• New Riverina startup founders ready to pitch their AgriTech Incubator business ideas at 6pm Monday 17 June at the Conference Centre at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga
• AgriTech Incubator Riverina: Ready to Launch programs help take businesses, products or services from idea to execution in just eight weeks
• Media interview opportunity at 10am Monday 17 June at Charles Sturt AgriTech Incubator

Eight emerging entrepreneurs from across the Riverina will test their business ideas on an enthusiastic audience at the Charles Sturt University AgriTech Incubator ‘Pitch Night’ in Wagga Wagga on Monday 17 June.

Research Partnerships Manager in the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Development and Industry) Ms Annette Davies said, “The ‘ AgriTech Incubator (ATI) Riverina: Ready to Launch’ programs help take businesses, products or services from idea to execution in just eight weeks.

“The program is perfect for all kinds of new startup founders, as it’s a hands-on immersive experience that uses Lean Startup principles to bring participants’ ideas to life,” Ms Davies said.

“Current participants in the fourth AgriTech Incubator program at the University in Wagga Wagga have been developing their diverse business ideas − ranging from solutions for water shortage and drought stricken farmers to soft toys − in a supportive and collaborative environment.

“The Incubator program concludes with a ‘Pitch Evening’ on Monday 17 June in which participants have three minutes to pitch their business idea to an audience and a panel of three experts.”

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, and Federal Member for Riverina The Hon. Mr Michael McCormack, MP, will also attend the pitch event to support the new business ideas.

“Programs such as the Charles Sturt University AgriTech Incubator are vitally important for supporting start-up businesses in our region,” Mr McCormack said.

“Wagga Wagga is great place to live, work, study, and start a business, and I encourage participants of the program to continue to develop their business ideas into reality.

“By working together, we can substantially enhance regional development across Australia.”

AgriTech Incubator program facilitator Mr Stephen Rutter from The Scale Institute said, “We started the eight-week program with a number of solutions to ready-made problems.

“However, as participants started to seek validation of their business ideas, they were able to focus on the customers’ problem worth solving.

“There are no overnight entrepreneur success stories, and we are excited to see all participants on their way to commercialising these meaningful ideas.”

While the formal ‘Pitch Evening’ is at 6pm to 9pm on Monday 17 June in the Charles Sturt University Convention Centre (building 230) and is free for the public to attend (registration is via Eventbrite), Ms Davies noted there will be a media interview opportunity with current AgriTech Incubator participants at 10am that day at the AgriTech Incubator (building 6) at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.

The guest speaker for the ‘Pitch Evening’ is AgriTech Incubator entrepreneur-in-residence Mr Ben Grozier, the co-founder of the Relief Teacher Association and ClassCover, a software-as-service platform that helps schools save time and stress with the booking and management of their casual relief teachers.

Since its inception in 2012, ClassCover has grown to now service over 2,200 schools across Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

AgriTech Incubator project officer Ms Siobhain Howard said applications are open for the fifth ‘Ready to Launch’ program commencing on Monday 29 July.

“Business ideas do not specifically have to be around agtech, and applications from people with varied business ideas from all industries are welcome to apply for the program,” Ms Howard said.

“The AgriTech Incubator aims to spark innovation and economic development in the Riverina region by supporting the development of start-up companies and facilitating innovation within small-to-medium-sized enterprises by providing access to University expertise and facilities.

“It is one of Charles Sturt University’s initiatives supporting entrepreneurship in regional New South Wales, along with the CenWest Innovate Accelerator in Bathurst and the Walan Mayinygu Indigenous Entrepreneurship Pop-Up Hub.”

Participants who will be available for interview at 10am on Monday 17 June say this about the ‘AgriTech Incubator (ATI) Riverina: Ready to Launch’ programs:

AgriTech Incubator participant Dr Siong Tan (pictured left), a post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation and a team member of the Functional Grains Centre, said, “We have developed a process which will benefit both processors and producers, and is estimated to double the value of canola meal by converting low-value canola meal to produce a high-value fish meal replacement product for the aquaculture industry”.

Charles Sturt University alumna and AgriTech Incubator participant Ms Jo Palmer, the founder and Managing Director of Pointer Remote Roles, said, “As the Founder of an existing startup, I signed up to complete the ATI Riverina: Ready to Launch Program to drill down into a new arm of my business.

“Going through the incubator process with a new product and strategy has been an incredible experience and there have been major improvements made to my existing business as I’ve gone along. Whatever stage of business you’re in, I highly recommend the program.”

The ‘AgriTech Incubator (ATI) Riverina: Ready to Launch’ Pitch Night is free to attend but please register to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ati-riverina-ready-to-launch-pitch-night-tickets-61408511511

More information about the AgriTech Incubator can be found here: https://research.csu.edu.au/engage-with-us/incubators/agritech-incubator