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Are you currently developing or have developed a new, novel and innovative product, service, process or technology?
Curtin Accelerate is a free program that runs over ten weeks for aspiring or established business owners wanting to grow their entrepreneurial capabilities and acquire tools to take their innovative product or service to market quickly and effectively
Our facilitators and mentors are some of the world’s leading innovators and startup founders. Previous cohorts have had the opportunity to learn from high profile individuals such as venture consultant Larry Lopez, Kanopy founder Olivia Humphrey, and angel investor Bill Tai.
In addition, participants receive a $5,000 equity-free grant, access to Curtin University infrastructure and resources, networking opportunities, and gain the capability to build great products or services.
At the conclusion of the program, founders present their innovative idea to Western Australia’s business leadership community, at our annual Pitch Night.
Curtin Accelerate is designed for founders of early-stage innovation driven business with a connection to Curtin. To be eligible, at least one of your team members must be a Curtin alumni, researcher, staff member, student, or have participated in a Curtin Entrepreneur program such as Curtin Ignition or the Curtinnovation Awards.
If you missed Curtin Accelerate 2023 and would like support to develop your innovation, apply for one of our other Curtinnovation programs.
Curtin Accelerate 2024 will run from February 6 to March 27. The annual Pitch Night will be held in April 2024.
Curtin Accelerate founders receive the following benefits:
$5,000 Grant: To help you achieve your next milestone
Improved Investor Attractiveness: Accelerate is an ATO recognised Accelerator for early-stage innovation companies (ESIC). Companies can apply to be an ESIC, enabling investors a tax offset of 20%.
Improved Support Services: Accelerate is an AWS Activate provider. Accelerate companies are entitled to AWS Activate credits to a value of up to $100,000 to support them in scaling their company.
Access to Co-Working Space: Join our supportive network of founders and entrepreneurs based out of our Entrepreeurs Hub at Curtin’s Bentley campus where exclusive events, meetups, and mentorship sessions are held regularly.
Access to Curtin’s Venture Studio: Get access to Curtin infrastructure, tools, talent, and facilities that can help develop your innovative product or service.
Be considered for a $50,000 Safe Note: Start-ups with considerable commercial potential and a clear pathway to market will be assessed by the Curtin commercialisation team and Commercialisation Advisory Board for the opportunity to receive a $50,000 Safe Note investment through Curtin’s Kickstart+ Program.
PLUS! 2 x Free Tickets to West Tech Fest: Get access to West Tech Main held on Wednesday 6 December 2023.
Compared with our Curtin Ignition program, Curtin Accelerate has a greater focus on identifying and developing your unique capabilities, skills and business mindset, and applying these to establish and grow your own company. Founders graduate from the program with:
Improved professional skills:You will increase your business acumen and pitching skills and be able to apply key tools and frameworks to develop a successful startup.
Improved personal skills:You’ll develop your skills in essential areas including time management, project management, communication and interpersonal engagement.
Stronger entrepreneurial mindset:You’ll learn how to think and act like an entrepreneur and understand how entrepreneurial strategies can benefit your business activities.
2023
Applications open: Monday 11 September 2023
Online Information Seminar: Wednesday 27 September 2023. Register here.
Applications close: Friday 27 October 2023
Pre-Accelerate Ice Breaker: November 2023
West Tech Fest: 4 – 8 December 2023
2024
Accelerate Runs: February 6, 7, 13, 14, 21, 28 and March 6, 13, 20, 27
Mentoring: April 3 – 17
Pitch Night: Late April
12pm Wednesday 27 September – Online
Information Seminar
Join us for this online information seminar to get the inside scoop from Geremy Farr-Wharton, Entrepreneur Programs Manager, on what to prepare for when applying for the program, as well as recent graduates of our Accelerate program on what to expect if selected.
More than 60 businesses have participated in Curtin Accelerate, moving on to launch highly innovative products, receive substantial investment funding and win industry awards.
VetChip
VetChip is a world-first smart technology providing accurate, real-time analytics and health monitoring for animal owners and veterinarians.
Curtin engineering graduates Ross Khambatta and Zyrus Khambatta participated in the Curtin Accelerate 2021 program along with co-founders Garnett Hall and Maxwell Hall to finetune their innovation. Later that year, the team submitted their innovation to the Curtinnovation Awards and won the Science and Engineering Prize.
Fibre Economy is a social enterprise working towards a world without textile waste. The organisation established a workwear recycling program that provides donation systems at remote mine sites across Western Australia along with community workshops addressing textile waste through education and awareness.
Curtin fashion design alumni Molly Ryan and Claudi Janse Van Rensburg and co-founder Shannon Itzein have trialled their system for the past two years, collecting more than 700kg worth of mining uniforms.
Hyprfire is a cyber-security company developing software solutions to detect and mitigate malware transfer and denial of service attacks.
Its products are based on cybersecurity research at Curtin, which won the overall Curtinnovation Awards prize in 2017. Curtin PhD candidate, Stefan Prandl then participated in the Curtin Accelerate 2018 program to build the business model and go-to-market strategy. The company has now raised $2.25 million and is actively selling its software solution.
