FLINDERS University New Venture Institute (NVI) has revealed details of the incubator hub it will open in Mount Gambier to help grow startup businesses.
The $1.5m eNVIsion Limestone Coast hub will be a “Google-esque” design space in the city centre where entrepreneurs can collaborate, share ideas, develop prototypes and pitch to investors.
Flinders University New Venture Institute deputy director Kathryn Anderson explained the hub would be developed with input from local stakeholders and the community.
“The hub will be an awesome, flexible space in the city centre where people can rent a desk, collaborate with others sharing the space and access technologies that will assist them in a range of areas,” Ms Anderson said during a visit to Mount Gambier this week.
“We will bring experts into the space for one-on-one sessions on topics including intellectual property and legal issues.
“For people who are developing a physical product, the hub will allow them to rapidly prototype or investigate new packaging solutions.
“We have a model that works just south of the city in Adelaide at the Tonsley innovation precinct and what we are bringing down here is the seed of that and we will develop this in collaboration with our stakeholders and the community.”
Ms Anderson said the eNVIsion hub would offer a lean startup program culminating in an awards night.
“The startup program will help people get their startup business off the ground fast with more targeted development, which will ultimately save them money,” she said.
“We will host a live pitch session called the eNVIes awards – think a live episode of Shark Tank.
“Six chosen finalists will make their pitch and a gold winner will win a trip to Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest festival and will have opportunities to network and make investment pitches all over the place.”
The hub will be connected to the high-speed broadband GigCity network.
Mount Gambier City Council chief executive Mark McShane said the eNVIsion hub would “enliven and drive” Mount Gambier’s economy.
“This is a prime example of a very effective collaboration between three tiers of government, Flinders University and ultimately the private sector as well,” Mr McShane said.
“This will be the first incubator hub in regional South Australia and the establishment of an innovation hub was outlined as one of five key areas for action in council’s digital strategy.”
