FounderHUB

FounderHUB

RMIT Activator's No. 1 program for aspiring entrepreneurs

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Move fast, move forward. Build your startup idea with Activator.

Over four short weeks, gain the skills, knowledge, and mindset to turn your shower thoughts into a startup idea that can create REAL impact.

FounderHUB feels fast because it is. With the support of our facilitators, we'll help you understand the importance of validating your idea and the impact it may have for the future. FounderHUB quickly helps you unlock the next steps so you can keep moving forward.

Best of all, FounderHUB is run after-hours as a mix of in person and online interactive workshops. If you've been on the search to explore your side hustle or passion project, this is your sign to do it without interfering with your nine to five.

Is FounderHUB right for me?

FounderHUB is for aspiring founders who are also RMIT students, staff, and/or alumni. Successful RMIT affiliated applicants will have:

A business idea or a problem you're passionate about solving

A curious mindset, willingness to ask questions and take on feedback

Eagerness to support your fellow founders and give back to the community

Yourself as a solo founder, or a team of co-founders.

Key dates and application form

Applications open: 19 February 2024

Applications close: 24 March 2024 (11.59pm AEDT)

Apply for FounderHUB

This is the first step of your FounderHUB application, once submitted our team will reach out with an email so we can get to know your startup idea better.

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Submit your response

We collect your personal information for the purpose of contacting you in regards to LaunchHUB. You can access and amend your personal information we hold by contacting hello.activator@rmit.edu.au.

For more information about how we manage and protect personal information, please refer to our RMIT’s Privacy Statement.


Program Dates

Week 1

In person workshop: Tuesday, 09 April, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Online workshop: Thursday, 11 April from, 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Week 2

In person workshop: Tuesday, 16 April, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Online workshop: Thursday, 18 April, 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Week 3

In person workshop: Tuesday, 23 April, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Online workshop: Thursday, 25 April, 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Week 4

In person workshop: Tuesday, 30 April, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Pitch night: Thursday, 02 May, 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Please note: This program is delivered at RMIT Activator, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Program overview

Weekly in-person workshops

Duration: 2 hours (Tuesday)

In these sessions, you will get to know frameworks, tools, and methods to help progress your founder journey. Here is where you will meet and spend time with the founders in your cohort.

Weekly online workshops

Duration: 1 hour (Thursday)

We know that life get busy so your second weekly workshop will only go for 1 hour and will be hosted online. During this session we will land more of the concepts to refine your startup idea.

In person workshop (2 hours): Frame your idea

Build your entrepreneurial foundation and gain a better understanding of your idea, the problem you are solving and the users it affects. 

Online workshop (1 hour): Understand your market

Apply entrepreneurial research methods to discover more about your industry, market and customers to create new opportunities moving forward. 

 

 

Workshop (2 hours): Design value proposition

Use strategic insights to generate and evaluate new ideas and features for your business, to maximise value to achieve desirability, feasibility, and viability.

Online workshop (1 hour): Prototyping and validate

Master the essential principles of prototyping for your business idea, and learn how to create a rapid, in-expensive prototypes to test, validate and refine your solution.

Workshop (2 hours): Build business model

Master lean business and create a winning business model by utilising the lean canvas to map key components such as metrics, competitive advantage, operations and finances.

Online workshop (1 hour): Sell your idea

Use the power of storytelling and pitching to captivate your audience and effectively communicate your idea and secure buy-in from your stakeholders and potential users.

Workshop (2 hours): Pitch practise

This is your opportunity to practise your pitch, receive feedback and refine your presentation in preparation for the upcoming showcase.

Pitch night (2 hours): Time to show off your startup idea!

Showcase your pitch to a panel of experts from RMIT Activator, who will offer valuable feedback, advice, and guidance to accelerate your business growth and success.

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FounderHUB Residency

After completing FounderHUB, you'll have the opportunity to keep building on your momentum through our 3 to 6 month Residency program.

In Residency, you'll get access to support, networks and co-working space to keep you accountable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! FounderHUB is perfect for founders with an early stage startup idea, side hustle or a university project you want to take further. If your idea is not too developed, you've come to the right place — FounderHUB will support you in shaping your idea into a viable business.

Unfortunately, FounderHUB is for founders with existing startup or business ideas. However, to get you ready to apply for FounderHUB you can watch How to Get and Evaluate Startup Ideas | Startup School to help create a new startup idea.

Once you have a rough idea, you can apply for the program again.

Please note: this program is for very early-stage ideas, we will help you refine and develop them in the program.

If you have any questions, contact us at hello.activator@rmit.edu.au

You can apply as a solo founder or as a team, just indicate it on your application form.

Absolutely! You just need at least one of your members to be RMIT affiliated.

This program is free for RMIT affiliated participants, as we are committed to supporting budding entrepreneurs and your ambition to create a new venture.

RMIT Activator does not take any stake in your IP, the knowledge we share on this program is the University's way of supporting the wider community with no strings attached. However, if you are a staff member and/or looking to translate your research, we strongly encourage you to contact IP & Commercialisation.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.