ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr will today launch the GRIFFIN Accelerator 2015 program intake at the Canberra Innovation Network.
“I look forward to watching a new group of innovators progress through GRIFFIN this year,” said the Chief Minister.
“The ACT Government has placed the acceleration of innovation central to its economic development agenda. We know that entrepreneurs and smart businesses are essential to expanding the city’s economic base, diversifying our economy and creating new jobs for the future,” he said.
GRIFFIN accelerator is a three-month intensive program run by a group of experienced Canberra entrepreneurs who invest in, host, teach and mentor selected startups to create successful innovative businesses.
GRIFFIN Accelerator CEO Craig Davis said the organisation was looking for entrepreneurs with ambitious and innovative ideas.
The GRIFFIN Accelerator will invest up to $300,000 worth of private venture capital into this year’s selected teams.
The business incubator is seeking up to ten teams of passionate entrepreneurs who want their innovation to have a big impact.
The successful entrepreneurs will be coached through the process of establishing a viable business, and then pitching to investors, and be supported in their startup journey by mentors who have already been successful in their own startups.
All GRIFFIN Accelerator mentors bring substantial experience in working with entrepreneurs, startup investing and raising capital, sales and business development, and significant industry and investor networks.
GRIFFIN mentors provide the capital which is invested in the accelerator startups, and their vision is to make Canberra the innovation capital.
“We’re thrilled that the Chief Minister Andrew Barr has chosen to champion the innovation community in Canberra, and is launching the 2015 intake today,” Davis said.
Startups and entrepreneurs can enter their ideas into the GRIFFIN Accelerator startup selection process by contacting the program.
GRIFFIN Accelerator will conduct a series of pre-program workshops open to all entrepreneurs prior to selecting the ten successful startup teams in 2015.
These cover a range of basic aspects of startup business but also aim to give deeper insights based on the experience of expert presenters, and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend.
(GRIFFIN Accelerator media release)
