The University of Wollongong and Wollongong City Council have joined together to launch StartPad, a space to allow entrepreneurs to grow and develop ideas into successful businesses.

Also supported by NSW Trade and Investment, RDA Illawarra and Enterprise Connect, StartPad is located at 93 Crown Street, Wollongong. It will provide entrepreneurs with cheap accommodation, mentoring support, peer support and access to networks of people with ideas they would like to see developed into businesses.

UOW Research and Innovation Division Commercialisation Manager Dr Tamantha Stutchbury believes that StartPad represents a turning point in the development of a new industry profile for the Illawarra and will act as an ideas incubator.

“The initiative delivers a unique and alternative opportunity to graduating university students and local entrepreneurs,” she said.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery said Council was delighted to support StartPad by providing space at 93 Crown Street.

“This development shows that Wollongong is able to move away from traditional industries into a world where companies and entrepreneurs can work on the development of innovative applications and tools to deliver new businesses and employment opportunities,” he said.

“Council is keen to see this area of the city used to support entrepreneurs who have ideas and foresight. This is an opportune time to support a dynamic growth industry in our city.”

Cr Bradbery said the entrepreneurial drive, vision and creativity of people wishing to locate at StartPad would ensure that their fledgling businesses are able to get off to a good start in a wonderful location.

“This is an important step in supporting an identified key growth area in the city,” he said.

UOW Innovation and Technology Team and Commercial Research Unit Director Elizabeth Eastland said the initiative was a key element in the development of a dynamic and sustainable business ecosystem.

“It will provide a pipeline into the iAccelerate Centre which has been proposed for the University’s Innovation Campus,” she said.

StartPad is calling for interested parties to apply with submissions closing on November 11. Submissions and contact should be made to Dr Tamantha Stutchbury on tamantha@uow.edu.au . Application forms and information on StartPad can be found at the iAccelerate website.