Entrepreneurs’ Programme
Delivered in partnership with the Darwin Innovation Hub
The Entrepreneurs’ Programme helps transform Australian businesses. The program’s unique services give eligible businesses access to expert advice that money can’t buy, and financial support through grants and incentives.
When you join the program, you will receive practical advice and mentorship from a dedicated team of facilitators, who will work together with you to help achieve your business’s vision. Our facilitators can help guide you to be more competitive and productive, attract investors and commercialise your products, and work with the research sector to develop innovative solutions.
If you are ready to transform your business, the Entrepreneurs’ Programme and Darwin Innovation Hub can help you take the next step.
Darwin Innovation Hub is one of seven Delivery Partners working with the Australian Government to deliver the Entrepreneurs’ Programme.
Darwin Innovation Hub employs business experts, called facilitators, to deliver program services to eligible businesses. Our facilitators are here to get to know your business on a personal level. They will provide you with targeted support to transform your business.
YOUR FACILITATORS
Emma Nesbitt
Head of delivery and Growth Facilitator
Focused on:
Food and Agribusiness, Process Management.
Harley Paroulakis
Founder & CEO of the DIH and Growth Facilitator
Focused on:
Venture Capital and Enabling Technology.
Kate Loh
Growth Facilitator
Focused on:
Digital Technologies and ICT, Asia Pacific Development.
Geoff Thomas
Growth Facilitator
Focused on:
Medical Technology a& Pharmaceuticals, Digital Technologies, Defence, Space.
Grant Williams
Growth Facilitator
Focused on:
Supply Chain, Exports, Freight & Logistics, Mining, Oil & Gas.
Karmen Karamanian
Growth Facilitator
Focused on:
Strategic Media and Marketing.
Matthew Bell
Growth Facilitator
Focused on:
Financial Accounting & Insurances, Business Evaluations.
Dr Steve Rodgers
Growth Facilitator
Focused on:
Enabling Technologies, Research & Development.
Heaven Hansen
Associate Growth Facilitator
Focused on:
Supporting Central Australia.
Dion Daniell
Associate Growth Facilitator
Focused on:
Supporting Darwin Region.
PROGRAM SERVICES
Growth Roadmap
Growth Roadmap helps you improve your business practices, become more competitive, and take advantage of growth opportunities. A dedicated growth facilitator will provide access to extensive networks, information, resources, strategies, and specialists unique to your business’s needs. They will work with you to develop your unique growth roadmap and help you achieve your business vision. You can also access a matched Growth Grant of up to $20,000 to action recommendations from your roadmap.
Delivered by: Darwin Innovation Hub.
High Growth Accelerator
High Growth Accelerator helps businesses who have a transformative growth opportunity. It will help you innovate, transform, and grow your business. You will work with a growth facilitator to develop skills, knowledge, strategies and connections to capitalise on your growth opportunity. They will work with you to develop a growth plan and help you build the capacity to accelerate growth. You can also access a matched Growth Grant of up to $20,000 to action recommendations from your growth plan.
Delivered by: Ai Group, Deloitte, NSW Business Chamber, and Business SA.
SMART Projects and Supply Chains
SMART Projects and Supply Chains provides access to strategic or high-value projects that are designed to increase the capability of Australian businesses. Through a tailored mix of facilitated services, peer group learning events and business performance assessments, participating businesses will have the opportunity to gain deeper insight into ways they can better make the most of emerging markets, supply chains, business performance and leadership development opportunities. Depending on the nature and design of the project, eligible businesses may also gain access to a matched Growth Grant of up to $20,000 to assist with implementation of recommendations from their participation in the project.
Delivered by: Ai Group, Deloitte, NSW Business Chamber, and Business SA.
Strengthening Business
Strengthening Business supports businesses in fire-affected communities to rebuild, transform and adapt following the bushfire crisis and resulting changes in their local marketplace. A facilitator will work with businesses to provide mentorship and develop a roadmap, identifying the immediate, medium and long-term challenges and opportunities. Facilitators will also provide advice on relevant funding assistance to help businesses recover.
Delivered by: Ai Group, Deloitte, NSW Business Chamber, and Business SA.
Accelerating Commercialisation
Accelerating Commercialisation provides expert guidance and connections to help businesses and researchers to commercialise their novel product, process or service. After receiving commercialisation advice, businesses can access matched grants of up to $1 million to assist in the commercialisation process.
Facilitators provide guidance and mentorship to help achieve project objectives, with an opportunity to access networks to help make important business connections, create opportunities, raise capital and enter new markets. Facilitators will also introduce potential exposure to investors and multi-national corporations through domestic and international roadshows.
Delivered by: i4Connect.
Innovation Connections
Innovation Connections helps businesses to understand their research needs, connect with the research sector and fund collaborative research projects. Businesses can also access grants of up to $50,000 to support collaborative research projects.
Facilitators will work with businesses to identify business opportunities and critical research areas for improvement and then find the best sources of expertise and ways to work with the research sector. They will also provide a report addressing the enquiry and recommendations for action.
Delivered by: CSIRO.
Incubator Support
The Incubator Support Initiative provides grant funding to incubators who support Australian start-ups with an international focus through two streams.
Expert in Residence grants support incubators to access top quality research, technical and managerial expertise through secondments of national and international experts.
New and Existing Incubator grants support incubators to deliver high-quality services for start-ups, improving their chances of commercial success in international markets. It also has provisions for incubators to partner with support organisations to assist first-generation migrant and refugee founders to establish their business both nationally and internationally, and assist start-ups with a regional focus to expand and scale their business.
Delivered by: CSIRO.
Ready to transform your business?
The Darwin Innovation Hub and the Entrepreneurs’ Programme can help you take that next step.
