Mackay coworking space Split Spaces launches Business Booster program

Now officially open at the Central Queensland University’s [CQU] City campus, Mackay coworking space Split Spaces has this week announced the launch of the Business Booster program to give four local startups six months of support.

The Business Booster program, which will see four startups given desks at Split Spaces, as well as mentoring sessions and workshops, is sponsored by Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek Mine through its Community Development Fund.

Jarryd Townson, founder of Split Spaces, said the program will look to open doors for recipients as soon as they enter the space.

“A large number of Australian startups fail within the first year, largely due to lack of capital, premature scaling, lack of proper systems or support,” he said.

“The 2017 Business Booster Program allows recipients to build their foundations and get their ducks in a row, without the overheads of leasing an office space and with the support of business leaders who will assist in putting the required systems in place for longevity and stability.”

Rowan Creek, general manager of Hail Creek, said, “Partnerships like this help us support the growth of new businesses across our community and drive economic development for all.”

Established in 2006, the Hail Creek Mine Community Development Fund looks to support communities in the surrounding areas in addressing development challenges and taking advantage of emerging opportunities across the areas of environment, social and education, and economic.

The launch of Split Spaces was previewed last year, coming together thanks to a Federal Government grant and support from CQU and the wider business community.

“CQU is the perfect location for Split Spaces right in the city centre with plenty of cafes and shops a short distance away. It’s important to us that we provide a creative, accessible and welcoming space with facilities and room for growth,” Townson said at the time.

“This location epitomises everything Split Spaces is about, a large space split into sections that are conducive to what is required to operate a startup and provide the relevant support mechanisms.”

A not-for-profit organisation, Split Spaces is looking to work with other industry groups and stakeholders to develop incubator and accelerator programs to continue building up the region’s startup community, which has gone from strength to strength since the launch of the Startup Mackay group in 2015.

Its growth has been reflected in regional communities across the state, thanks in part to the Queensland Government putting a focus on the development of regional innovation hubs over the last year; $7.5 million is being put forward through the Advance Queensland funding program to develop ‘regional innovation regions’ and strengthen links, interaction, and engagement across the state.

Applications for the Business Booster program open on March 31.

Image: Split Space. Source: Supplied.