Leading Australian start-up accelerator, ANZ Innovyz START, has announced it will extend its Adelaide-based program to Sydney, making it the first Australian accelerator to operate in two states.
The fourth ANZ Innovyz START program will run across both cities simultaneously from 10 February – 9 May 2014.
Dr. Jana Matthews, Program Director of ANZ Innovyz START, said: “Sydney is a major business hub and a centre for start-ups, so it makes sense to extend our program to Sydney in addition to our Adelaide-based program.
“Our high-calibre mentors and our experience in growing companies will enable a number of Sydney-based start-ups to accelerate along the growth curve. We look forward to joining in and contributing to the vibrant ecosystem in Sydney.”
The Sydney extension of ANZ Innovyz START is being hosted by Regus, the world-leader in flexible workspace. Regus is hosting the program in its flagship business centre in Darling Harbour.
Regus’ Asia Pacific Regional Director, John Henderson, said: “Start-ups are born every day across our 1700 global locations. We are delighted to host the ANZ Innovyz START accelerator as it expands into a new market. In addition to being able to use our co-working and meeting room space in the vibrant Darling Harbour precinct, being based in a Regus centre will enable these companies to plug into our global network, and have access to start-up hubs from Shanghai to Silicon Valley.”
ANZ General Manager for Small Business, Nick Reade, said: "The Australian corporate sector is increasingly looking to start-ups for innovative ideas. There is a growing interest in Financial Innovation and I’m keen to see start-ups from the financial services sector apply.
“Extending the ANZ Innovyz START program to other cities has always been on the roadmap and is a further demonstration of ANZ’s commitment to the start-up segment in Australia.”
Applications for the ANZ Innovyz START program are currently being accepted, with a new deadline of 9 December 2013 to enable Sydney-based teams to apply. Visit www.innovyzstart.com/the-program.
Key facts and numbers for ANZ Innovyz START
- • Launched in Adelaide in 2012 the intensive program runs for 13 weeks
- • Twenty-six start-ups have graduated from the program, including entrepreneurs from Canada, China, Denmark, Italy, India, the Ukraine, the UK, New Zealand, Poland, Thailand, and the US have participated in the program
- • Applicants must have three team members, should be incorporated and ideally have a prototype or business model before the program begins
- • On average 30 mentors participate in each program, 10 from South Australia, 10 from other Australian cities, and 10 international
- • In the final week, companies pitch to over 450 observers and investors, in what has become Australia’s largest Demo Day
- • 60% of graduate companies raise funds within 6 months of graduating
- • Companies on average raise between $60,000-$250,000 in seed capital following graduation
About ANZ Innovyz START
ANZ Innovyz START is a 13-week accelerator program, and provides a $20,000 stipend to teams of three who are selected to participate in the program. The Program Director works with each company to commercialise its break-through innovation. The program includes mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, learning programs around growing a company, identification of target markets, working and reworking the company’s plan, and a presentation to potential investors on the last day of the program.
ANZ Innovyz BRIDGE was designed for a select group of companies, primarily those who have graduated from ANZ Innovyz START and have received investments and/or a large contract. The BRIDGE program extends 3-6 months after graduation and enables companies to cross the chasm between "startup" and "initial growth", the stage when so many companies fail.
ANZ Innovyz START is one of 53 accelerators in the Global Accelerator Network. For more info:www.innovyzstart.com.
About ANZ Small Business
ANZ has more than 400,000 small business customers who have access to a range of easily accessible tools and resources to support their business, including ‘The ANZ Small Business Hub’ LinkedIn group which provides an interactive and inclusive community for small businesses to connect, share ideas, build profiles and open doors to new opportunities. ANZ approve 9 out of 10 Small Business lending applications and 7 out of 10 start-up loans.
About Regus
Regus is the global workplace provider. Its network of more than 1,700 business centres in 100 countries provides convenient, high-quality, fully serviced spaces for people to work, whether for a few minutes or a few years. Companies like Google, Toshiba and GlaxoSmithKline choose Regus so they can work flexibly and make their companies more successful.
The key to flexible working is convenience and so Regus is opening wherever its 1.5 million members want support – city centres, suburban districts, shopping centres and retail outlets, railway stations, motorway service stations and even community centres.
Founded in Brussels, Belgium in 1989, Regus is based in Luxembourg and listed on the London Stock Exchange. In Australia, Regus has a network of over 40 locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast and Wollongong.
ANZ Innovyz START located at Level 9, 80 King William Street Adelaide and at Regus’ Darling Park Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney.
