iAccelerate Rise launching in Wingecarribee Shire and Goulburn Mulwaree

Do you have a business idea with legs but aren’t sure how to bring it to life? A new regional entrepreneur program aims to help locals do just that, and create hundreds of jobs in the process.

A regional entrepreneur program is launching in the Southern Highlands and Tablelands which aims to help locals successfully bring their ideas to life, improve existing business and generate 300 jobs.

The University of Wollongong’s iAccelerate Rise program will launch at the university’s Southern Highland Campus on July 1 and at the Goulburn Performing Arts Centre on July 7, where locals will be offered a taste of the educational course.

Both events are free and will host speakers, including leaders from local industry and government, as well as a panel of entrepreneurs who will join virtually.

The University of Wollongong iAccelerate Rise program is launching in Wingecarribee Shire and Goulburn Mulwaree for entrepreneurs and businesses.

Attendees will also be given the opportunity to “test” their idea.

Created to help boost employment in bushfire-affected regions, the eight-week initiative will support 90 of the most promising entrepreneurs and business owners to deliver 300 new jobs.

Chris Petersilge, Ecosystem Evangelist at iAccelerate, said that the Rise entrepreneur support program will boost employment and business opportunities for young people, and more generally increase economic resilience in both the Wingecarribee Shire and Goulburn Mulwaree regions.

“We are delighted to launch this unique program in the Southern Highlands and Goulburn Mulwaree,” Mr Petersilge said.

“We look forward to welcoming entrepreneurs in both regions who have a business idea, along with business owners who may want to step back and look at their business, and community enterprises or government agencies with a project to develop.”

Mr Petersilge spoke of how the program has been tailored to both regions, having been developed in consultation with Wingecarribee Shire Council, Goulburn Mulwaree Region Council and the local communities.

He also spoke of its success in other areas of regional NSW.

“Having launched the Bega Valley Innovation Hub in NSW’s Far South Coast, iAccelerate is familiar with the challenges and opportunities faced with supporting regional entrepreneurs. With over a decade of creating new industries and more than 900 jobs, we’re ready to bring this model created in the Bega Valley to more bushfire-affected areas.”

Those interested can register here.

iAccelerate is one of the 195 local community projects receiving Bushfire Local Economy Recovery funding as part of the $4.5 billion bushfire support program by the federal and state government.