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UniSA’s Whyalla Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) will be officially opened this week with two local companies accepted into its incubator program.
After months of work and preparation, dignitaries, stakeholders and community members will officially launch the ICC at the UniSA Whyalla campus this evening (Wednesday, August 21) after receiving funding from the Australian Government, the City of Whyalla and support from the Government of South Australia.
Established in 2015, the Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) initiative is a strategic partnership between the University of South Australia, the South Australian Government and DXC Technology to support technology-based incubation and business growth in South Australia.
City of Whyalla CEO Chris Cowley said Council’s $100,000 support for the ICC made good sense as it would provide a platform for fledgling Whyalla companies to get a start and further enhance the city as a place that encourages local business people and can attract new companies and investment.
“The ICC is an exciting development for the city and for innovative business activity and opportunities … our investment in this initiative will be paid back to Whyalla many times over in diversed economic activity and prosperity,” Chris said.
“With Whyalla on a big economic rebound, we have local businesses starting to flourish again, local people looking to start business with some great ideas and more new businesses and investors interested in coming to Whyalla.
“To have this sort of facility providing such excellent support, it makes Whyalla an even more desirable regional city to have a business, develop a business and do business … that is good for everyone in our community.”
The ICC Whyalla will create a dynamic pathway for innovative startups to reach their global capacity by providing educational programs, expert mentors and fast gigabit network speeds to set them on a path to success.
Two local startups will take part in its inaugural Venture Catalyst program at the Whyalla ICC. The ICC’s Venture Catalyst program is a tailored, six-month incubator program aims to develop and grow the innovative ideas of selected startup companies. It supports early stage founders to plan and successfully build an investment-ready business.
Startup True Algae and local startup founder Matthew Wauchope were selected to participate in the program with each receiving funding, access to training and workshops, one-on-one mentorship, a modern co-working space and cutting-edge technical resources and tools.
They will work with global industry expert advisors, including ICC Entrepreneur in Residence Kirk Drage (and his company LeapSheep). Kirk is an industry expert who spent time in Silicon Valley developing artificial intelligence products and spent 12 years at Microsoft in roles such as Head of Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Relations for Asia Pacific.
UniSA ICC Associate Director Jasmine Vreugdenburg said running the highly coveted Venture Catalyst program from the Whyalla campus offers regional businesses extraordinary opportunities for growth.
“South Australia’s startup community is rich and varied, with many innovative and creative startups located outside of metro areas, it’s so important to also provide funding and expertise to regionally based startups, and we’re so excited to bring our Venture Catalyst program to Whyalla,” she said.
The Venture Catalyst program will deliver high calibre support to the two companies selected, focusing on enhancing their global competitiveness and rapidly accelerating exceptional ideas or projects on the world stage.
“Both companies are cutting edge ideas with a strong focus on bettering the environment. We’re very much looking forward to working with them and helping them take their business to the next level,” Jasmine said.
The program is open to startups located in Whyalla with applications accepted by the 15th of every month via icc.unisa.edu.au.
Following Wednesday’s official opening, there will be an ICC design thinking workshop with local high schools on Thursday, August 22, from 9am and a Techstars StartUp Weekend information session from 4pm.
Community members looking for feedback for an idea, help to find a team or interested in the startup ecosystem are encouraged to attend the Techstars Startup Weekend information session.
The weekend-long global Techstars Startup Weekend is for students, entrepreneurs, ideas people and anyone interested in the innovation ecosystem. It is being held on September 6-8 and sponsored by local companies OZ Minerals and Max Cranes.
Find out more about ICC Whyalla at https://icc.unisa.edu.au/whyalla/ The ICC is in the UniSA campus on Nicolson Avenue.
WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Geoff Rayson - True Algae
"We're thrilled to be joining the Venture Catalyst program.
“We’re so passionate about further developing our microalgae product, which can deliver huge benefits to farmers, while also being safer for the environment.
“Our hope is that by completing the ICC’s incubator program, we’ll see True Algae in farms all over Australia, and potentially the world.”
Matthew Wauchope
"The opportunity for one-on-one mentorship will be invaluable.
“In the current climate, there’s such a strong focus on renewable businesses and other streams so there’s never been a better time to take the concepts to the next level.
“I’m incredibly excited to have been chosen to take part in the first incubator program in Whyalla and can’t wait to see what the next six months brings.”