GRIFFIN Accelerator: Dedicated mentorship and funds to grow

Canberra Innovation Network just hosted a free one-hour webinar to answer all of your questions about the GRIFFIN Accelerator program – one which awards startups with dedicated mentorship and funds to grow.

If you weren’t available, catch up on the details now. Because applications close on 28 July. Here are some of the questions asked during our webinar:

WHAT’S GRIFFIN ALL ABOUT?: The program’s been in place since 2014 and has evolved over time. The long and the short of it? GRIFFIN pairs amazing companies on the brink of huge success with mentors and investment that will get them there.

AND NOW?: CBRIN’s ready for our next generation of success stories, and our network of mentors, workshops and services are at your disposal to help you think about your business in a different way.

ERMAGOD, I’M NOT SURE. AM I GOOD ENOUGH?: Absolutely. Apply now. Regardless of where your business or startup idea sits at the moment. Why? Because CBRIN’s expert, objective team is here to help you get to the next stage.

OKAY. SO, I APPLY, AND LET YOU JUDGE MY BUSINESS. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?: Your baby is safe with us. The aim of the GRIFFIN Accelerator is to pair entrepreneurs with trusted mentors who can help with advancement and capital investment. Participants will meet weekly over the course of three months, and work on such things as:

• Problem solving
• Goal setting
• Commercial success

This isn’t a comfy, hand-holding process. You’ll be pushed to have tricky conversations, cold call, rethink your baby’s life plan and put some big kid actions in place. You’ll have your mentor behind you every step of the way, as well as the support of the CBRIN team (and a coworking desk in Civic, and the associated perks). And at the end of the program you’ll pitch for a fund of five to six figures, as well as a spot on the stage at the CBRIN 2022 Investor Showcase (kerching, kerching).

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY?: Between 28 July and 12 August we’ll contact successful applicants and help them perfect their pitch. It will eventually be a five-minute sizzle preso that will answer questions, excite investors with big pocketbooks, and connect you with the people you need in your corner to take your business to the next level.

SO … A WINNING APPLICATION LOOKS KIND OF, SORT OF, LIKE … WHAT?: You need to show us a few things:

• Who are your customers? Do you know who is going to buy your product?
• What sort of team are you working with, or hoping to build?
• One size does not fit all – so what are you hoping to learn from your mentor and how would you use a grant to help you overcome the next hurdle?

I’M NOT SURE I AM ELIGIBLE: It doesn’t matter if your business is service-based or product-based – what matters is that you are building something that will make Canberra a better, more amazing place to live and work, and that your idea is innovative. And the GRIFFIN Accelerator is not the right program for everyone, or at every stage of a startup. The best thing to do, if you haven’t already, is to book an Intro Meeting with CBRIN’s Growth Team and learn about myriad workshops; let us help guide you to the funds and functions that will bring your biz to fruition.

For more information, and to apply, visit our GRIFFIN Accelerator page, and remember that applications close on 28 July.