NSW
Some of the state’s brightest female startup founders are turbocharging their careers, thanks to a NSW Government program teaching industry-specific critical skills such as pitching for capital, financial modelling and product design, Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Alister Henskens said today.
Mr Henskens said 150 women had now completed the Female Founder Startup Program which has helped them develop vital skills and build business connections.
“Our Government recognises the wealth of knowledge and capabilities women entrepreneurs bring to business and the NSW economy,” he said.
“Delivered online by Tech Ready Women in partnership with the Sydney Startup Hublaunch, the 8-week program enables startups to test and launch ideas in market and thanks to its success we are proud to launch another new opportunity, the Female Founder Connect Pilot.”
From September, the Female Founder Connect Pilot will build on the skills learned in the Female Founders Startup program and help support women across NSW at all stages of their startup journey by connecting them with networks, programs, customers, mentors, grants and funding.
Minister for Women, Bronnie Taylor added that the NSW Government, via the Women’s Economic Participation in Innovation Precincts Strategy, was committed to understanding the challenges women face when looking to succeed in emerging high-value industries such as tech and advanced manufacturing.
“This strategy will help form a government taskforce to look at the disadvantages faced by women across the state’s innovation precincts including Tech Central, the Westmead Health and Innovation District and Regional Special Activation Precincts,” Mrs Taylor said.
“As part of the strategy, we want to hear from businesses, industries and individuals on ways we can help tackle the barriers women face. We have launched public consultation to hear from you.”
Female Founder Startup Program participant Danielle Morton (pictured, above), the founder of Zondii, a real-time smartphone authentication company, said there were many obstacles women face to entering the tech industry.
“Programs like the Female Founder Startup Program are critical in breaking down barriers by allowing participants to upskill, gain mentors and undertake training,” Ms Morton said.
As part of the graduation of the Female Founder Startup Program a range of founders pitched to a distinguished group of investors, accelerator representatives, and representatives from the NSW Government at the official graduate event held at the Sydney Startup Hub.
To keep up to date about the Sydney Startup Hub and the Female Founder Connect Pilot sign up to the Sydney Startup Hub platformlaunch.