A handful of innovative Bega Valley businesses and entrepreneurs came together in Merimbula on Thursday as the second cohort of the Bega Valley Innovation Hub.
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The seven creative businesses, a mixture of established and start-ups, are set to embark on a dynamic and intensive 12-week course aimed at growing their businesses to a another level after being selected to take part in the Hub's University of Wollongong led iAccelerate Educate Program.
During the induction session held at the Bega Valley Regional Learning Centre, successful graduates from the first cohort Jackie Parry from SisterShip Press and Kay and Greg Saarinen from Saarinen Organics Skincare spoke of their experience in the program.
"The support and nurturing you will receive from your mentors is like nothing else," Ms Saarinen advised the group.
"Together with your mentors and colleagues be prepared to turn your business into something amazing."
Ms Parry confessed there had been a few tears over the 12 weeks and advised the participants to "leave their egos at the door and be open to positive criticism".
"This is a safe space to grow your business," she said.
The mixture of business ideas chosen for the course reflected a truly innovative and forward thinking region.
Ideas varied in scope from Karolina Russel hoping to promote event management software production, to Leanne Atkinson creating tiny homes for the region's homeless.
Patricia Mills and Jed Done from Switchfoot Boardstore will be honing their craft of creating high performance surfboards.
Business founder Jo Lane from Sea Health Products said her production of of kelp health products could play a major role in improving health around the region and beyond
Dinah Facius from Freedom Yoga was looking forward to working within a group dynamic and, being new to the region, was keen to open up pathways through networking as well as promoting her back pain recovery kit.
Sandy Dell Rocca from Future Farms said she was keen to connect with like-minded people from the region. Her business along with co-founder James Gibbs is for vertical hydroponic solar farming.
And looking after our little ones is Sarah Campbell-Lambert who through her business Ginger the Frog will be nutting out an emotional intelligence program for children.
Keep an eye out for their stories on begadistrictnews.com.au as the program progresses.
