Wollongong business incubator iAccelerate is expanding its global reach by entering into partnerships that are creating an international innovation network.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
iAccelerate marketing manager Astha Singh said the growing number of partnerships are already creating more opportunities for entrepreneurial reciprocal relationships, collaboration, insights and market expansion in Europe and Asia.
"We have partnered to assist each other's startups with a reciprocal "soft landing pad" program," Ms Singh said.
Recent partnerships iAccelerate has been involved in establishing include Hatch Works at Colombo in Sri Lanka, Da Nang Business Incubator DNES in Vietnam and Startup Lisboa at Lisbon in Portugal.
Ms Singh said it was the latest international partnership for Wollongong.
She said the University of Wollongong has been very active in that space.
"A few university relationships happened in 2018. Then UOW became part of the University Industry Innovation Network. But this one is specific to iAccelerate which has started to reach out to other international incubators and accelerators".
Ms Singh said the partnerships are a reciprocal arrangement.
"It means our residents can now go to Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Portugal and we are expanding. We are seeking opportunities in New Zealand, India and other markets to help our residents expand their reach," she said.
"The partnerships mean if they do an event overseas they let everyone know and if we have funding or can gain some funding from external sources we will be able to send some of our residents. That will give them some insights to the markets over there and have access to residents in another launching pad.
"It will also help iAccelerate residents find business connections and create collaboration opportunities. We want to keep our talented entrepreneurs in Australia and still be able to expand and have global reach".
iAccelerate chief executive Omar Khalifa said the partnerships are important for everyone at the Wollongong incubator because they will help create a soft landing pad in another country.
"This is part of our vision for a physical as well as virtual global ecosystem that will promote opportunities for iAccelerate residents and mentors. As well as other members of the iAccelerate Innovation Network".
Hatch Works chief executive Randhula de Silva said it too strived to create a culture of collaboration and co-creation. "This partnership will enable our entrepreneurs to receive more and more opportunities to scale and grow".
Startup Lisboa head of strategy Andre Costa said it was great to partner with iAccelerate to facilitate the interaction of Portuguese and Australian startups and their founders.
Alan El-Kadhi, an entrepreneur in residence at DNES via an Australian Government overseas aid programme, said that Da Nang was already a destination of choice for Vietnamese entrepreneurs to base their tech start-ups. He said they are attracted by a well-functioning city that has a beach lifestyle and a large pool of quality software developers.
"We hope the collaboration agreement between DNES and iAccelerate will now also attract Australian entrepreneurs to partner with and establish their tech teams in Da Nang." he said.
Allotrac chief executive Joel Kotamanidis and Me3D chief executive Leanne Connelly are among the iAccelerate residents interested in expanding to international markets.
Read more:
- Business incubator iAccelerate is heading to Europe with five startup residents to explore opportunities
- Nimble startup Easy Agile doubles in size this year and is still hiring and looking for more space in Wollongong
- How a Wollongong startup is improving road safety
- How Wollongong is becoming known as an innovation centre and a great place to star, develop and grow startups
- Meet the man behind a hi-tech Jamberoo IT startup employing 35 people in three of the towns old buildings
- NEC global president impressed by Wollongong during on his first visit to Australia
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
