https://www.linkedin.com/company/iaccelerate
https://www.instagram.com/iaccelerate/
https://www.facebook.com/iAccelerateClubiAccelerate is the home of Entrepreneurship for the University of Wollongong (UOW) and across our region. iAccelerate is a lightning rod for innovation, providing a unique end-to-end offering that is a leader across the Asia-Pacific and globally. Our values of inclusivity, excellence, curiosity, empowerment underpin all we do. iAccelerate is industry agnostic, providing entrepreneurs with all they need to be successful, including education programs, experts in residence, mentors, seed funding and incubation in a purpose-built 280 seat facility. Underpinned by a world class university, startups can also leverage UOW equipment, expertise and graduate workforce. Since 2016, our impacts include supporting 385 startups, creating 1085 jobs (not including founders), and injecting $132M into the economy. Our residents have achieved $416.5M in sales and investment. iAccelerate also engages student through entrepreneurship events, modules, subjects, internships, and has a researcher pathway supporting PhD Students and Academics’ spinouts. Central to our values is the belief that anyone can be an entrepreneur. We actively support underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship, with 52% of companies having at least one active female founder. Regional entrepreneurs from areas across Australia, as well as First Nations, social, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse entrepreneurs are also supported through programs, and scholarships. At iAccelerate, we are a small team that delivers a big impact. We apply Lean methodology principles to the way we craft our programs and outreach, activating entrepreneurship and innovation. At the core, the iAccelerate team, strive for and find joy in the success of our entrepreneurs and startups.
Finalist
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Activators of the Year Award
iAccelerate
Finalist of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Activators of the Year Award
University of Wollongong - Australia
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Summary
Key People
Tamantha Stutchbury
Director
iAccelerate ,
University of Wollongong
Paul Di Pietro
Pro Vice Chancellor Industry and Engagement
Office of Pro-Vice Chancellor Industry and Engagement,
University of Wollongong
John Kerr
Community and Program Coordinator
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Ainslie Tweedie
Regional Entrepreneurship Manager
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Rebecca Duldig
Business Development and Initiatives Manager
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
David Malins
Education and Learning Coordinator
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Kate Garratt
Student Entrepreneurship Specialist
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Denny Nesbitt
Entrepreneurial Learning Specialist
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Georgia Watson
Women In STEM and Entrepreneurship Project Coordinator
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Crystal Maufouz
Executive Assistant
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Sheridan Gho
Research Innovation Specialist
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Erin Acton
Regional Entrepreneurship Business Development Coordinator
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Natasha Berta
Regional Entrepreneurship Business Development Coordinator
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Emma Robinson
Regional Entrepreneurship Administrative Assistant
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Bonnie Stonestreet
Promotion and Engagement Officer
iAccelerate,
University of Wollongong
Maree Glancy
Executive Assistant
Office of Pro-Vice Chancellor Industry and Engagement,
University of Wollongong
Acknowledgements
iAccelerate received internal support from champions within the University of Wollongong. We have also been awarded funding from the Australian and NSW Government and other peak bodies. We would like to acknowledge the support of:
Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Skills (TIES) Grant, NSW Government
Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE ) grant, Australian Government
Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLERF), Australian and NSW Government
Accelerating Regional Innovation Fund (ARIF), NSW Government
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Funding (FRDC)
Social Impact Pre-Accelerator Program (SIPAP), NSW Government - Investment NSW
Boosting Better Innovation Program (BBIP), NSW Government - Investment NSW
Images
Activate Cohort
Workshop in use
Sicona multimillion Raise - Ring the Bell
IA Team
Creating Community - Entrepreneurial Women's Breakfast
Activating ideas - Female Founders Workshop
Students Pitching
Social Enterprise Site Visit
Student hackathon - competition winners
Supporting Regional Entrepreneurs - RISE Cohort
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
At the core, the iAccelerate team, strive for and find joy in the success of our entrepreneurs and startups. Like many accelerators/incubators, we have a bell to ring for successes and we encourage our residents to celebrate every success, first sale through to multi-million-dollar raises are all equally celebrated, so picking one or two to profile is like choosing a favourite child – impossible.
One particularly impactful program we have delivered is to support regional entrepreneurs. In 2019 regional Australia was devastated by bushfires, and before these communities, many who relied on tourism, had a chance to start rebuilding the Covid-19 pandemic hit. iAccelerate was awarded $1M in Bushfire Local Economic Recovery funding to support business across the region through what we named the iAccelerate RISE program. 56 regional startups joined the RISE program and 63% of these has an active female founder and this program also supported 12 First Nations entrepreneurs. iAccelerate then hosted an international RISE conference bringing together entrepreneurs, stakeholders, government representatives, national and international experts together in the Bega Valley.
The iAccelerate RISE program has been recognised by a UOW Vice Chancellors Award and is a national winner and international finalise for the Green Gowns Awards for Benefitting Society. The RISE program was able to attract additional government funding and across 2023/2024 has supported another 39 regional entrepreneurs.
This program actively worked to reduce the gap of advantage between being a startup in a metropolitan and regional or rural location.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
When iAccelerate launched, in 2016, it was one of the first university-backed accelerator offerings in Australia. Uniquely situated in a regional centre rather than a large metropolitan city like Sydney or Melbourne. Our location was both a challenge and an opportunity and our values of inclusivity, excellence, curiosity, empowerment underpin all we do.
One of our key pieces of advice is to live by what you teach. Often, there is a significant divide between the theoretical application of entrepreneurial skills universities teach in the classroom and the reality of living as an entrepreneur. At iAccelerate, we bridge this gap by running our programs and offerings through the very models we teach. We don’t ask things of our participant entrepreneurs that we don’t ask of ourselves.
Another key learning is the immense value of collaboration and operating within a supportive community. We foster a collaborative approach, encouraging our more experienced entrepreneurs and alumni to give back. This culture of support extends even to our new entrepreneurs, sometimes undergraduate students, who are encouraged to lift the next generation of founders. This collaborative spirit not only strengthens our community but also ensures that everyone, regardless of their stage in the entrepreneurial journey, has the support they need to succeed.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
The iAccelerate team is excited by the future and has great ambitions to build on our achievement so far. We will continue ensure our ecosystem represents our values of inclusivity, excellence, curiosity and empowerment.
iAccelerate is fully integrated into our university to help it achieve across the breadth of its strategic goals.
IAccelerate's future will be to continue to deliver across our goals of:
• Driving Entrepreneurship
• Creating impact with and for our entrepreneurial community;
• Being recognised across our region and globally.
Early in the iAccelerate journey, we can see the economic, environmental, and societal impacts of our activities. These impacts are evident through both direct measurable factors and broader indicators.
In the short term we will look to grow undergraduate UOW student participation in entrepreneurship opportunities, and will be launching a physical co-working space for students this year.
We will also be working to embed iAccelerate opportunities across UOW’s regional domestic footprint as well as our global footprint, with UOW having campuses in Dubai, India, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
iAccelerate is already a leader, with UOW Researchers able to undertake sabbatical to work on their startup in iAccelerate, and we are also developing and Spin-Along model for UOW researchers to ensure more world class research translates to have impact in our community.
