Media Release
St.George backs entrepreneurs and start-ups with $100,000 cash injection
15 February 2016
- Applications for the 2016 St.George Kick Start Your Start-Up Grants program are now open
- For the first time, four grant recipients will be provided with $25,000 each to kick start their business
- 12 finalists will pitch their business idea at TEDxSydney
St.George Bank is inviting local businesses around Australia to take part in its annual Kick Start Your Start-Up Grants program, with a total of $100,000 to be awarded to entrepreneurs to help turn their business dreams into reality.
For the first time, St.George is extending the value of the grants to $25,000 each so four grant recipients have more funds to put behind their business. The grants will specifically focus on small businesses and start-ups that are passionate about innovation and have been running for less than three years or are yet to start.
Cathy Yuncken, General Manager Business Banking, St.George Banking Group says the Bank has a long, proud history of supporting small businesses and start-ups.
“Since inception in 2014, the St.George Kick Start program has helped small business owners by providing $200,000 in grants to back great Australian ideas. We are absolutely committed to small business and I’m thrilled to announce that in 2016 we will increase our grants from $10,000 to $25,000 to enable entrepreneurs to access the capital they need to start and grow their business.”
“We’re calling on passionate entrepreneurs who are ready to take the plunge with interesting and new concepts, or even ground-breaking products and services to apply.”
As part of St.George’s partnership with TEDxSydney, the 12 finalists will have the opportunity to bring their business ideas to life with an elevator pitch at TEDxSydney in front of judges and a live audience on May 25.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to hone their pitching skills and put their most innovative and creative ideas forward – the program includes pre-event presentation training from the TedX team to prepare each entrepreneur for a winning pitch,” Cathy added.
TEDxSydney Director and Licensee Remo Giuffré, said "I was really happy to hear of the decision by our Principal Partners at St.George Bank up the ante this year for the Kick Start grants. $25,000 is a significant amount of money for a start up at the early stage. I look forward to seeing what ideas get pitched at the Sydney Opera House within the creative maelstrom of TEDxSydney 2016."
Applications are open to businesses across NSW, QLD, WA and ACT and will be judged by a panel of St.George business managers and external industry experts.
Applications are open until 11.59pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on Tuesday 29 March 2016. The top 11 finalists will be announced on 17 April 2016 and will deliver their elevator pitches at TEDxSydney on 25 May 2016 at the Sydney Opera House.
To check grant eligibility criteria and apply, please visit:
About TEDxSydney:
St.George Bank is proud to be Principal Partner of TEDxSydney, an independently organised event licensed from TED by long time TEDster, Remo Giuffré (REMO General Store) and organised by a network of fellow thinkers and long time collaborators.
TEDxSydney will return to the Sydney Opera House on 25 May. For more information visit http://www.tedxsydney.com
Media contact:
Penny Mahon, St.George Bank