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BEING an entrepreneur is risky business. That's why Advance Queensland is supporting a new 12-week training initiative designed to give startups a little more certainty in the challenging market.
The Startup Onramp program, founded by business mentor Colin Kinner (pictured) and run out of Brisbane's River City Labs, is aimed at reducing the risks associated with launching a new business.
The course's learning units include finance and legal basics, an introduction into marketing and PR, how to evaluate startup ideas and how to properly raise money from investors.
Kinner hopes the program will help boost Australia's business profile, and take some of the weight off budding entrepreneurs.
"I want Startup Onramp to have a positive impact on the Australian startup ecosystem by producing at least another one thousand highly capable startup founders over the next couple of years.
"The principles behind Startup Onramp are pretty simple we're helping first time entrepreneurs 'un-fail' their startup by doing a lot more of the things that lead to growth and a lot less of the things that lead to failure."
The first instalment of the program launches tomorrow with an almost fully subscribed cohort of entrepreneurs. The second intake is scheduled to begin in September this year.
Kinner believes the country still has a long way to go before it becomes a true global contender in the startup space.
"Australia needs more startup founders at least 10 times more if we are to measure up globally," he says.
"We also need improved training for new founders if their ventures are to succeed."
Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business Leeanne Enoch says the program will help entrepreneurs make better decisions and avoid common traps.
"What is really great about Startup Onramp is that it concentrates on the things early stage entrepreneurs need to be doing in order to succeed, and gives them sound advice about what to avoid when they start out," says Enoch.
"This innovative program is just what we need to help us increase the rate of startup companies breaking through to scale up in Queensland, so that we can transform and grow the state's economy and create jobs of the future."
Startup Onramp has received $25,000 from Advance Queensland's Startup, Events and Activities Fund to help extend the program's reach interstate.
Business News Australia
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