Aspiring entrepreneurs could win a share of $27,000 in as little as five minutes.
The seed funding is available as part of The Ideas Place Pitch Night, with expressions of interest in the pre-pitch night program, dubbed The Ideas Place Boot Camp, now open.
The Boot Camp helps participants to refine their innovative business idea, with the chance to then participate in a Pitch Night where they will have five minutes to present their idea in the hopes of winning a share of up to $27,000 in seed funding.
This is the third and final Boot Camp and Pitch Night to be held in South West Victoria using LaunchVic funding secured in early 2023, and it’s free to take part in.
Previous winners include Sherri Symons and her idea to use low-grade wool as an organic fertiliser, as well as Jean Kerwin and her idea for life writing packages aimed at people with a loved one facing end of life.
Ideas Place facilitator Liz Grant said that ideas didn’t need to be earth-shattering to be viable.
“You don’t need to be the next Elon Musk. It can be something quite simple,” she said.
“With the Boot Camp, participants produce a pitch deck which is like a summary business plan.
“No matter where they are at, it really helps them to clarify exactly what their offer is, exactly who they are targeting, their goals, and how they are going to reach them.
“It’s a really great experience for people to go through as a next step to help them understand where they are going and how to get there.
“Even if you’re not aiming for the Pitch Night, the Boot Camp can be a great experience.”
The Ignite Program has also run under the Ideas Place banner, with participants learning about the different aspects of getting a start-up business off the ground. While many of the participants in the previous two Boot Camps and Pitch Nights came through the Ignite Program, Ms Grant said anyone with an idea can apply to join the Boot Camp.
“Just because you haven’t done Ignite, it doesn’t mean you won’t get to the Pitch Night,” she said.
“We had people in the last pitch night that hadn’t done Ignite and even if you’re not sure if your idea has legs, get on board and let’s investigate.”
Applications close at 5pm on Friday July 26. To express your interest visit
The Ideas Place is a program to help South West entrepreneurs and start-ups bring their innovative ideas to market.
Made possible via LaunchVic funding, other partners include the Warrnambool, Moyne and Corangamite councils, South West TAFE, Great South Coast Food & Fibre, the Fletcher Jones Family Foundations and What Your Customers Want.
