The Bega Valley Innovation Hub (BVIH) opened its doors on 14th March with the first selected cohort of local entrepreneurs, startups, creatives and innovative local businesses. The BVIH is the first partner of the iAccelerate Innovation Network, fostering regional innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Interest in the iAccelerate business acceleration program offered by the BVIH has exceeded expectations with over 21 applications received and the first cohort selected on the basis of business readiness and scalability. 

The BVIH is funded by the Federal Government, Bega Valley Shire Council, Bega Cheese, the Bega Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Wollongong and is committed to helping start-ups stand on their own feet, get a foothold in global markets and support regional development.

The cohort will now have a central place to gather and participate in activities with the aim at connecting and growing the diverse and talented innovation community in the Bega Valley region.

“We want our local talent to share in the benefits of innovation and innovative businesses, and we’re taking bold steps to achieve this goal” says Mia Maze, Manager of the BVIH. 

Over the next two years, this program will help start-ups build their capabilities from both their business sites and the Bega Valley Innovation Hub. The program will support local entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for creating business opportunities and jobs to meet the needs of our local community.

iAccelerate Acceleration Program

The cohort of startups will benefit from training, education and mentoring located at the Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre in the heart of the Bega Valley. They’ll have access to the 12 week iAccelerate business acceleration program, which would normally be out of their reach. 

“We have an amazing depth of local talent and resources here which is helping to position the Bega Valley as a destination of choice for entrepreneurs. We are also benefiting from people moving from interstate and overseas. A great deal of our founders are born in cities and move here for lifestyle and I think that’s a factor that helps enrich the local ecosystem as well,” says Ms Maze.

Congratulations to all the successful residents. 

Bega Valley Innovation Hub – In the media:

‘We had to do something’: Solving real-world problems’, Bega District News

When a group of local health professionals were discussing what could be done to help prevent a string of tragic youth suicides, an innovative idea was born. “We were just sitting around the staff room wondering what we could do,” nurse Meghan Campbell said… Read more. 

‘Bega Valley ‘Factory of the Future’ launches a mix of seven start-ups’, About Regional 

The Bega Valley’s “Factory of the Future” is at work with seven start-up businesses stepping forward to take part in a unique business accelerator program run by the University of Wollongong and the iAccelerate Innovation Network… Read more.