Victorian young technology entrepreneur challenge

Small tech company incubator the Small Technologies Cluster (STC) has launched ‘MedTech’s Got Talent’, a Victorian-wide challenge focused on training and supporting emerging medical technology students and recent graduate entrepreneurs.

The aim of the program is to develop a more entrepreneurial culture and to grow Victoria’s medical technology cluster. The program will do this by helping young entrepreneurs develop and refine their skills in pitching a business concept, developing a technology roadmap and launching commercialisation activities for enabling medical technology innovations.

Those eligible to apply include currently registered students, currently employed postdocs or recent graduates (<5 years) in Victoria who are involved in a technology or service related to medical devices, diagnostics or health IT.

The top 30 applicants will be selected to participate in a Rapid Fire Round (on 31 October) where eight product development mentors each select two teams, resulting in 16 semifinalists, to mentor intensively through a one-month training program leading up to The Finals pitch event.

At The Finals, each team will have 3 minutes to pitch their business concepts, after which five category winners will be announced. The five winning teams will receive a $20,000 voucher to undertake an intensive three-month accelerated technology road-mapping with their mentors along with support from Victoria’s enabling technology sponsors based in STC’s ‘The Tap’ advanced technology coworking space.

After the three-month intensive, the five teams will pitch to real investors in a closed-door investor boardroom event.

An executive summary of a business concept needs to be submitted by 22 October. If you don’t have an idea of your own but want to get involved, you can join a team - contact STC for details.

For more information, contact Laura Faulconer or go to the STC website.