World-class entrepreneurs are set to visit Queensland regions as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s drive to boost the expertise of regional startups.
Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch said regional centres, including Hervey Bay, Mackay, Rockhampton, Ipswich, Atherton and Cairns are on the itinerary for global entrepreneurial hot shots to visit as part of the Advance Queensland Hot DesQ program.
“As part of the first round of the Advance Queensland Hot DesQ program, an Australian-first initiative attracting international and interstate startups to the state, 25 companies received funding to establish a Queensland presence to boost the state’s startup ecosystem,” Ms Enoch said.
“The Hot DesQ Hot Entrepreneur series brings this entrepreneurial talent to regional startups, universities, industry and community, to share knowledge, connections and experiences.
“The regional visits are an opportunity to learn from these international and interstate startup experts, to showcase our regions, encourage an entrepreneurial mindset and help our startups think globally.”
Activities have already been held in Townsville, Cairns, Atherton and Ipswich and included visits by Hot DesQ participants Ingrid Rodriguez, who founded Eikonic in Melbourne, and CRiskCo’s founder from Israel Erez Saf, whose startup assesses credit risk.
More activities are planned in the coming months, including in Hervey Bay, Rockhampton, Cairns and Mackay.
Entrepreneur Jerry Reynolds, the American founder of Toured, an online marketplace for global adventures, will visit Mackay on 5 and 6 June.
Mr Reynolds said: “My goal with these events is to shape the way that founders think about their business, understand where they currently are, and how they can take the next steps. I love working with entrepreneurs and watching them take new and out-of-the-box ideas and making them come to life.”
Australian expat Holly Cardew, founder of photo editing software company Pixc, has spent several years growing her business in Silicon Valley. Ms Cardew will visit Cairns on 8 June to mentor local startups.
“I’m hoping to share my journey with as many Queensland founders as possible – an important lesson I’ve learned is that you need to trust your gut, especially when it comes to hiring,” Ms Cardew said.
Queensland Chief Entrepreneur Mark Sowerby will also visit Cairns on 8 and 9 June, Toowoomba 17 and 18 July, Mackay 26 and 28 July and Rockhampton 17 to 18 August.
“Regional Queenslanders are resilient, creative and have the grit to just get on with it. Combine that with the expertise our Hot DesQ teams will share with them, and a local community that gets behind to help them grow, then they have all the ingredients to succeed,” Mr Sowerby said.
Advance Queensland is the $405 million flagship initiative to drive innovation across Queensland and turn great ideas into new products, businesses and jobs.
For more information on the Advance Queensland Hot Entrepreneur series visit the Advance Queensland events page or follow Advance Queensland on social media.