Western Sydney
Pre-Accelerator Program

Plus Eight Sprint, is a six week pre-accelerator program designed for local Western Sydney founders to grow and scale their ideas.

Ideal for small business owners and entrepreneurs

Plus Eight Sprint is a six-week, skill-building and business growth program. It is exclusive and free for businesses owned or operated in Western Sydney, comprising of 14 local government areas. This program connects founders with a community of successful mentors, investors and advisors  to help you take your business idea to the next level and provides the content and environment to grow your skills.

Applications are now open for the 2024 Western Sydney Pre-Accelerator program.

Get started on your application via the form below. Applications close on April 19.

WHAT WE OFFER

More than just your average pre-accelerator program

The Plus Eight Sprint program provides you with the connections, support and program content to help scale your startup.

Facilitated Sessions
Selected startups will enjoy weekly intensive masterclasses, running for 2 hours on Thursdays in the evening at the Western Sydney Startup Hub.
Weekly Assignments
You will receive weekly assignments to help you apply new found skills to real life business problems.
Coworking + Community
Throughout the program, you will have access to cowork at the Western Sydney Startup Hub, attend events and more.
Online Learning Platform
You will have access to an online LMS portal to submit your assignments and check upcoming curriculum.
Private Slack Channel
Enjoy access to an online chat support with the cohort, and connection to previous cohorts via Slack.
Final Pitch Event
At the end of the six weeks, you will pitch your business at our Final Showcase at the Western Sydney Startup Hub.

The support to help your business succeed.

Plus Eight provides tailored made programs for new business owners, meaning that it's all action and no fluff. This program supports you with the skills and action plan to achieve your vision.

Mentorship

We've sourced the most experienced business mentors, investors and advisors to guide you throughout Sprint. Each week new mentors will share their experience and wisdom, giving you the opportunity to learn from those that have been there and done it.

Actionable Content

Everything we cover through Plus Eight Sprint can be directly applied to your business and will have a noticeable, positive impact regardless of where you are at in your journey.

Peer-based learning

We believe some of the best opportunities to grow as a new business is by learning from other businesses going through a similar journey. Sprint provides lots of opportunities to connect and learn from other new businesses going through the program, and emphasises peer-based feedback and reflection.

Community & connection

It takes an entire village to raise a business. We believe being part of a strong community of like-minded business owners and advisors makes you a stronger entrepreneur and gives you the environment for your business to succeed.

Challenge yourself and your business.

Each Sprint session is divided into three sections: mentor presentations; working on your business; and weekly project reviews.

1. Expert presentations from experienced mentors

Our experienced panel of mentors draw on real life examples and provide practical takeaways that you can apply to your business through a workshop-style, interactive presentation that focuses on a new business skill area for that week.

2. Application of the content to your business

The majority of each Sprint session is spent working on your business around the weekly focus area with the support of mentors and other business owners. This includes hands-on activities and is a great opportunity to get feedback, learn from others and immediately apply the lessons to your idea.

3. Weekly projects to help push your business forward

Each week, you will be given a specific project to work on before the next Sprint session. These are always practical and aim to give your business a step-change improvement. At the start of each Sprint session, business owners share their progress and get feedback on the previous week's project work.

The best, modern business approaches.

We draw on the very best contemporary approaches to build sustainable technology businesses, straight from the innovation capitals of the world.

Google design sprint

Developed by Google, design sprints is a proven model to test, iterate and improve your product in collaboration with your customers.

Lean Startup

The foundation for many modern startup approaches, the Lean Startup is a critical part of any new businesses toolkit.

Design thinking

Developed by Stanford and used by many of the worlds biggest brands, design thinking is an approach to developing products that your customers will love.

RUNSHEET

The best 6-weeks you've ever invested in.

Over the 6-week Sprint program you will have the opportunity to focus on your business through a practical curriculum of topics critical to any successful new business . By the end of the program you'll have a stronger business and be a stronger business owner.

Topics

What you'll work on

Week 0 - May 9th

Orientation Week

  • Meet the cohort and the Plus Eight team, including program facilitator and mentors

Week 1 - May 16th

How to build an enduring business

Business model development

  • Articulating your business model and how to make it sustainable
  • Developing your unique value proposition
  • Understanding the competitor landscape and how you plan on competing

Week 2 - May 23rd

How to make a product your customers will love

Validation and customer testing

  • Using design thinking to deeply understand your customers needs, goals and motivations
  • Undertaking research to develop key insights on what will make customers love your product

Week 3 - May 30th

How to turn your idea into a reality

Product & prototyping

  • Defining design sprints to test your product proposition
  • Making your Minimum Lovable Product
  • Determining the right approach for developing your product

Week 4 - June 6th

How to make your business into a rocketship

Growth & marketing

  • Finding your first customer and building a loyal customer base
  • Understanding pirate metrics and defining your growth marketing strategies
  • Selecting your digital marketing toolkit

Week 5 - June 13th

How to stay sane while changing the world

Team, mindset & legal

  • Structuring your team and advisors
  • Understanding company incorporation and shareholder agreements
  • Maintaining the right new business mindset
  • Ensuring you cross your t's and dot your i's (legal and IP)

Week 6 - June 20th

How to keep going up and to the right

Fundraising & pitching

  • Selecting the right fundraising approach, timing and strategy
  • Developing your pitch ready to share your business with the world

celebration evening

Tuesday, June 25th - From family members, to industry professionals, this is a chance for you to showcase your business and what you've been working on and where you're going.

PROGRAM PARTNERS

This program is made possible by...

“The most valuable thing I have taken away from the program has been the sense of belonging I now feel being connected to a community of like-minded people, but also connected to a wider network of mentors, business leaders, other entrepreneurs who I can ask questions, have a coffee with, or collaborate with in the future.”

- Nikki Meller, Founder of CREDuED
Plus Eight Pre-Accelerator Alum