• Participants in Charles Sturt’s second Indigenous Entrepreneur Program attend four-day workshop in Wagga Wagga

A second group of First Nations entrepreneurs are learning how to expand their business and promote creative business ideas within their community at a four-day workshop at Charles Sturt University’s AgriPark in Wagga Wagga from Monday 20 to Thursday 23 November.

Charles Sturt and Food Futures is hosting the Indigenous Scale Up Program, the second version of a program that enables First Nations participants to develop their small business.

This program focuses on the food and agriculture sector and will give First Nations business owners the ability to expand their existing businesses.

The business ideas in this program involve a wide range of concepts related to food production and technology, including skincare, beverage, beauty, health, wellness and medical offerings.

Manager of the Charles Sturt Innovation Hub Mr Ged Bourke said this program is building upon the success of the first Indigenous Entrepreneur Program held in May this year.

“The second version of the program is dedicated to offering culturally sensitive and pertinent scale-up strategies tailored for First Nations businesses with established products or advanced prototypes,” he said.

“Its primary objectives include maximising market entry strategies, refining business models, and enhancing promotion and communication to reach a broader customer base.

“Additionally, it serves as a catalyst for identifying new businesses for continued collaboration with Charles Sturt, especially in new research domains."

Participants attend fortnightly online group sessions and masterclasses and fortnightly personal sessions while having access to a network of mentors, experts and service providers.

The program runs from October 2023 to February 2024.

Participants also attended the AgriPark Industry and Innovation Hub opening and networking night on Wednesday 22 November. The event featured meat tasting by the University’s Red Meat Innovation Centre and wine by the Charles Sturt Winery. Attendees participated in exclusive guided tours of new AgriPark spaces.