The Andrews Labor Government will invest $2.4 million to boost access and participation in the state\u2019s booming startup sector.<\/p>\n
The funding will be invested through LaunchVic to support 15 projects across 26 local government areas in Victoria \u2013 ranging from from $50,000 to $400,000 to support startup and entrepreneurial activity in local regions.<\/p>\n
Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams, was today pleased to announce that local entrepreneurs across Dandenong would benefit from over $298,250 in funding.<\/p>\n
The City of Greater Dandenong will receive $100,000 in funding through LaunchVic to activate the Greater Dandenong Start Up Hub <\/em>which will accelerate local entrepreneurship skill sets through workshops, hackathons,\u00a0 coworking memberships, mentoring and masterclasses \u2013 supporting a culturally diverse and business-minded municipality.<\/p>\n The City of Casey, in partnership with Cardinia Shire Council and Federation University, will receive $198,250 to run The INNovation Crowd<\/em>, a program that will deliver events including meetups, hackathons, masterclasses, workshops, a bootcamp and a major Business Expo and Pitchfest. The program will also offer mentoring via an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Casey Cardinia Business Hub and online. Five local founders will have the opportunity to be selected for kick-starter funding.<\/p>\n LaunchVic\u2019s annual Mapping Victoria\u2019s Startup Ecosystem<\/em> survey revealed only 3 per cent of the state\u2019s startups are based outside inner Melbourne, and are distributed across just three regional centres in Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat.<\/p>\n This latest investment complements LaunchVic\u2019s Startup Guide and Toolkit<\/em> released late last year to help councils secure funding to implement programs and activities that nurture startup activity and encourage greater participation within their communities.<\/p>\n