Scholarships support local entrepreneurs

A partnership between the City of South Perth and Curtin University has supported four local entrepreneurs, providing intensive education to trial and prepare business ideas for the commercial environment.

The fully paid scholarships have enabled Sarah Yates of Our Ruby Girl, Maryann Tsai of Reach Her, Lois Keay-Smith of Career Wisdom and Donna Lee Powell of DLP Life Design an opportunity to take their ideas to the next level with the women taking part in the highly regarded Curtin Ignition program.

Running from 3-8 September 2023 at Curtin University in Bentley, the week long program gave 92 entrepreneurs from businesses across Perth the chance to be inspired and coached by experts in industry, government and the start-up community.

Participants heard from inspiring professionals including one of WA’s greatest tech success stories, Olivia Humphrey, the founder of streaming service Kanopy.

Olivia, an Entrepreneur in Residence and Adjunct Professor at Curtin, delivered the opening keynote at the Curtin Ignition program as well as a fireside chat for female founders.

The Ignition program is specifically designed for founders of early-stage business ventures and people with new ideas that have the potential to become high-growth, worldwide businesses.

The City's initiative to support local entrepreneurs is part of the Economic Development Plan.

For support or more information about local business initiatives, contact the City's Economic Development Officer via business@southperth.wa.gov.au or subscribe to the City’s monthly Business in Focus eNewsletter for the latest in local business news.

Pictured below: (L-R) Donna Lee Powell, Sarah Yates, Lois Keay-Smith, Maryann Tsai and City fo South Perth Economic Development Officer Sarah Kahle.