The Gold Coast’s best business minds and industry leaders gathered at Bond University for the 2016 Demo Day to support the City’s growing start-up culture and learn how entrepreneurship education is being advanced across South East Queensland.
Hosted by Bond University’s Business School as an official event of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Demo Day brings together like-minded individuals to celebrate the innovative work of entrepreneurs and showcase the education programs and initiatives that are available to assist them.
This year’s event featured exemplars from primary school, high school, university, community and corporate programs, commemorating entrepreneurs from Club Kidpreneur, Startup Apprentice, Bond Business Accelerator, Gold Coast Startup Weekend, Beach City and River City Labs Accelerator powered by muru-D.
Bond University’s Head of Entrepreneurship, Dr Baden U’Ren, said it was important to nurture and support our future entrepreneurs for the benefit of the entire community.
“With so many great initiatives in South East Queensland, Demo Day is about showcasing these ideas to industry leaders, investors and government representatives to gain support and funding, but also to spread the word about entrepreneurship and further grow the sector,” he said.
“In addition, the event shines a spotlight on the need for entrepreneurship education at all levels and ages, and recognises programs that are already available in South East Queensland, such as Bond Business Accelerator (BBA), Club Kidpreneur and River City Labs.
“There is an abundance of bright ideas out there, but unfortunately many people are lacking the skills needed to turn them into reality.
“For this reason, it is important to develop entrepreneurial and business skills in children from as young as primary school, through education programs, start-up initiatives, social enterprises and support groups.
“By investing in the bright minds of the future, we can ensure the Gold Coast thrives from an innovation-led economy, and Queensland solidifies itself as the ‘Start-up State’.”