Mountain bike device gets funds to change gears

A CLEVER mountain bike innovation designed and made in Waurn Ponds is among six start-ups selected for SPARK Deakin’s 2017 Accelerator program.

The teams of budding entrepreneurs, founded by Deakin University students, alumni, and staff members, were selected from a field of more than 40 potential start-ups through months of preparation, workshops and training.

They include CentreHub, a new mountain bike hub device that allows riders to change gears at any point in time, even while not pedaling.

The CentreHub has been fully designed, manufactured and tested at Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus using the latest technology, including 3D printing and laser cutting.

The six Accelerator teams, announced in Melbourne last week, will now be provided with one-on-one mentorship, access to co-working spaces in Melbourne CBD and Geelong, and $10,000 funding to turn their ideas into reality.

SPARK Deakin project manager Daizy Maan said the launch was the culmination of “a rigorous application and pitching process”.

“This year’s Accelerator launch is an opportunity to celebrate each team’s entrepreneurial journey and listen to their stories.

“It’s also a great way to show our support for Deakin’s emerging start-up network and demonstrate what the SPARK community is all about – an ecosystem designed to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

The winning teams recently honed their pitches and business plans during a week-long intensive start-up course, led by international entrepreneur and business expert Adam Davies.

A Sloan Fellow from London Business School, Professor Davies is the Program Lead for the University of Oxford’s Entrepreneurship Program.

Ms Maan said SPARK Deakin was designed as “an outlet for creative talent to collaborate together and take ideas to market”.

“For those teams who successfully demonstrate a need and pathway for their start-up or business, SPARK Deakin provides funding, co-working space, connections, mentorship and expertise to accelerate the enterprise.

“We want to invite everyone, teach the curious, empower the best, and create the future with SPARK through a program designed for students, staff, and alumni of Deakin University – a program with a strong focus on building connections with the entrepreneurial community outside of Deakin.”