Page 31 - Tropic Magazine Issue 34

TROPIC • BUSINESS

Start-up success

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

14 of our region’s future
business leaders are starting
the new year with a spring in
their step, having sharpened
their entrepreneurial skills in a
12-week course at James Cook
University (JCU).

Startups across a range of industries,
from travel to food, data science,
photography, and sport and leisure are The course was run in JCU’s
ready to prosper after JCU’s inaugural Ideas Lab, a space purpose-built to
Startup Pre-Accelerator Program. Offered Every successful startup foster collaboration and equipped to
by JCU Connect, the University’s research test new ideas. “The level of interest in the
and innovation headquarters, adds much-needed program, and the range and quality of the
it included weekly workshops and diversity to the region’s founders involved, has convinced us that
personal mentoring, culminating in a we need to run something like this again
recent pitch night attended by Cairns economy and creates in 2022,” Innovation Coordinator Maren
business and community leaders. future jobs – and many of Eibner said. “Planning is underway as to
Entrepreneur in Residence Aaron what form that will take, but the Ideas
Birkby said while the focus was on the those are high-tech, well- Lab will also host a range of hands-on
participants, the entire economy will paid opportunities innovation activities such as bootcamps,
benefit. “The program is an investment Aaron Birkby another Indigenous Datathon, startup-
in the startup founders who participated, Entrepreneur in led hackathons and game jams to
but it also represents an investment in the Residence encourage outside-the-box thinking.”
Far North,” he said.
Like most participants, Albert Jindra “Albert stepped out of his comfort zone
started the course in the early stages of as a tech innovator and became not just
a business startup. “I run Celsi, a real- a successful salesperson for his business, MORE: [email protected]
time temperature monitoring and but the winner of our final pitch night.”
reporting service,” Albert said.
“I knew I had a good product, but it was
the marketing and networking side of Some of the standouts
things that I really needed help with.
“Thanks to the mentoring sessions in Albert Jindra | Celsi Paul Harris | Skate Barrier Reef
particular, and also the support of the Winner: Best pitch Winner: People’s Choice
other participants, I made real progress Celsi uses smart sensors to Paul is looking at creating
in that area. By the end of the program provide real-time information Australia’s first indoor Freestyle
I had knocked on many doors and on cold room, fridge and freezer Academy – a centre for
expanded my client list by 400 per cent!” temperatures, which is particularly skateboarding, scooters, freestyle
Aaron said watching startup founders important in industries where BMX and climbing.
build their skills and confidence is one of temperature monitoring is critical,
the most rewarding aspects of running such as hospitality and pharmacy.
these programs. “At its heart our work
is about venture creation and building Tony Matchett & Kate Fabian | Savannah Sun Foods
scalable business models, but it’s the Winner: JCU Progress Award
personal growth of the founders that Featuring in Tropic magazine last year, Savannah Sun Foods is developing
will sustain these businesses when they a new agricultural industry in Far North Queensland, focused on grains
strike the inevitable ups and downs and seeds.
that lie ahead,” he said.

31 • tropicnow.com.au