It could read like the start of a great joke: “An artist, a businessman and a social entrepreneur walked into a bar….”, however while this newly-formed Alliance got off to a light-hearted start, it is a serious endeavour with significant implications for the future of the region. This week the Midwest’s three leading representative organisations signed a new […]
Tag Archives | Midwest
Pitch, Plan and Projections
Each year we have several events and programs, like Catalyst and Startup Weekend, where participants present their idea for a new innovation or venture to an audience. This can sometimes be the pinnacle of months or preparation, or just a few hours. However people come to this point it’s usually a key moment in the development of […]
Startup Weekend Geraldton
Geraldton Startup Weekend offers everyone in the Midwest the opportunity to LEARN how to turn an IDEA into a Startup and on to a viable venture or project.
This weekend is centered around action, innovation, and education. Whether you are looking for feedback on a idea, a co-founder, specific skill sets, a team to help you execute, or investment, this Startup Weekends is the perfect environment in which to test your idea and take the first steps towards launching your own startup.
Tickets are available for only Friday night, or the whole weekend, register via Eventbrite: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-weekend-geraldton-2014-tickets-12107781701
Startup Weekend is primarily a LEARNING experience, where access to tools, coaches, mentors and collaborators accelerates your learning. While the best outcome is learning, it also happens that Startup Weekend is the largest single source of new ventures. And while Startup Weekends origins are in the technology community (apps and software), globally this approach has now been used with a focus on healthcare, women, social challenges and more. Read more about the diverse locations and topics on the Startup Weekend site.
Now, thanks to MMG Golden Grove, Up Global, Pollinators Inc and Lifetime Services, Startup Weekend is coming to Geraldton. We’ve tailored the schedule for our community and condensed into an amazing 30-hour event beginning with Friday night pitches, and continuing on Saturday with brainstorming, business model development, customer validation, basic prototyping and final presentations.
For Geradtlon Startup whether your idea is about technology, arts, or trying to solve a social problem, this is your chance to knock it into shape, FAST, and gain momentum to realise your dream. It’s also a GREAT lead-in to our Catalyst program.
Overview
Startup Weekend takes a team-based approach, where not all ideas pitched will be worked on. Some of the best learning comes from helping someone else on their idea or venture, without the emotional attachment and responsibility!
The event flow is:
- Friday Night (detailed timing for 2014 Geraldton Startup Weekend Friday here)
- Pitches — everyone who wants to has a 1 minute pitch
- Networking — an opportunity to learn more about other people, the ideas
- Voting — use sticky notes to vote for the top ideas
- Form Teams — teams are formed
- Saturday (detailed timing for 2014 Geraldton Startup Weekend Saturday here)
- Work on your ideas — use tools, resources, coaches, mentors, customers and developers to form your idea into a viable proposition
- Pitches — all teams practice then pitch for 5 minutes to the judges
Participants get:
- Support from coaches and mentors from across the community — legal, financial, technical, branding and marketing advice for free!
- All materials, templates, tools and contacts — for planning the business model, validating with customers and creating a minimum viable product
- Food and drink for the duration of the event — 4 square meals!
- Free resources from Startup Weekend sponsors like Amazon web services, .co, 3M and more
- Prizes for the best ventures, and spot prizes for great team members.
- Facilitation by a team of expert and enthusiastic organisers.
There are three information sessions, on 3rd, 10th and 17th September, to learn more about Geraldton Startup Weekend
Tickets are available via Eventbrite: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-weekend-geraldton-2014-tickets-12107781701
Goodness Festival 2014
The Goodness Festival 2014 showcases and celebrates innovation and achievement towards sustainability in the Mid West. A commitment to being, relating and doing more that is aligned with ‘Goodness’ is central to ensuring we are ecologically, socially and economically sustainable as a community. You can read more about the ethos behind Goodness Festival, written by Festival Patron Hugh Mackay.
Goodness Festival exists to make it easy and inspiring for every individual and organisation to contribute positively to growing our local economies, protecting our local ecosystems and creating a just and equitable community. Unique to the Mid West, Goodness Festival will run from the 15th to 31st of August and will feature more than 30 tours, exhibitions, seminars, workshops and events in and around Geraldton. From relaxing Chapman River Biodiversity tours to intense Startup Weekend events; there’s something for everyone! Book a ticket to an event.
An awards night Saturday August the 30th will celebrate individuals and organisations who are making our community a better place. Award categories including Leadership, Innovation, Science, Natural Resource Management, Zero Waste, Social Enterprise, Health and more.Nominate someone for an award.
Flock — flying further, faster, together
Pollinators, supported by the City of Greater Geraldton, are excited to launch Flock – an innovative peer mentoring program. Participants came together last week for the opening session where they learned about the principles, action-learning approach and collaborated on prioritising the topics they wanted to focus on during the program. Flock has been designed to help be outstanding […]
Thirteen Midwest social ventures get a boost through Catalyst
The Midwest community will benefit from the activities of thirteen stronger, smarter social ventures that will graduate from Pollinators’ Catalyst program this Friday 6th December. (more…)
Growing the ecosystem of support for social enterprise & innovation in WA
Social Enterprise & Innovation Support Ecosystem in WA This blog post outlines Pollinators current thinking on what’s needed to better enable the growth of social innovation and social entrepreneurs in Western Australia. We think the same or increased resources could be invested more wisely by government and business to have greater effect. The problem social […]