SPARK Deakin launches 2017 Accelerator with six radical start-ups

The teams - which were founded by current Deakin University students, alumni, and staff members - have been selected from a field of more than 40 potential start-ups through months of preparation, workshops and training.

The six teams will now be provided with one-on-one mentorship, access to co-working spaces in Melbourne CBD and Geelong, and $10,000 funding to turn their ideas into reality.

SPARK Deakin Project Manager Daizy Maan said the Wednesday, October 25, launch was the culmination of "a rigorous application and pitching process".

"This year's Accelerator launch is an opportunity to celebrate each team's entrepreneurial journey and listen to their stories," Ms Maan said.

"It's also a great way to show our support for Deakin's emerging start-up network and demonstrate what the SPARK community is all about - an ecosystem designed to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs."

The six teams selected for SPARK Deakin's 2017 Accelerator are:

• Weights for Mates - A mental health promotion service and prevention program, aimed at creating an environment for young males to use physical training to break down masculine norms and encourage positive decision-making.
• Spelloo - An online game designed to be used as a study tool by English as a Second Language students, based on academic research on learning and development.
• TeloInterview - A data-based video interviewing platform that solves the problem of inefficient and inconsistent first round interviews. TeloInterview also provides methods for companies to better understand their employees and fix cultural issues.
• CentreHub - A new mountain bike hub device that allows riders to change gears at any point in time - even while not peddling. The CentreHub has been fully designed, manufactured and tested at Deakin's Waurn Ponds campus using the latest world class technology, including 3D printing and laser cutting.
• Vollie - A new style of skills-based remote volunteering, with exclusively online projects so people can support the causes they care about with their skills and experience from anywhere in the world, at any time.
• OrderHub - OrderHub provides high quality, integrated food ordering solutions to the hospitality industry through three core products - Point of Sale, branded mobile apps and branded websites.

The winning teams recently honed their pitches and business plans during a week-long intensive start-up course, led by international entrepreneur and business expert Adam Davies.

A Sloan Fellow from London Business School, Professor Davies is currently the Program Lead for the University of Oxford's Entrepreneurship Program. He has previously developed curriculum and delivered entrepreneurship and leadership programs at various leading international institutions, and has been the Entrepreneur in Residence/Mentor at London Business School, We Work, Techstars and Microsoft Accelerator.

Ms Maan said SPARK Deakin was designed as "an outlet for creative talent to collaborate together and take ideas to market".

"For those teams who successfully demonstrate a need and pathway for their start-up or business, SPARK Deakin provides funding, co-working space, connections, mentorship and expertise to accelerate the enterprise," she said.

"We want to invite everyone, teach the curious, empower the best, and create the future with SPARK through a program designed for students, staff, and alumni of Deakin University - a program with a strong focus on building connections with the entrepreneurial community outside of Deakin."

The 2017 Accelerator launch is being held at the Collins Square Business and Events Centre, Docklands, from 6pm Wednesday, October 25.

To find out more about the program, head to www.sparkdeakin.com