CORE START
Give your business a competitive advantage with CORE Start - the 12 week entrepreneurial development & mentoring program focused on growing energy & mining businesses and their founders.
Applications for CORE Start 2024 have now closed.
CORE Start will run again in 2025. Applications will formally open in 2025.
CORE START IS SPONSORED BY
A FREE 12 week program run by energy and mining industry professionals designed to help fast track and refine your business offering. CORE Start gives you the skills to build a resilient business capable of achieving cut-through within the energy and mining industry.
What you’ll learn:
Pathways to effectively scale your business
Business model fit and strategies for sales success
Identifying the right solution to the right problem
Product & Market fit — does my product solve the problem
What’s included:
FREE access to co-working at Perth, Adelaide & Newman
4 x 1:1 mentoring sessions with a business advisor
Group mentoring sessions
“CORE provides a unique incubator of ideas for the resources and energy sector. Collaborating and transferring knowledge and skills are part of the building blocks of CORE which is why NERA has been such a passionate supporter.”
Program overview:
12 Weeks
The program runs for 12 consecutive weeks
Mentor Matching
You will be matched with an industry-leading mentor
Advisory Sessions
Get one-on-one deep dive advisory sessions with your mentor
Business Masterclasses
In-depth sessions with experts on building and scaling businesses
Marketing
Take part in marketing and promotional opportunities
Idea Validation
Work to validate your ideas and assumptions
MVP
Hone your minimal viable product with expert feedback
Business Plan
Develop your business plan and roadmap to success
Pitch Training
Learn to nail your elevator pitch with communications experts and up your skills to the test at our Pitch Night.
Natasha Leppard, Operations Manager, Soft Rigging Solutions
“During my first group session I struggled to even describe our products; I felt awkward and uncomfortable. Now I’m able to pitch our products clearly, concisely, and with confidence. I cannot recommend this program enough. ”
Meet the 2024 Mentors
ANDREW McCULLOCH
Exploration Futurist | Advisor | Director, Economical Energy
Nick Saunders
CEO - Grow Impact & Managing Director - Opaxe
Jasmin Ward
Innovation & Strategy Facilitator | Entrepreneur
Matt Ainsworth
Founder Tech Bridge Studio | Mentor
Lachlan Wilson
Director, Lachwil
Peter Clark
Director - StartupWA & Projects Lead, METS Ignited
Meet the 2024 Business Leaders
Rahul Kumar
Director - Allied Legal
ROY SMITH
State Manager, WA, SA & NT - Radium Capital
SCOTT VILé
Principal - Wrays Intellectual Property
Dave Lawie
Chief Geoscientist & Chief Technologist - IMDEX
Peta Chirgwin, Chamelon Mettle Group
“I really appreciated the use of the space in the core office through the program, working with other participants ad the activities we completed were well worth my time and the program was not too onerous in that it impacted my work. I used my time to validate my idea and have since pivoted from my initial idea.”
CORE START ALUMNI
Brenton Welford, SafeAI
“We’re a new business in Australia with international support. There is a wealth of knowledge in the industry at CORE, they know what’s going on in the mining world and what people are doing, they’re well-connected, and that has been very helpful.”
How to apply
To be eligible for CORE Start you must:
Have an Australian business number
Be developing or have developed your own unique technology, product, or service that has the potential to enhance productivity and improve efficiency in the energy resources supply chain
Have been developing this technology for less than 5 years
Be working to grow your business to a global market
Support CORE's culture of open innovation and collaboration
Along with meeting the eligibility requirements, to apply you will also need the following prepared:
Overview of your current business and team
Outline or pitch of technology and it’s benefits
Description of the biggest challenge you are facing
Your growth potential or addressable market
What you would like to achieve through CORE Start
What you can bring to the CORE Start Community
*Startups based in Western Australia will have full time access to CORE Innovation Hub co-working in the Perth CBD.
PREVIOUS Program Partners
FAQs
Is there a cost involved?
No, CORE Start is completely FREE! There is no cost involved if you are selected to take part in the CORE Start Program.
How long does the CORE Start program run for?
Core Start is a three-month or 12-week residency program that will include weekly mentoring sessions, monthly business development sessions and other professional development activities.
Where is the program run?
Core Innovation currently has two physical hubs, one in Perth and one in Adelaide. Participants in those cities will be able to connect with mentors and other professionals face-to-face. We strongly encourage participants from all over the country to apply. Course work will be undertaken remotely and online for those participants.
I’m not located in Perth or Adelaide, can I still take part in CORE Start?
Absolutely! We have worked with founders across all major cities and in remote locations as well. All sessions can be completed online and being a tailored program, you can set your own schedule for the mentoring and advisory component and all relevant course work. The only set schedule will be the masterclasses, which you will be advised of well ahead of time.
How many people are selected to go through CORE Start?
To maximize the effectiveness of the course and ensure participants and mentors have ample time to connect, we cap participant numbers at 8 for each round.
Help! I’m not sure if CORE Start is for me.
Great! We can help with that! Get in touch with our National Innovation Hub Manager, Renee. She will help direct your inquiry and answer any further questions you might have.