[Sub ID 4430] Entrepreneur design-athon (Tiagra)

Submission ID: 4430
Organisation name: Tiagra

Which priority group of the Try, Test and Learn Fund does your idea support?
Young carers, Young parents

What need or issue are you trying to address?
Start-ups and entrepreneurs have created approximately 1.44 million jobs in Australia between 2006 and 2011 (National Innovation and Science Agenda, 2017). The question is: how can young carers, young parents and the start-up landscape work together to generate ideas, ventures, and opportunities for the priority cohorts.

There are currently mainstream incubators, accelerators and innovation hubs that could assist individuals from the identified priority cohorts with their entrepreneurial vision they do not provide the necessary pre-employment readiness, workplace social skill, replacement care support of flexibility that the priority cohorts will need to succeed.

Whilst this program addresses the needs of the priority cohorts, for the program to be sustainable and successful the needs of partner individuals and organisations must also be addressed. Entrepreneurs, innovators and thought leaders will have the opportunity to engage and work with young potential entrepreneurs who have a wealth of lived experience that could be the key to successful entrepreneurial ventures.

So, in essence, this program will provide solutions to the complex and unique barriers that are faced by the identified priority cohorts (including replacement care), and allow the priority cohorts to bring about new, innovative, entrepreneurial ventures.
What is your idea?
We will provide participants with training, soft skills and supports to succeed in the workplace. It will be a structured approach to creating entrepreneurial ventures in collaboration with experienced entrepreneurs.

Phase 1: Formulate a Designathon aimed at generating opportunities for the priority cohorts.

Phase 2: Reaching out to advocacy groups representing the cohorts to search for and recruit potential candidates; commence conversations with participants (and families as appropriate) regarding replacement care options.

Phase 3: Pre-job readiness and job readiness training to socialise the skills needed to operate in a mainstream workplace environment, include: self-esteem; workplace socialisation; goal setting; life pathways and planning; team Building and leadership. May include tested and innovative methods including participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; peer support; etc.

Phase 4: Conduct the Designathon, partnering 25 participants with entrepreneurs, and have them form companies, each must comprise of at least one person from one of the priority cohorts.

Phase 5: The Companies develop business models, with help from industry mentors; and participate in Accelerator Program.

Phase 6: The Companies pitch for seed funding (based on the funding available) to pursue their business venture.

Phase 7: Ongoing support for individuals who have completed the program for 12-months.