Accelerator Programs

We have a saying at Smart Precinct NQ that if you want to go fast go alone but if you want to go far go together.  

About

Smart Precinct NQ provides several programs for inventors, creators, and entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and grow their business.

  • We help all types of organisations with all different types of ideas.
  • Researchers – to refine business model, commercialise research connect into industry.
  • Product Inventors who have an idea or prototype that could revolutionise their industry (such as Trades, Mining, Manufacturing, agriculture.
  • Inventors and Entrepreneurs with high growth critical technologies, software and hardware solutions.
  • Service Industry – start and grow a competitive practice or shop.

Ivan Brewer is the Founder of Peiso, the world’s first hospitality profitability software. He shares his experience in the Startup Onramp Founders Course:

peiso.com.au

Talking to professionals and guest speakers about their journeys and experiences was incredibly valuable.

Aaron Rieniets

Founder , Tan Lines

“Dare to Think Big” Pre-Accelerator ©  

The “Dare to Think Big” Pre-Accelerator program is a short intensive program to create and refine a concept or idea.  

It is suitable for innovators, inventors or change makers with a concept or idea for a new business that they would like to test, validate and explore with experienced entrepreneurs and business mentors. 

    Dare to think big pre-accelerator

     

    Duration1 day
    Topics
    • Creative Intelligence 
    • Innovation
    • Design Thinking
    • Business Model Canvas
    InvestmentFully funded thanks to Advance Queensland and Townsville City Council valued at $550.00
    Next Dates

    COHORT 1: 19 April 2023

    COHORT 2: OPEN FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (2023-2024)

    Register your interest here

    Other Inclusions
    • Mentoring Sessions
    • Insights and Resources
    • Invitation to meetups and ecosystem events
    • A digital badge and micro-credential for your LinkedIn and CV.

    Smart Business Accelerator © 

    The Smart Business Accelerator is suitable for founders with early-stage business ideas in professional services, trades, retail, hospitality and social enterprise.

    Owning and running a small business is hard but rewarding.

    Did you know that Small Businesses account for 98% of the businesses in Australia, are the nation’s largest employer and contributes 34% to the country’s GDP? Yet 50% of Small Businesses fail in the first 5 years. When a small business fails it has compounding impacts to the founder’s family, finances, and mental health. In this accelerator program you will learn skills and strategies to give your new business idea to survive.

      smart business accelerator

       

      Duration

      6 weeks – 2-hour workshops (face to face or zoom)

      Businesses can expect to spend 1-3 hours between sessions on pre-reading and implementing activities in the business and will attend a one on one mentoring session during the program.

        Topics
        Business Essentials 
        • Setting up for success
        • Director and Owner Obligations
        • Balancing Personal, work and cultural needs
        • Insurance and Recordkeeping
        • Protecting your IP
        Financial Basics
        • Uncovering the real Numbers behind your Business Model
        • Understanding Financials for Decision Makers
        • Financing and Cashflow options
        Marketing and Sales
        • Personal and Business Brand
        • Marketing and Sales Fundamentals
        • Websites and Social Media
        Systems and Processes 
        • Fundamental systems
        • Policies, Procedures and Processes
        • Automation and Productivity
        • Cyber Security
        The Future
        • Where to Next
          Investment

          Fully/ partially funded thanks to Townsville City Council valued at $2,500.00

           

          Next Dates

          COHORT 1: 22 February to 29 March 2023

          COHORT 2: OPEN FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (2023-2024)

          Register your interest

          Other Inclusions
          • Pre reading
          • Pre – Post and Six-Month Check in Mentoring Session
          • Invitation to Meetups and ecosystem events
          • Insights and publications
          • Invitation to join an SME Advisory Board
          • A digital badge and micro-credential for your LinkedIn and CV.
          Pre-requisitesIt is recommended that you consider completing the Smart Precinct NQ Pre-Accelerator Program before undertaking this program but if you are unsure, please contact us and we can put you in touch with a mentor to discuss.

          Go Global Online

          Take your business to the world from NQ. Benefit from the use of digital technologies and marketing strategies to serve your audience in bigger markets. Take your business to clients in Australia and overseas and create different revenue streams with the use of ecommerce, marketplaces, digital assets, online courses, print on demand, product photography, product description, SEO, Social Media strategies, ad campaigns.

          Go Global Online

          An intensive 6-week Program for entrepreneurs with a business idea, physical product, or service.  Each weekly session of 2 hours and additional extra work of at least 1 hour a week.

          This program provides businesses and start-ups with the benefits of positioning local businesses in global markets; creating job opportunities; increasing sales and revenue; gaining resilience; NQ brand exposure.

           

          Duration

          6 weeks – 2-hour workshops (face to face or zoom)

          Participants can expect to spend at least 1 hour for pre reading each week and more for activities.

          PurposeThe purpose of this Program is to help local entrepreneurs to take advantage of digital technologies, to position their businesses in national and global markets, create job opportunities, increase sales and revenue streams, gain resilience and adaptability, represent NQ brand and exposure.
          Topics

          This program is run by Smart Precinct NQ’s business and investment lead Dr Lydia Canovas and supported by amazing guest speakers.

          • Introduction to digital technologies
          • Choosing the right platform for the products or services
          • Targeting your niche, keywords, and SEO
          • Product description and photography
          • Social Media and ad campaigns
          • Go Global product launch!
          Cohorts

          General

          Open now for entrepreneurs with an online business idea to established businesses without ecommerce presence.

          Cohorts – Commencing On 2023-2024. (Register Interest – Enquiry Form)

             

            InvestmentGenerously fully funded by Townsville City Council valued at $2,500.00
            Other Inclusions
            • Pre – Post and Six-Month Check in Mentoring Session
            • Invitation to Meetups and ecosystem events
            • A digital badge and micro-credential for your LinkedIn and CV.
            Pre-requisitesBringing your own laptop and camera (phone), be willing to invest an additional $500 in setting up an ecommerce platform, buy a domain, and run the first ad campaign.

            Shape the Future Accelerator © 

            Do you have a business idea that could change the world?

            The Shape the Future Accelerator is suitable for entrepreneurs, innovators, creators and product designers with global, national, and regional ambitions and opportunities for high growth acceleration.

            You’ll learn the fundamentals of launching a start-up, including how to set up a business, source initial funding, refine your lean canvas, define your customer, and develop a go-to-market strategy.

              Shape the future accelerator

               

              Duration

              10 weeks – 1.5-hour workshops (face to face or zoom)

              Followed by 2 weeks of post workshop activity completion in own time with mentoring.

              Participants can expect to spend at least 1 hour for pre reading each week and more for activities and to prepare for the award ceremony.

                Topics

                This program is run by Smart Precinct NQ’s business and investment lead Dr Lydia Canovas and supported by amazing guest speakers.

                • Start – Up Essentials
                • Being comfortable with discomfort – Success, failure, Mindset and Motivation
                • Lean Canvases (Business Model, Vision, Context and User Journey)
                • Goals and KPI’s
                • Validating your idea
                • Building and launching
                • Naming and branding
                • Sales and marketing
                • Legal basics
                • Financing and Investment Options
                Cohorts

                There are several focus areas for cohorts to this accelerator. This is so that in addition to the topics and inclusions it presents an opportunity for collaboration, connection in a non-competitive way to help drive your business forward.

                Developing Northern Australia
                Open for expressions of interest from entrepreneurs, researchers and product developers that provide solutions that will support the development of Northern Australia. Includes solutions including supply chain security, sovereign capability, agriculture, mining, health, energy, defence industry, applied technologies, and transportation to name a few.

                General

                Open for expressions of interest from entrepreneurs, researchers and product developers regardless of industry, focus or solution

                Business for Good

                Open for expressions of interest from entrepreneurs, researchers and product developers that provide tech solutions that have a social or environmental impact for good.

                Cohorts – Commencing On 2023-2024. (Register Interest – Enquiry Form)

                Investment$550 inc GST Generously subsidised by Townsville City Council valued at $2,500.00
                Next DatesRegister your interest
                Other Inclusions
                • Pre – Post and Six-Month Check in Mentoring Session
                • Invitation to Meetups and ecosystem events
                • Insights and publications
                • Invitation to join an SME Advisory Board
                •  A digital badge and micro-credential for your LinkedIn and CV.
                Pre-requisitesIt is recommended that you consider completing the Smart Precinct NQ Pre-Accelerator Program before undertaking this program but if you are unsure, please contact us and we can put you in touch with a mentor to discuss.