Today the Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly launched the Perth Angels Growth and Diversity Program and announced a new partnership with industry and not-for-profits to deliver the Indigenous Angel Investor and Entrepreneur Program in Western Australia.
The partnership between Perth Angels and the Minderoo Foundation (Generation One) for the Indigenous Angel program will support the next generation of indigenous entrepreneurs grow more Indigenous businesses and help diversify the Western Australian economy.
A dedicated program for Indigenous entrepreneurs, leaders and business owners, it will provide world-class education to empower Indigenous professionals to become more involved in early-stage business, innovation and technology.
The Indigenous Angel Investor and Entrepreneur Program also aims to remove barriers and open up investment opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs and investors.
The partnership is being supported by the State Government through a $10,000 sponsorship from the $16.7 million New Industries Fund.
The launch of the Perth Angels' Growth and Diversity Program, funded through the New Industries Fund's X-TEND WA Program, was postponed due to COVID-19. Through a series of masterclasses and boardroom education events, it will now support the growth of the angel investor and private sector investor community in WA with a key focus on increasing the number of female investors.
Perth Angels are one of 11 Western Australian organisations to receive backing through the X-TEND WA Program. In addition to the Growth and Diversity Program, Perth Angels has also received funding to provide business advice and mentoring to start-ups and SMEs, as part of the Government's COVID-19 recovery program.
This Indigenous Angel Investor and Entrepreneur Program is being piloted with the view of rolling it out nationally in 2021. Applications for the program open on October 15, and close on October 29, 2020.
For more information and on how to apply visit: http://www.minderoo.org/generation-one
As stated by Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly:
"Creating more jobs for Western Australians and diversifying WA's economy is the foundation of the McGowan Government's New Industries Fund.
"Today's announcement of the Indigenous Angel Investor and Entrepreneur Program aims to improve knowledge, networks and opportunities for Indigenous Australians to enter the world of Angel Investing.
"I am particularly excited about this new and unique way to empower Indigenous entrepreneurs and Investors, which could provide extraordinary social and economic returns for Western Australia."
