I2N Accelerator
Newcastle, Australia
Navigate your startup journey with confidence
Overview
Accelerator
Navigate your startup journey with confidence
I2N Accelerator is designed to provide a guided experience to quickly and cost-effectively validate your business idea or solution. Over the course of 10 weeks founders will experience hands-on learning and high-quality support including:
- Startup insight workshops
- Mentoring and coaching
- Peer network development
- I2N perk partner benefits
- Ongoing media and PR support
- Ongoing support with grants and funding applications
- Access to a co-working space for 6 months after the program
- An opportunity to pitch your startup to investors at the I2N Accelerator Demo Night
Have a question you'd like answered? Register for the I2N Accelerator Info Session
This free 10-week program is centered around insight workshops, covering topics such as:
- Understanding your business opportunity
- Understanding your market
- Exploring your customer journey and validation concepts
- Evaluating your competition
- Developing your business model
- Developing a minimum viable product
- Startup legals
- Fundraising and pitching
The program focuses on hands-on peer-to-peer learning and the cohort companies sharing the challenges in their own individual journeys. Founders will experience access to a supportive professional network and community and have the opportunity to connect with industry experts to build, refine or scale your business model and become investment ready.
Important dates
Applications now open
Applications close: 11:59PM Sunday 14 August 2022
The program commences Monday 5 September at I2N Hub Honeysuckle. See the full schedule below.
Demo Night: Wednesday 16 November 2022
Who should apply*
- Your company is headquartered in the Newcastle region
- You are leveraging technology to deliver a new-to-market product or service.
- Your company is at the pre-seed funding stage
- You are a committed and growth-oriented founder/founding team
- You can attend weekly workshops, office hours, and mentoring sessions over a ten-week period
- You have the ambition to scale
- You are open to feedback and are coachable.
Agencies and consultancies are excluded.*
FAQs
Where will I2N Accelerator take place? The program will take place at I2N Hub Honeysuckle, Q Building, 16 Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle.
What stage should my company be at? We are looking to support founders who are pre-startup stage through to the early-stage startup stage. Indicators include having a clear and meaningful target and direction over the next 1-3 years; having a core team of founders with balanced ownership or support from an extended team offering lighter commitment; having the ability to develop a prototype without having to depend on external funding, or already have a product in the market that may be generating sales.
How many people can I have on my team? Teams can consist of between 1-3 founders.
Does everyone from my team need to be affiliated with the University of Newcastle? No. The company must be headquartered in the Newcastle Region.
What is the attendance requirement of the program? The program is over 10 weeks with weekly workshops (3 hours each Wednesday morning) and mentor meetings (1 hour at a time that suits). Attendance by all team members at the workshops and mentor meetings is mandatory. Exceptions will be considered only in exceptional circumstances and on a case-by-case basis.
There is an expectation that founders will undertake a minimum of 10 additional hours per week to put into practice the workshop and coaching learnings. Consider carefully your capacity to commit to the program before making an application.
What are you looking for in an application? Applications are reviewed before offers are made to teams who address essential criteria. That is, the problem you are trying to solve, the potential solution you have in mind, and who the end-users/beneficiaries you have identified. Your application doesn't have to be 'right', it just needs to demonstrate that you have thought about the problem you are trying to develop a solution for, the insight, invention, or idea you are taking advantage of, and have provided your best possible 'guess' about what that might be and who would most benefit. We also consider what has motivated the team to apply and what you hope to achieve in addition to team member profiles and their potential contribution to the team.
In the days immediately after the application close date, your team will be required to join a 30-minute interview (via Zoom) with the selection panel as part of the assessment process.
What if I have more questions?
Please feel free to book a 15-minute Q&A Zoom session via this link.
Can I access the questions asked in order to prepare my application? Absolutely. The questions are saved in this word document for your review.
Intellectual Property (IP)
The University of Newcastle makes no claim over the intellectual property (IP) generated by participants as part of the Female Founders Program (subject to the University’s IP Policy and Procedure) provided your use of the IP acknowledges that the IP was developed as part of the Female Founders Program (unless it is unreasonable to do so).
If a team member is an employee or student of the University of Newcastle, they agree and acknowledge that ownership of the IP will be in accordance with the University IP Policy and Procedure, as amended from time to time. IP Policy found here. IP Procedure found here.
Why I2N?
The University of Newcastle's I2N works with individuals and organisations from across the Hunter region and beyond to turn ideas and challenges into opportunities. As a leading driver of economic and business growth, the I2N cultivates entrepreneurial mindsets behind many of the region's most innovative businesses and leaders.
Our programs are more than theory. They are about action and equipping you with practical tools and strategies necessary to have an immediate impact on your innovation journey.
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