$485,000 Federal grant awarded for AgriStart to help 50 regional start-ups take on the world. AgriStart was the only WA business awarded funding in the latest round of the Federal Government’s $23 million Incubator Support initiative.
AgriStart’s CONNECT: Regional Innovation Hubs will enhance regional innovation in three high-growth areas of Western Australia through training and the fostering of connections to start-up capital investment markets.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews congratulated the six successful applicants nationally.
The three regional areas supported by the AgriStart grant will be the Central Wheatbelt (Northam Hub), Great Southern (Albany Hub) and South-West (Busselton Hub).
AgriStart was founded and is led by agricultural researcher Dr Natasha Ayers and global entrepreneur Peter Rossdeutscher, is a successful consulting company that designed and delivered WA’s first Agtech Accelerator programs and has delivered innovation training in towns across the state.
AgriStart’s Managing Director Dr Ayers is from a wheatbelt farm in Cunderdin, and will be based in the South-West Regional Hub.
Dr Ayers commented “This funding is a great opportunity to expand the geographical reach of our services, building capability and capital for small business growth across Western Australia. AgriStart CONNECT Regional Innovation Hubs will work with local innovators to connect entrepreneurs in rural areas to the Perth innovation networks and global markets.”
Mr Rossdeutscher added “Regional Australia is blessed with entrepreneurial endeavour so it is wonderful to see Federal support behind AgriStart’s regional growth initiative. This initiative will create jobs and economic growth across the state by fostering startup success in the three hubs.”
The grant of $485,000 will provide face-to-face training, expert mentoring, online support and networking opportunities for up to 50 small businesses or start-ups in regional 50 over the next 2 years.
Read the official media release from the office of Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology HERE.
To sign up for updates on the programs offered in regional WA visit http://www.agristart.com.au/connect/
For more details contact info@agristart.com.au
Blog written by Sarah Gray