iAccelerate has won multiple global awards for its work with female entrepreneurs. Photos: UOW.
An Illawarra innovation hub has been awarded a major accolade for its industry-leading inclusive entrepreneurship and celebrated for its support of female founders.
iAccelerate received international recognition at the ACEEU Global Triple E Awards, beating out institutes from across the world to claim the Female Entrepreneurship Empowerment Award and the People’s Choice Award in the same category.
The hub supports start-ups and innovative businesses in the Illawarra, South Coast and communities across NSW, with a mission to support all founders, particularly those underrepresented in STEM, regional Australia, social enterprise and beyond.
Operating on the belief that innovation is for everyone, iAccelerate has consistently improved opportunities for female entrepreneurs beyond industry norms, with more than half of iAccelerate-supported companies having at least one female founder in 2024.
“We are committed to delivering excellence in female entrepreneurship,” iAccelerate Director Dr Tamantha Stutchbury said.
“It is not an afterthought; it is at the core of all we do.”
The goal to diversify industries can be seen through female participation right across iAccelerate’s most successful programs.
Dr Tamantha Stutchbury accepted the global recognition on behalf of the whole iAccelerate team. Photo: UOW.
Since 2023, 66 female founders have received scholarships as part of the LIFT Project, with 34 of the recipients PhD students in STEM disciplines.
Thirty women-led regional businesses have participated in the RISE program over the past five years, which helps to rebuild and strengthen communities through entrepreneurship following crises such as the Black Summer bushfires.
Eighty-two per cent of participants from the 14-week Social Enterprise program, which includes workshops, mentoring, online learning, peer support and site visits, have identified as female.
“Through innovative, inclusive programming, iAccelerate empowers women from diverse backgrounds to thrive,” Dr Stutchbury said.
“We believe that to create a future built for everyone, innovators and entrepreneurs from all backgrounds should be supported to bring their ideas to life.”
As well as continual success in female representation, iAccelerate’s 2024 Impact Report shows that 24 First Nations entrepreneurs and 48 regional entrepreneurs were supported through regional workshops and the Activate program.
“By attracting diverse participants, we also attract diverse ideas, ideas that we know will better address the needs of the whole community,” Dr Stutchbury said.
iAccelerate has supported 522 start-ups and scale-ups and injected $161.7 million into the economy through wages and contractor payments since 2016.
For more information visit the iAccelerate website.
