration, however our focus is that each Start-up will have sufficient time to enrich technical development and connect with international markets with comprehensive technical and commercial support provided by the StartUp SydWest program”. This deeper level of support will maximise the chances of success and create strong networks across the innovation ecosystem in western Sydney.
30 Start-up founders have won admission into theprogram which begins with an all-day boot camp to kick off the program on 2 October 2018. The Accelerator will then continue over the next 12 months with focussed sessions covering content curated based on analysis of the technology and commercialisation gaps identified through the application, selection and interview process. In future issues, WSBA aims to showcase entrepreneurs from StartUp SydWest as they pioneer new technologies and business models.
For more information contact Don Wright Head of Western Sydney university Launch Pad at don.wright@westernsydney.edu.au