What we do
We support those who support entrepreneurs in Australia, with a focus on non-metro areas.
Build and Support
We build capability and capacity in those who support entrepreneurs by developing frameworks and plans for local programs, sharing stories, and equipping leaders with the models and frameworks to be sustainable. This can be hands-on engagement to determine feasibility in the early-days of a regional innovation hub to facilitating workshops and hackathons in an established community. Read more…
Ecosystem mapping
We maintain a map at https://your.startupstatus.co/map/ of those who support entrepreneurs in Australia and measure the impact of that support. We partner with others around Australia and the world who are committed to understanding how we can use data to better understand how to help regions better support entrepreneurs. Read more…
Research and Measurement
We build on the growing body of research and knowledge around entrepreneur support activity. This adds rigour to the work and allows as many as possible to benefit from the activities. Read more…
Why we do it
Startup Status developed out of the experience managing Fire Station 101, a local government innovation hub in Ipswich, Queensland. It was there that we immersed ourselves in the “ecosystem” – entrepreneurs, government, educators, researchers, service providers, investors, and others involved in supporting high-growth potential entrepreneurs.
“Startups” and “ecosystems” are not new, but the rapid pace of market, social, and technology changes require new approaches and present new opportunities. These entrepreneurs offer a form of diversification and renewal to a region. As distinct from service-based businesses, these “startups” can introduce human and financial capital to a region and share local knowledge to the world. This usually involves some form of new technology and works in new markets.
These companies can fall in an in-between niche that includes both economic development and community development portfolios. Particularly in regional areas, developing a thriving entrepreneur ecosystem can be a challenge due to the constant tension of the entrepreneur’s customers, markets, talent, service providers, and investment drawing them outside the region. At the same time, a region attempts to retain new forms of business for economic and cultural diversity. A region’s natural resource assets can attract new entrepreneurs to a region for unique local opportunities and customers. All this happens in a rapidly changing environment and complex relationships.
How this happens can vary significantly for different regions based on geography, industry strengths, history, political climate, and more. Coming up with a practical approach can be a challenge and requires a
As a not-for-profit, our aim is to ensure everyone has access to entrepreneur opportunities. Innovation is morally neutral. Entrepreneur ecosystems can provide opportunities but without intentional action those opportunities my only be available for a few and further increase gaps in wealth between segments of a community and between regions. To this end, we focus on research, support frameworks and models, and data that helps provide equal opportunities for anyone who wants to give it a go.