To support this program and engage entrepreneurs around Australia, the program is providing $5 million in funding across three categories for projects delivered over the next three years.

If you are currently working on a project that might  target people who have had little engagement with science, and you require some funds to get off the ground, check it out!  The grants aim to inspire projects that focus on priorities such as – but not limited to – youth, Indigenous communities and regional Australia. If that sounds like your idea, you’re in with a head start.

Applications are sought in the following categories:

• Up to $5,000; typically for individuals or small organisations.
• Up to $45,000; for high impact science engagement projects at regional or national level.
• Up to $500,000; for organisations and partnerships delivering high impact, nationally significant projects.

Each category will have the same eligibility and selection criteria and grant selection process, but with different levels of detail required.

Grant applications will be assessed by an independent selection committee, with successful projects expected to be announced by May 2012. Applications must be submitted online between now and 29 February (4:00pm AEDT) 2012.

Comprehensive guidelines are available from the Federal Government website or you can call 02 6270 2803 for more information.

WEBSITE: www.innovation.gov.au/Science/InspiringAustralia/UnlockingAustraliasPotential/Pages/default.aspx

Please note: This grants round is open from 16 January to 29 February 2012 (4pm AEDST).

I love logo design and find it quite inspirational to see how people distil their business vision into a single word in a particular colour and font. To kick off the blog this year, here is a link to a great article by Design Crowd – 50 Startup Logos from 2011

• http://blog.designcrowd.com/article/298/50-startup-logos-from-2011

My favourites are Sonar, Kiwi Crate and Pygg.  They are simple, bright and eye-catching. What are your favourites?

We have met some fantastic business owners, entrepreneurs and inventors on our travels around Queensland. Here’s what some of them had to say about our workshops…

“I am so happy I came today as I now feel that I have direction and help to move forward.”

- Zandra Zigic, Superlife Systems.

“Valuable content for any business owner, particularly people just starting out. This course should be mandatory for all people wanting to set up a business.”

- Daniel Di Mascio, Del Mondo Property Group.

 

“Loved the interaction and everyone’s willingness to answer questions.”

- Colette Ryan, Bontech

“Excellent information gathering. Excellent value for money. Very worthwhile day spent. I got so much out of the workshop and it certainly is tremendous value.. thanks again”

- Bob West

“An absolute eye-opener. There is so much information for innovators available… wish it went for two days!’

- Nic Zymaras, Random Press

• http://wired.ivvy.com/event/FK6SN8

According to the Australian Association of Angel Investors, this annual event is “a unique opportunity to meet and network with and hear what high-profile national and international Angel Investors have to say about their experiences, deals and industry trends.”

They describe it as a must-attend event for Angel Investors, Entrepreneurs, Corporate Service Firms, Government Representatives and/or Private Investors seeking alternate investment opportunities to diversify their investment portfolios.

The event will be held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, on the 29th February – 2nd March, 2012.  Click the link above to register.

I received an email this morning from Trevor McKendrick, a “big fan of Ideas2market” (his own words!). Trevor wrote to say:

“I wanted to suggest a possible site for your blogroll about entrepreneurship that I recently found that I think readers like me would enjoy. It’s called StartUpFlavor.com and it’s by a really successful entrepreneur (or at least that’s what his bio says, ha). Regardless, I think the content and advice he gives is great. “

I was happy he’d taken the time to write, and it made me think about sharing.

Entrepreneurs are often doing it alone. The only person giving direction is yourself, so any outside help is appreciated. It might be a tip from another entrepreneur, a useful website or a link to a quality supplier – anything that makes the struggle a little less grueling is valuable.

It’s easy for business to become mean. In the interests of protecting their competitive advantage, business owners can think they have to guard their resources, ideas and contacts like misers with their gold. But of course, the opposite is true. The more you help other people, by sharing advice, experiences, resources and contacts, the more help you will get in return.

In today’s world we are embracing collaboration in so many forms. We’re smart enough to realise that working together often produces an end result far better than that we could create alone. Why should start-up business be any different?

Let’s share our ideas, our resources, our tips and advice. It’s a fantastic way to be better than we ever could be on our own.

The link to Trevor’s suggested site is below, along with a few other sites I visit frequently. Do you have some sites that you have found useful?

• http://startupflavor.com
• http://www.kirstydunphey.com
• http://www.sethgodin.com/sg
• http://www.startupsmart.com.au
• http://www.ausicom.com/inventors_guide.php
• http://www.womeninbusiness.com.au
• http://www.smh.com.au/small-business

A while ago, when people spoke of entrepreneurs, the stereotype was a young man in a snappy suit with sunglasses and a mobile phone.  Fast-talking, slick and definitely male. Nowadays the stereotype has all but disappeared. Entrepreneurs can still be young men, but they can also be retirees, mothers and even teenagers.  Terms such as ‘mumpreneurs’ (young mothers who start their businesses while looking after young babies) show us just how diverse the world of start-up business is becoming. The internet means you can start a business anywhere, at any stage in your life. And isn’t this fantastic?

If you have a great idea or a passion to start a business, nothing should hold you back. Sure, you need to work really hard to get the money, skills and resources you need, but no-one should be able to tell you that you can’t start a business because you’re a woman, or too young, or too old. All you need to be is dedicated and smart.

It’s great to see women up there with men in the world of start-up business.  To read more about Australia’s top 10 female start-up entrepreneurs, read the article on Startup Smart here:

http://www.startupsmart.com.au/success-stories/australias-top-10-female-start-up-entrepreneurs/201111034428.html?utm_source=StartupSmart&utm_campaign=aae685e073-Friday_4_+November_2011&utm_medium=email

Read about entrepreneurial kids — ages 12 to 23 — and the six traits they say you really need to make big money doing what you love.

http://www.businessinsider.com/these-pre-teen-entrepreneurs-make-millions-more-than-their-parents-2010-9

To find out more Gray Entrepreneurs - retirees opting to launch startups – check out this article.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/03/magazines/business2/grayentrepreneur.biz2/index.htm

Boosted along by the conveniently placed coffee machine (Ten cups in one day? Really, Clint?) the group spent the day learning about business structures, feasibility analysis, market research, marketing and business planning, as well as listening to our guest speakers Paul Harrison from Shelston IP and Julie Williams from AgSolutions. The best thing about the Gympie I2M group was the way they continually shared ideas and advice during the day. This has continued after the workshop, with the group sending emails sharing tips and tools while offering mutual support.

This is what I love to see coming out of these workshops – a group of inspired entrepreneurs who have not only gained and shared information, but also built themselves a great network of business contacts on which they can rely in the coming years. Starting a business is hard work and it can be lonely. The more people you can add to your support network, the better – something this group seems to know already!

Thank you to the Gympie Ideas2Market attendees for their enthusiasm and participation. It was fantastic to meet each and every one of you!

.

Part of the Email Trail from the Gympie I2M Group

“Hi Guys, I just wanted to say that it was great to meet all of you at the work shop on Wednesday and a huge thanks to Cameron, Genevieve, Paul and Julie for sharing your own personal expertise and experience. It was a valuable day and the coffee was a hit!

I would also like to invite you to follow my journey and keep in touch by liking my face book page via the following link: https://www.facebook.com/MudjimbaCruisers

I wish you all the best with your personal ventures and the best of luck.

Kind Regards, Tim.”

….

“I have to echo Tim’s comments. It was a very useful day for me, and has not only inspired my work with Pooch To 5k but has rekindled my interest in other almost forgotten projects.Thanks again to Cameron, Genevieve, Paul and Julie. Thanks to everyone else in the room as well for their useful insights and enthusiasm.

I mentioned an application for your website that allows people to pay for a product, such as a download, recipe, or plan with a tweet or facebook like. The product is linked here: http://codecanyon.net/item/transact-socially-sell-the-easy-way/599461 . We’ll be putting it on Pooch To 5k’s website for people to download our training program and on some other on-line businesses we have also.

I’ll keep an eye out and hopefully see everyone’s name up in lights as successes at their chosen businesses.

All the best.  Francis.”

Photos from the day

The grants are available on a competitive basis to provide assistance to innovative businesses to help commercialise their ideas, deliver new products and services or increase competitiveness. The judges are looking for innovative ideas that could change the way your business works and have the potential to transform the industry you work in. It might be an invention, a new business process or a new service idea. Applications close on 12 September 2011 so get in quick!

Visit the website for more info or to apply. www.bigideaqld.com.au

The R&D Tax Incentive is a major part of the Australian Government’s commitment to boost industry investment in research and development (R&D) activities.

The program is broad-based, market driven and accessible to companies in all industry sectors. It provides a tax offset to support Australian companies to be more innovative, productive and competitive in the global marketplace.

As part of the commencement of the R&D Tax Incentive, AusIndustry and the ATO are holding a series of public information sessions. These sessions will provide attendees with an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the program.

To view the schedule of info sessions, you can visit the website here: http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/InnovationandRandD/RandDTaxIncentive/Pages/RandDTaxIncentive-InformationSessions.aspx

The Australian Innovation Challenge is now open for submissions. Created by The Australian in association with Shell, and supported by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, these awards consist of seven professional categories and a general public category for “Backyard Innovation”.

The competition is searching for the best idea or innovation that could make a difference and inspire the nation. Not only could your idea be recognised in a national newspaper and website, but you could be rewarded with a share of $70,000 to help you on your journey in bringing your idea to life.

Entries close September 28th, 2011, so enter now! The website is:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/innovationchallenge .

Good luck!