New program helps student start-ups grow

Students with a passion for entrepreneurship are set to benefit from The University of Queensland’s new UQ Idea Hub program.

The program will bring together workshops, experienced mentors and a network of local and global innovators to help grow ideas and to equip students with knowledge and skills to kick-start their business enterprises.

UQ Idea Hub director Nimrod Klayman said throughout the program students would have the potential to form, develop and test their early-stage ideas for potential commercialisation.

“The start-up scene is really taking off around the globe,” he said.

“This has provided UQ with the perfect opportunity to harness the ideas and talents of our students, helping them to realise their business potential.

“Places like the Silicon Valley are built around start-ups and venture capitalists, and I think it’s really important for Queensland, and in particular Brisbane, to establish ourselves as a hub of ideas and activity.

“UQ can play a vital role in this, as the University’s aim is that our students will be the change-makers of the future.

“We think that providing them with environments to form their ideas, hone their pitching skills and develop their commercial thinking truly results in well-rounded, industry-ready and forward-thinking graduates.”

After being run as a pilot program in 2015, the UQ Idea Hub is now open to all students from UQ.

Pilot program participant and UQ student Visakh Vignesh said the level of networking with mentors and fellow students was extremely beneficial.

“Even that first batch of students in the UQ Idea Hub realised it was quickly developing into something more exciting than just an entrepreneurship incubator,” he said.

“Each session introduced various concepts and stages of the entrepreneurship process, and also gave us the opportunity to listen and speak to people who are highly successful and vested in the Australian start-up scene.

“At the end of the day, it was incredible to be in a room with so many brilliant minds at work.”

Applications for the UQ Idea Hub are now open to UQ students. Visit the website for more information and to apply.

Media: Madelene Flanagan, m.flanagan@uq.edu.au or +61 7 3365 8525.