The La Trobe Fishburners Founders Hub will sit within the University’s Research and Innovation Precinct, a key component of La Trobe’s ambitious University City of the Future development which will transform Melbourne’s north. It will work with founders and entrepreneurs throughout Victoria.
La Trobe Pro Vice-Chancellor (Industry Engagement) Dr Megan Fisher said the hub would form a fundamental cornerstone to the University’s commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in Melbourne’s north and regional areas.
“La Trobe is building a connected ecosystem of industry, academia and community that will become the innovation and entrepreneurial hub of Melbourne’s North and extend to our regional campuses,” Dr Fisher said.
“Our partnership with Fishburners brings together the energy and ideas of start-ups and entrepreneurs with companies, researchers and customers to achieve impact building on La Trobe’s core research strengths: Health and wellbeing; agriculture, food and environment; and digital transformation.”
Fishburners chief executive Nicole O’Brien said the La Trobe Fishburners Founders Hub would provide start-ups and small businesses with the knowledge, resources, mentoring and connections at their fingertips for growth.
“Fishburners is successfully creating thriving business communities both physically and virtually to support founders and their teams to create and build new innovative businesses wherever they are. This is critical for creating jobs and rebuilding the economy post COVID-19”.
Fishburners hosts Australia's largest start-up community, with 728 start-ups and entrepreneurs across its physical and digital hubs. More than 2,000 start-up entities have been part of the not-for-profit operations since it opened in 2011, including high-profile alumni such as Koala, GoCatch, graphic design marketplace DesignCrowd, Code Camp, Tinybeans, Madpaws, Jayride, GradConnection and Hyper Anna.
Fishburners has generated 3,800 jobs and more than $200m+ revenue; it has raised $79.3m in investment funds; supported 2,132 start-ups and 3,000 member entrepreneurs; hosted 3,600 events and inspired and educated 100,000 people.
Media Contact: Kathryn Powley | k.powley@latrobe.edu.au | 0456 764 371
