Maker + Co secure $200k to help local businesses go global

Bunbury’s best and brightest ideas are set to take on the world after collective Maker + Co secured more than $200,000 in Federal funding to foster local entrepreneurship. This week, the enterprise officially embarked on a new, exciting chapter after transforming its space to bring co-working to the forefront, reopening with a new layout on Tuesday. Discovering it had successfully secured $206,050 as part of the Federal Government’s Incubator Support initiative was the icing on the cake. “It’s amazing,” co-owner Colette McEntee said. “It’s a game-changer for us,” co-owner Craig Holland said. The funding will be delivered over two years, allowing the husband and wife duo to start an incubator program to help build the capacity of 15 start-ups in 2020 and 20 in 2021. “It’s to get people with good ideas and take them through a process where they can communicate those ideas effectively and develop those ideas to take to other investors and the world market,” Mr Holland said. “I think one of the game-changers here is our ability to attract really exciting mentors to help those small businesses and ideas coming through.” Embarking on their new chapter, they will also put a big focus on youth engagement and STEM entrepreneurship through the Maker + Co Academy. “We’re really passionate about how to get people thinking and create that entrepreneurial mindset from primary school age onwards,” Ms McEntee said. “Going from an idea to a venture to securing investment to global scaling.” Located in the iconic Lyric Theatre on Victoria Street, with co-working downstairs and making upstairs, start-ups and enterprises are encouraged to get in contact to join the co-working collective. Submissions for the Incubator program open in April.