A dozen early-stage food and agriculture businesses across Australia have been chosen to participate in a new accelerator program. The Ideas2Business program is the first of its kind in the country that is geared towards the country’s own food industry.
Under the program, the 12 chosen businesses will take part in a 12-week program that will help them test their business ideas and build their respective capabilities to develop and launch a wide range of new native foods and products in the market.
Each business will be given an opportunity during the program to tackle their biggest individual challenges to growth, from branding, product development, market intelligence, sales or supply chain. The program will also include access to a panel of expert mentors and advisors through its partnership with ThincLab at the University of Adelaide.
Over 50 food and agriculture businesses applied for the initial edition of the accelerator program that was developed by Food Futures Company, an Australian-based agriculture and food innovation design firm that works with entrepreneurs, SMEs, start-ups, researchers, corporates and investors around the world to accelerate the development of innovative agri-food technologies, products and services.
Co-Founder and CEO of Food Futures Company, Dr Christine Pitt, said the accelerator has been designed to help early-stage Australian food-focused companies fast-track their growth and build a healthier and more sustainable future.
“Australia’s native ag and food sector has great potential to become a successful world-class industry, and we are working closely with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses to help achieve this,” Dr Pitt said.
“The program is designed to develop their business ideas into offerings that will deliver economic, social, cultural, environmental and health benefits to First Nations people, other businesses in the sector with appropriate benefit-sharing, and the wider Australian community,” Dr Pitt added.
“This sector offers significant commercial potential, and we’re dedicated to helping increase efficiencies and traceability, improve decision support and value chain innovation, and innovate their business models.”
