READ MORE: Designer crowned eNVIes winner
TWO local entrepreneurs will travel to Silicon Valley, Austin and New York City after taking out the majority of a prize package worth more than $45,000 at the inaugural Limestone Coast eNVIe awards event.
Designer Ashlee Kalantarian and aquaculture entrepreneur Daryl Prunnell will embark on a 10-day tour of the United States in March next year, joining other business founders and Flinders University New Venture Institute (NVI) eNVIes winners to attend more than 40 events, site visits and networking opportunities.
The winning pair were among eight aspiring entrepreneurs who graduated from the eNVIsion Limestone Coast Venture Dorm program on Tuesday at the inaugural eNVIes award ceremony.
Around 100 invited guests attended the glittering event at the Main Corner where they heard marketing pitches from the top four Venture Dorm graduates vying for gold, silver and people’s choice eNVIes.
Tasked with judging the pitches and deciding on a winner were AusIndustry regional manager Callena Rawlings, Mini Jumbuk managing director Darren Turner, Limestone Coast State Government regional coordinator Peta Crewe, Mount Gambier City Council chief executive Mark McShane and NVI director Matt Salier.
Ms Kalantarian was crowned the overall winner, receiving the gold award and a $6500 cheque to grow her business, while runner-up Mr Prunnell received the silver award and a $6000 cheque to pursue his Fish4Life concept.
Katie Fox received the people’s choice award for her Little Pink Fox brand.
The event followed the seven-week Venture Dorm program, where participants attended twice weekly half-day sessions at the eNVIsion hub to help them clarify ideas and establish business models.
The participants were guided by mentors and had access to a global network of markets and expertise at the high-tech co-working space.
“Flinders University’s New Venture Institute is recognised as a top incubator in the Asia Pacific,” NVI director Matt Salier said.
“The eNVIsion hub reflects our commitment to fostering innovation in regional Australia and is a base for people in all stages of life and business to access rapid prototyping and world-class tech.
“This is one of only four regional incubators funded by the Australian government and we hope to prove what is possible when that investment is made in regional areas.
“Our first Venture Dorm graduates will demonstrate the capability of regional innovation to drive economic activity.”
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the first eight Venture Dorm graduates had proven the value of the program.
“It is a great privilege to deliver half a million dollars to this program on behalf of the Federal Government,” Mr Pasin said.
“If we want to be a community that takes our business capacity to the next level we need incubators like this one.
“This incubator will only survive in the long term if it is successful and provides real outcomes for the community and the graduates who go through the program.”
