A new launchpad for hospitality start-ups

A new launchpad for hospitality start-ups

RMIT Activator and Hub Australia have partnered with The City of Melbourne on a new 12-month pilot program for retail and hospitality businesses.

The City of Melbourne Accelerator Program (CoM X) was designed with the support of RMIT Activator to help start-ups increase their presence in the market, grow their network and achieve early stage traction for their business.

Five entrepreneurs were selected for the 12-month program, with ventures ranging from an online tool to aid hospitality industry recruitment to a personal shopping and styling service.

The CoM X program cohort The CoM X program cohort

They will have access to world-class self-guided learning including enrolment in courses, face-to-face workshops, masterclasses and sessions with a start-up coach, and continued opportunities after completing the program to make connections with City of Melbourne businesses to help expand their venture.

Selected candidates will also be given the opportunity to work for a year in Hub Collins Street, one of Australia’s premier coworking and flexible work spaces in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD.

All five successful start-ups presented their business idea to councillors and other guests at Melbourne Town Hall at the official launch on Wednesday 14 August. 

Director of RMIT Activator Matt Salier speaking at the launch event Director of RMIT Activator Matt Salier speaking at the launch event

Director of RMIT Activator Matt Salier said the selected start-ups have innovative ventures that aim to stimulate both the day and night-time economies in the City of Melbourne.

“We look forward to helping these businesses grow the seed of a good idea, so everyone in Melbourne can benefit from their innovation.”

RMIT alumnus and founder of HospoHire, one of the start-ups, Tommy McCall said the CoM X Program has already exposed them into new networks and provided them with some solid working foundations.

“The cohort looks to be really strong, working alongside these teams with the support of the CoM X network is going to be a sure-fire way to accelerate our growth. We can’t wait to get more venues onboard,” he said.

Deputy Chair of the Knowledge City Portfolio City of Melbourne Councillor Philip Le Liu said that as Australia’s fastest growing city, Melbourne offers unlimited opportunities for start-ups to generate and develop new ideas.  

“The City of Melbourne is proud to be part of this climate of opportunity and to work together with our partners RMIT and Hub Australia to support some of the wonderful ideas sparked in our city.”

Hub Australia CEO and Founder Brad Krauskopf said the CoM X program was based on a mutual goal of stimulating and supporting innovation-driven start-ups in the City of Melbourne.

“Together with the City of Melbourne and RMIT Activator, we have identified an opportunity to leverage the collective assets of the parties to create this innovative program,” he said.

“It’s so important we encourage and support new, creative and diverse business activities that will contribute to a thriving and competitive business environment within the city.”

The five selected businesses were: HospoHire, an online pre-screening assessment tool that aims to streamline recruitment in the hospitality industry; A Good Man, a personal shopping and styling service; Assembly, a location review platform for people with a disability; Mingle, a business empowering Australians to cook healthy, fuss-free meals; and Supply Hub, Australia’s first free, fully vertical cloud-based hospitality purchasing platform.

For more information, visit The City of Melbourne Accelerator Program (CoM X) website.

 

Story: Alicia Olive and Jasmijn van Houten

30 August 2019

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30 August 2019

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