Western Australia’s peak startup advocacy body, StartupWA, has released its 2021 strategy and announced $160,000 in support from the WA State Government through their New Industries Fund.
From Minister for Innovation and ICT Dave Kelly’s media release:
“Working closely with StartupWA, the McGowan Government will provide $160,000 over two years to facilitate a series of summits aimed at showcasing local talent and start-ups as well as helping them access the opportunities they need to grow their business in Western Australia.
The summits will be targeted at new opportunities for local early-stage businesses and start-ups, with a particular focus on female-led, Aboriginal and regional businesses.”
StartupWA Board chair, Tom Goerke said the support will enable StartupWA to strengthen the startup sector which is an important driver of new jobs and economic growth in Western Australia.
“We are excited to have the support of the WA State Government through the New Industries Fund to deliver a programme of initiatives to strengthen and grow the startups and ventures that make up the startup and small-business ecosystem.”
“This is a positive step forward for Western Australia and one that we hope will see support for WA’s startup sector go from strength to strength,” Mr Goerke said.
“We see this support from the WA State Government as a positive step in the relationship with StartupWA and the startup ecosystem."
Launched in 2017, the New Industries Fund has supported new and emerging businesses across Western Australia.
Other State Governments, such as Victoria with their LaunchVic programme and South Australia with their Go2Gov SA programme are unlocking economic value through working with startups.
About StartupWA
StartupWA is a not-for-profit representative organisation that was established in 2015 to advance the startup industry in Western Australia
“We want Western Australia to be recognised as a global hub for entrepreneurial and technology talent, where the value that startups bring to the economy is widely embraced.”
The StartupWA Board of Directors for 2021 is:
● Tom Goerke (Chair)
● Rafael Kimberley-Bowen (Secretary)
● Dr Kate Brooks (Treasurer)
● Chloe Constantinides
● Les Delaforce
● Cam Sinclair
● Kay Solanski
● Jason Balchand
All Board Directors and our new Advisory Board are volunteers, giving their time to support this mission of helping grow opportunities for Western Australia.
The StartupWA 2021 strategic objectives are:
● Deliver the StartupWA 2021 Summit Series (three world cafe workshops to measure the pulse of the startup community in Perth and the regions)
● Continue the rollout of the StartupWA membership model.
● Increase StartupWA engagement in regional and remote WA.
● Expand Industry and Government engagement in startups
● Secure long term funding partnerships.