Student Start-Up Accelerator Program

Student Start-Up is a launching pad to transform the best and brightest ideas of secondary school students in Melbourne’s northern regions into real businesses.
Over five days, students will embark on a first of its kind program as an entrepreneur. Working in 40 small teams or as individuals, students are mentored by business and industry-specific mentors to understand the importance of customer centricity, needs-based innovation, adaptability and business value creation.
The program will end with a live entrepreneurial pitch similar to the reality TV show ‘Shark Tank’. Students will leave with a portfolio and prototype ready to go to market.

Student Start-Up will support the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs, build confidence in their abilities and offer training relevant to the growing trends in entrepreneurship.
In our region, one in three businesses are a small business. We have a community with deep knowledge and experience ready to mentor students. However, it’s often difficult for young people to build networks and connect with the right people to help them realise their entrepreneurial dreams.
This program will build a network of mentors, and connect them with our young entrepreneurs, to develop tangible soft skills and critical enterprise skills sought by employers.