05 Feb, 2015

SouthStart Conference at Entrepreneurs’ Week 2015

Entrepreneurs’ Week is now underway, showcasing Adelaide’s unique support programs available to entrepreneurs and the many success stories from our thriving start-up community.

It has been developed as a collaboration between City of Adelaide, the Adelaide Entrepreneurship Forum, Brand South Australia, the State Government and a broad range of stakeholders who are hosting events throughout the week.

As part of Entrepreneurs’ Week, City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese will be introducing the SouthStart conference on Thursday which focusses on technology innovation and start-ups.

SouthStart is the platform for Adelaide start-ups to showcase and connect with investors, peers, technical experts and the wider community. It demonstrates Adelaide’s entrepreneurial pedigree and its capacity for technology innovation.

“Our economy is changing and entrepreneurs provide us with one magic ingredient that every city desperately needs – innovation,” Martin said.

“The growth of entrepreneurship and the ecosystem that is evolving around it is critically important to attracting and retaining the best talent and it is integral to the development of exciting new ventures in Adelaide.

“City of Adelaide has been working closely with the entrepreneurial community for two years to develop a world class ecosystem of support. There are now over 90 programs operating in Adelaide that support entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses.

“For more than 10 years, Enterprise Adelaide has been providing free advice and access to business development services for anyone owning, managing or starting a business in the CBD or North Adelaide. The program supports around 800 businesses each year.

“Adelaide is gaining national recognition as a benchmark for the coordinated support of entrepreneurs”, Martin said.

Coinciding with Entrepreneurs’ Week, City of Adelaide in partnership with the Adelaide Central Market Authority is launching the Central Market Food Business Initiative.

It’s a new initiative that will give assistance to food business entrepreneurs looking to create a new venture that uses products from the Central Market.

Adelaide Central Market Authority Chairperson Nick Begakis said this would provide new opportunities to showcase all that the Market offers.

“The Market is well known as a wonderful place to shop with its vast array of produce. This initiative will support entrepreneurs with ideas to take this a step further - by taking the market and its produce to the more than 220,000 people that populate the city each day,” said Nick.

Those interested in finding out more can attend a briefing to be held at the Market on the 18 March. For more information, visit cityofadelaide.com.au/city-business/business-support/.

To find out more about the SouthStart Conference, go to www.southstart.com.au

Paula Stevens