The Grow and Go Masterclass series is an exciting joint initiative by StartNorth and La Trobe University a Hume Multiversity partner.

These masterclasses are tailored for individuals aiming to launch a new business or elevate and innovate their existing business models.

Program Structure:
The Grow and Go Masterclasses consist of 11 sessions grouped into three core themes:

Business Validation: Validate your business ideas and ensure they are viable.
Business Capability: Develop essential business skills and capabilities.
Business Growth: Focus on strategies and practices to scale and grow your business.

Participants have the flexibility to attend all sessions or select specific ones that align with their interests and development needs.

The Grow and Go Masterclass Series will be delivered from September through to November 2024 and is open to Hume City Council Residents or Business aged 18 and over*.

Session Overview

Thursday 12 September - Business Plan and Value Proposition
This masterclass will explore the two important tools used in startups globally: the business model canvas and the value proposition map. These single-page tools help business identify ways in which they can design products or services that their customers will love. Additionally, as AI is becoming more wide-spread, this masterclass will explore how to use it with these two tools and what its limitations are.

Presenter Aisha Dani from Sistrv8. Aisha Dani is an entrepreneur, educator, and innovation coach, specialising in lean startup methodology, design thinking, and marketing. Since 2021, she has led entrepreneurship education at two tech schools in Victoria, focusing on secondary students and higher education pathways. Aisha has taught thousands of students and teachers, simplifying complex ideas. She holds an engineering degree from RMIT and a post-graduate degree in applied science from the University of Sydney.

Thursday 19 September - Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset
This interactive masterclass will give you an insight into adopting an entrepreneurial mindset and help equip you with some take-home strategies you can use to develop a stronger mindset and innovative approach for success no matter where your business is at.

Presenter Cerasela Tanasescu, Director of La Trobe University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team. Over the past seven years, Cerasela has overseen the development of a robust entrepreneurial program across Victoria and La Trobe campuses, mentoring over 250 startups and numerous small business owners. She is an experienced lecturer and researcher, with multidisciplinary expertise (PhD in Computer Science, an Engineering Degree in Bio-Informatics and a Master's in Business Administration) and small business owner and entrepreneur herself. Cerasela has lived and breathed the ups and downs of running a business and knows firsthand what it’s like to be able to create solutions to the everyday challenges of business ownership.

Thursday 26 September - Understanding the Market
In this masterclass you will get the opportunity to delve into the critical aspects of market analysis essential for launching or growing a successful business. Learn how to think about the market, know your competitors, secure your supply chain/distribution, validate your product/service, and seek support networks as you apply innovative thinking to your business. Through real-world examples, interactive exercises, and practical tools, learn how to gather and interpret market data to make informed strategic decisions.

Presenter Aisling Curley, Head of Partnerships and Ecosystem at Think and Grow. Aisling has extensive experience in the challenges of driving sales and customer success in business and value creation through partnerships. She works across government, small businesses, start-ups and is connected across enterprise and Government in AU, EU, UK and the USA.

Thursday 3 October - Building a customer-focused Marketing Strategy
This masterclass will explore how to build a credible brand that your customers will love. Learn what makes great marketing, what customers search for and how you can start building a reputable brand without a huge budget.

Presenter Jasmin Chia, Founder of The Marketing Essentialist. From scrappy budgets at pre-seed startups to $300M projects, Jasmin’s seen just about every type of marketing department across B2B and B2C markets. Since starting The Marketing Essentialist, she’s helped clients win with $300K in qualified leads in one month, 16 hours reclaimed for a CEO, 5.6X increase in content creation, better workflows and a customer-focused approach.

Thursday 10 October - Accounting and Business Fundamentals
This masterclass will cover the key focus areas to steer your startup through the entrepreneurial journey including:

The critical components of a sound financial foundation for your business,
Importance of accounting and tax compliance with government requirements from the start of your journey,
Understanding your financial statements and reporting to stakeholders,
The importance of governance and how to protect your business and reduce your financial risk,
Tips and tools to ensure financial and business success, and how technology and AI can assist.

Presenter Jennifer Lau Director, Business Advisory at William Buck Melbourne. With over 19 years' experience Jennifer guides startup businesses through each stage from startup, growth to commercialisation. Her technical expertise includes financial management structures & processes, strategic planning, virtual CFO solutions and taxation planning & compliance.

Thursday 17 October - Building your Online Platform
In today's digital landscape, establishing an online presence is essential for small businesses and entrepreneurs. This masterclass explores how a strong digital presence not only showcases your offerings but also broadens your audience, increases visibility, establishes social proof and facilitates informed decision making. Don't miss this opportunity to acquire practical skills and cost-effective solutions that will cover the fundamental needs of your online presence including website creation basics, essential marketing and customer service strategies and leveraging AI for efficiency.

Presenter Michelle Woodhouse Principal at Willow Consulting. As a seasoned solopreneur, Michelle specialises in optimising systems, productivity, and work-life balance through technology. She offers workshops on website creation, marketing tactics, customer service, and leveraging AI for productivity. With her intuitive approach and extensive experience, Michelle is the go-to partner for practical, effective solutions. Gain valuable skills and insights to enhance your business's online presence and thrive in the digital landscape.

Thursday 24 October - Legal Fundamentals
This masterclass to delve into the crucial legal fundamentals every startup must grasp. Explore essential topics such as business structuring, founders' agreements, and intellectual property protection. This comprehensive course will equip you with the foundational knowledge needed to establish a robust and secure legal framework for scaling your startup idea.

Presenter Rahil Chadha Director, Startup lawyer in LUNA's Launch Team (Early Stage Startups). Rahil specialises in term sheet negotiations, employee share option plans, cap table analysis, and intellectual property matters. With extensive experience advising startups and founders in various industries such as electric vehicles, mobile app development, and SaaS solutions, Rahil brings a wealth of knowledge to his clients. Additionally, he is pursuing his CPA qualification, offering a unique blend of legal and financial expertise.

Thursday 24 October - Leading with Purpose
This masterclass will concentrate on establishing a robust organisation and culture. Learn about integrating principles from environment, sustainability, and governance (ESG), diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), corporate social responsibility (CSR), and other innovative social impact strategies into your business model and daily operations. By the end of this class, you'll be equipped to evaluate and identify the most effective practices for your business. The class will be interactive, offering practical resources and recommendations for AI tools to enhance your business's efficiency.

Presenter Kim Ly Nguyen, Global Ideas Lab and Scott Douglas, Start-up Founder. A lawyer-turned-social entrepreneur, she supports diverse communities including start-ups, social impact ventures, and the Vietnamese-Australian diaspora. Kim consults for social impact businesses and universities, mentors young professionals in purpose-driven work, and aims to remove barriers for changemakers in innovation and leadership, giving back to local and global communities.

Scott is an experienced teacher, lecturer and researcher in the employment, vocational and higher education sector. As a Startup Founder, Scott has designed, launched and sold startups, is a Cofounder and has designed and delivered Innovation programs using the Design Thinking model for ASX listed companies. Currently, Scott is focused on supporting the development of the Victoria and Australian Regional Innovation Eco-system, through key regional initiatives that he is driving and supporting, to support the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

Thursday 31 October - Grant and Funding Applications
In today's competitive business environment, securing funding is crucial for small business growth and sustainability. Whether launching a startup or scaling an existing venture, mastering grant identification and application is key. This masterclass equips you with essential knowledge, skills, and resources to access vital funding opportunities and advance your entrepreneurial journey.

Key Learning Points:

Grant Writing Essentials: Understand the grant writing process, including researching opportunities, crafting compelling proposals, and meeting application requirements.
AI Integration: Explore how AI enhances grant writing by simplifying research, optimizing proposal development, and improving success rates. Discover practical AI tools to elevate your grant writing and maximize funding potential.
Finding the Right Grants: Learn strategies for identifying grants tailored to your business goals from various sources such as government and corporate foundations. Gain insights into successful application criteria.
Best Practices and Tips: Benefit from expert advice on effectively communicating your business's mission, goals, and impact to funders, enhancing competitiveness in grant applications.

Presenter Carolyn Gannell, Head on Business Services. Carolyn brings over 30 years of experience collaborating with Small to Medium businesses, Not for Profits, and corporate organizations across Australia. Her expertise lies in devising effective business strategies and crafting compelling grant applications across diverse sectors such as not-for-profit, charities, training, employment services, construction, export, arts, and small business grants and tenders. In 2020-2021, Carolyn supported the City of Greater Geelong with a small business mentoring program, aiding over 20 small businesses in securing crucial funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thursday 7 November - Pitching and Storytelling
Pitching your business can be terrifying! However, when you learn the skill of pitching, your business benefits in so many areas. There are two main challenges for business owners:

How to stand out from the competition
How to create a memorable story that will help you grow your business.

Whether you want to attract customers, explain your capabilities to a potential partner, looking for investment, this masterclass will provide practical education to help you effectively communicate your value. During this interactive session, Phil will discuss how data and AI can be used to limit any assumptions or risks and ensure your pitch maximises every opportunity.

Presenter Phil Ore, Co-CEO and Chief Mentor at 25eight. Phil has a rich career spanning decades of global experience, highlighted by a notable 17- year career at Nokia. In the past nine years, Phil has empowered thousands with his expertise in how to create a great pitch - guiding them in sharpening their strategic thinking, defining their unique value proposition, and gaining clarity in their story through the innovative 25eight 6 Pillars Framework.

Following each session, each presenter will make available up to two hours of time for 1:1 sessions and advice, bookable via email.

Spots are now filled however if you wish to be on the waiting list please email us.

Presented By

*Eligibility criteria apply, once we have received your application we review and then register you in the session/s you have selected to attend. Places are limited, should you miss out on a spot we will place you on the waiting list. Any questions regarding the program please email startnorth@hume.vic.gov.au.

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