The Andrews Labor Government is helping Victorian creative teams turn their big ideas into sustainable businesses as part of accelerator program Foundry658.
Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley today announced the ten teams who have been selected for the intensive three-month program, working with mentors and business coaches to get their ideas and products ready for the market.
The teams’ ideas range from creative regional road trips to personalised paint, bespoke theatre experiences to lighting products that absorb and reduce noise.
Other participants include a business that helps people record their family stories for the next generation and a virtual reality project that will give prospective international students an experience of what it’s like to live and study in Australia.
Several businesses focus on underrepresented communities including young Indigenous people, the queer community and women of colour, while podcast project The Big Feels Club will make content to support people going through distress or a personal crisis.
The Foundry658 program, managed by State Library Victoria and Australian Centre for the Moving Image, will run until June when the teams will showcase their products to investors, business founders and like-minded entrepreneurs.
Part of the Labor Government’s Creative State strategy, Foundry658 also includes an annual regional roadshow and boot camps to help creative entrepreneurs refine their business ideas. A second round of the program will commence later this year.
The full list of Foundry658 Accelerator participants is attached.
Quotes attributable Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley
“Congratulations to the first Foundry658 Accelerator teams. After a tough state-wide search we’ve uncovered ten incredible creative start-ups.”
“When creativity and business come together powerful things happen. We’re proud to provide this investment to these emerging businesses and look forward to seeing them develop.”
FOUNDRY658 ACCELERATOR PARTICIPANTS
The Big Feels Club podcast: Honor Eastley and Graham Panther
A podcast and online membership-based community where content’s shared about mental health and how having big feelings shouldn’t make you feel “broken”.
OK Motels, creative cultural tourism: Kate Berry (Daylesford)
A business that offers a program of curated road trips and experiences (food, exhibitions, music events) to regional places you’ll love but don’t know about yet.
Threshold, personalised theatre experiences: Sarah Lockwood and Tahli Corin
A business that creates a personalised interactive theatre-based experience that connects you and your teen as they move from childhood to adulthood.
Queer Town, mixed media: Archie Boulter and Grace Carey
An online hub that includes a wide range of video series, podcast series and writing created by queer people for queer people.
Aunty Cloud, mixed media: Shantel Wetherall
A podcast/radio show that collects user generated stories of women of colour.
Scanlan & Makers, interior design: Clare Scanlan and Shannon Wylde
Bespoke artisan paint for the high-end designer market.
Momento Media, film and storytelling: Jessica Ferrari
A business that offers tools and services that help you to capture and collect your family’s stories.
Acustico Design, interior design: Samantha McKenzie
The first lighting range in the world that uses special materials and construction methods to absorb up to 30% of mid-range frequency noise.
Global First Nations Network, film: Kalinda Palmer and David Ottosen
A media platform that focuses on sharing and creating content with young Indigenous people across the world.
Rani P Collaborations, mixed media and tech: Rani Pramesti
Using mixed realities to give prospective international students an experience of what it would be like to live and study at an Australian university.
Reviewed 19 August 2020