Stories
Regional business incubator on the horizon for Central Australia
Feb 18, 2019
Services: Connecting
DKA and iAccelerate will collaborate to develop a regional business incubator in Alice Springs.
Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA) has signed a three-year MOU with iAccelerate, a business accelerator and incubator program based at the University of Wollongong. DKA and iAccelerate will work together to support innovation in desert and remote Australia. Early project scoping includes the development of an innovation and incubation hub at the Desert Knowledge Precinct, the 73 hectare property in Alice Springs where DKA serves as landlord.
The three-year MOU was signed last month by DKA CEO Lauren Ganley and iAccelerate CEO Omar Khalifa. Ms Ganley said the collaboration with iAccelerate would help DKA support regional businesses by providing access to mentorship, expertise, national and international markets, education and resources.
“Our partnership with iAccelerate is a great way to kickstart a Central Australian incubator which will provide hands-on support to small businesses as well as access to seed funding and investment funds. With access to the right support, even the smallest business can grow into something sustainable and competitive,” Ms Ganley said.
“By working with all our partners and collaborating with other innovators we increase our shared impact, which means better outcomes for the people of the desert.” she said.
iAccelerate has extensive experience in growing strong businesses through its business and innovation incubator, and is ready to bring that expertise to regional Australia.
“Combining DKA’s connections with our experience in business accelerator and incubator programs will be the next step for iAccelerate to build a thriving regionally-focussed entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Mr. Khalifa said.
“We help budding entrepreneurs take an innovative idea and build it into a sustainable business that also has a social conscience by providing an acceleration program and access to national and international collaborators, researchers, investors and markets,” Mr Khalifa said.
The Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs, where the regional business incubator will be located.
Media contacts
Anna Skidmore
DKA
08 8959 6017
Chris Petersilge
iAccelerate
02 4221 4922
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