Queensland's female founders are being recognised for their contributions to Australia's innovation ecosystem, with nearly $1 million in support. Eleven successful recipients, including two universities, will benefit from the first round of the Accelerating Female Founders Program.
The pilot program focuses on funding businesses and supporting initiatives that cultivate a pipeline of innovative female founders in Queensland. It aims to provide support at every stage of their business and innovation journey, encouraging participation in key industries and technologies.
The 11 organisations selected will deliver a range of practical business development and technical skills programs to nearly 500 women founders and leaders of innovative businesses. This opportunity will reach female founders across the state at different stages of the entrepreneurial lifecycle, with a significant presence in regional areas such as Rockhampton, Cairns, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast.
The Accelerating Female Founders Program is an integral part of Advance Queensland's Backing Female Founders Program, which will initially launch in 2019. Over the years, Advance Queensland's dedicated initiatives for female founders have supported more than 1500 women to start and grow their businesses and business skills.