About Us
A unique business acceleration program
The Bega Valley Innovation Hub is more than just an accelerator, it offers a comprehensive and multi-faceted structured approach to empowering start ups, scale ups and entrepreneurs to rapid and sustainable growth through its connections with the iAccelerate Innovation Network, its mentors and the Educate Program.
Our Programs
Rise
iAccelerate's cutting-edge regional entrepreneurship program RISE supports new and existing regional businesses with practical workshops, online learning and a network of experts to help you grow and scale.
Part of the University of Wollongong (UOW), iAccelerate is a world-class business incubator and accelerator.
RISE is a blended program, meaning you can work from anywhere, at your own pace using the online course content as well as join facilitated sessions and mentoring. This is an 8-week program culminating in a live pitch event. You will be taught how to develop a pitch you can use to attract paying customers, investors, and the media.
A weekly plan would look like:
- Spend 2-3 hours working on their business at their own pace and
- 3 hours working together with an expert facilitator
- Optional mentoring sessions with an industry expert
Duration: 8 weeks
Who should apply?
iAccelerate Rise can support businesses and ideas, including:
- Existing businesses looking to revitalise their strategy to launch new products or services
- Startup businesses looking to turn an idea into a business
- Not-for-profits and social enterprises looking to make a financially sustainable impact in their community
2024 focus industries
In 2024 our Rise program will focus on business in several key industries:
Aquaculture – applications close 15 December 2023, starts February 2024
Advanced Manufacturing – applications close June 2024, starts August 2024
Circularity – applications close February 2024, starts April 2024
Ecotourism – applications close June 2024, starts August 2024,
High Quality Food Production – applications close April 2024, starts May 2024
Each program will be delivered at one of our hubs in regional NSW with businesses across the state also able to join virtually.
Our community is made up of the cleverest ideas in the Bega Valley
At the Bega Valley Innovation Hub, we have created a community of innovators, changemakers and business owners that collaborate and support each other to scale for local, national and global capabilities.
We are leading a successful innovative economy and creating jobs for the future of the Bega Valley.
Our ecosystem is diverse, our capabilities are strong and we help you build and grow your business from an idea to a sustainable business.
We are in the Bega Valley thanks to the support from the Australian Government’s Incubator Support Initiative and a wonderful local partnership with the Bega Valley Shire Council, the University of Wollongong (UOW) and Bega Cheese.
Where ideas flow, transform and gather momentum
Because the Bega Valley Innovation Hub is part of the iAccelerate Innovation Network we are part of a world-class, research intensive university, many of our existing participants and long residents are academics seeking to commercialise their research for the greater good.
We also leverage our close connection with teaching and learning to host students from UOW and across the globe, embedding future-focused skills in entrepreneurship and innovation in the next generation.
Building sustainable businesses
The iAccelerate Educate Program is a cornerstone of the University of Wollongong’s commitment to helping build and scale sustainable businesses that have a positive impact in our region, our nation and the world.
We seek out entrepreneurs that harness technology as an enabler for services and products that can be scaled and applied globally, helping people and the planet thrive.
An ideal framework to amplify your success
At Bega Valley Innovation Hub, we work with you to develop the skills you need to build a commercially sustainable business that delivers the greatest economic impact.
We do more than simply getting you off the ground – we set you up with the skills and know-how to build and grow your business exponentially into the future.
Diversity is what we’re all about
We believe that the sum of all these parts adds up to an energetic environment where ideas flow, transform and gather momentum.
Here, doors to valuable partnerships open every day.
A large percentage of start ups fail because they have a dream but no real idea of how to bring it to market. This course and the ongoing support have given me the confidence to see that my dream is going to come true and I’m taken seriously when talking with investors because I’ve been a part of the program.