Not for Profit Entrepreneur Academy Launches
31 July 2014 at 10:27 am
A Not for Profit initiative designed to help kick-start new Australian businesses, called Start Up Australia, has launched to provide skills for budding entrepreneurs.
Top Australian entrepreneurs will mentor participants during an online five-day conference, where 50 of Australia’s business leaders will give away their secrets for success, and a 12-week free Small Business MBA, sponsored by The Fortune Institute and hosted by Siimon Reynolds, will provide a step-by-step, how-to guide.
Organisers say up to one million businesses will receive free educational tools and regular webinars to educate them on how to succeed in the marketplace.
Start Up Australia is part of a global movement and has been launched with the support of Federal Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson and the Department of Treasury.
The Start Up movement has already been established in 44 countries including the United States, Britain, Canada, Chile and Malaysia and supported around the world by respective governments and Heads of State including US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
Offering their services for free, the Australian entrepreneurs behind Start Up Australia are advertising experts, Siimon Reynolds and Brian Sher; real estate guru, John McGrath with support from Naomi Simson; the success story behind RedBalloon, online e-tailer Paul Greenberg; serial entrepreneur Creel Price; Larissa Robertson, from SCO Recruitment; and James Stevens, who established the Roses Only Group.
Founding sponsors of Start Up Australia include American Express, MYOB, ACCI and The Fortune Institute.
“Business is the engine room of the economy and our goal is for Australia to become the most entrepreneurial nation by 2020. We want to tell the world that Australia means business,” Miriam Feiler, from Start Up Australia said.
“We want to create greater numbers of business start-ups here by providing the skills, encouragement, mentoring and training of people with big ideas, others who may have been retrenched, new mums working from home, retirees wanting to become self-employed, in fact, any Aussie who has ever dreamed of running their own business and wanted to have a go."
Federal Minister for Small Business Bruce Billson said the Government’s policy agenda was designed to energise enterprise, encourage more small business start-ups, drive entrepreneurial behaviour and economic growth, and improve productivity and competitiveness.
“There are more than two million active small businesses in Australia employing around 42 per cent of private sector workers, making a vital contribution to the Australian economy.
“Together we need to support the inspiration behind the creation and growth of start-ups; the invention of new technologies, products and services to boost Australia’s economic activity and international competitiveness,” Billson said
American Express Australia Managing Director, Rachel Stocks said the decision for American Express to be a founding sponsor of Start Up Australia was an easy one.
“This has the potential to fuel significant growth of the Australian small business economy and we are thrilled to be part of it. Anyone with the passion and dedication to see their dreams of starting a business realised deserves all the support and encouragement possible.”
