Kickstarter Challenge for Female Entrepreneurs (Australia)

Finalists will also score a paid trip to the nation’s capital and support for the journey ahead with mentoring sessions, media training and more.

Entries are open across four Categories

There’s also an opportunity to chase the Popular Vote to win the fifth finalist spot so make sure to share your entry with your networks!

• Climate Change and Sustainability:
  • What is a sustainable solution to help protect and safeguard the climate.
• Health, Wellbeing and The Care Economy:
  • What improvements can be made to address health and wellbeing challenges facing.
• STEM and Technology:
  • What modern problem can be solved through a digital or tech solution?
• Women’s Economic Equality:
  • What innovative idea helps to empower women and girls by strengthening their economic security, participation, leadership or safety?

Funding Information

• The total value of the equity-free prize money is $60,000 AUD and will be shared amongst the five finalists. The winner will earn $30,000 AUD and the four remaining finalists $7,500 AUD each. Winners must be present at the event to claim their prize.
• Each Finalist (individual or each team member) will also win:
  • One return flight to the Kickstarter Challenge National Grand Final (if they are located outside of the ACT)
  • Accommodation for the duration of the Kickstarter Challenge Grand Final
  • Media and PR training and social media support in the lead up to the Grand Final
  • Grand Final presentation support from professional graphic designers
  • Mentorship opportunities
  • A chance to meet key decision makers to help develop Your business idea
  • Star on an episode of Secrets of a Self Starter podcast where You will be matched with a high-profile mentor.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to enter this Promotion and be eligible to get a reward, You represent and warrant that You satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

• You acknowledge that You are a female (or identify as a female) 18 years of age or older at the commencement of the Promotion: Wednesday, 26 July 2023. Persons under the age of 18 years are not allowed to participate in this Promotion.
• The Promotion is open to residents of Australia at the time of entry.
• You can enter the Promotion individually or as a team consisting of up to 4 team members. 50 percent of the team must be female or identify as female.
• Applicants must have an ABN registered in Australia with a registration date post 1 January 2020, be in the early start-up phase and have an annual business revenue below $75,000.
• Applicants must have a business account set up prior to entering or be willing to set one up if successful as a finalist.
• The Organiser is not responsible in case a Participant is not physically or mentally able to perform any or all of the described tasks; there is no legal right to participate in this Promotion whatsoever. The Organiser is not liable in case a Participant injures themself while performing actions related to this Promotion to the extent permitted by law.
• Directors, officers and employees of the Organiser, its parent company, and any of their respective affiliate companies, subsidiaries, agents, any company involved in the development or production of the Promotion, professional advisers, third party service providers or advertising and promotional agencies involved with this Promotion, and immediate family members and those living in the same household of such persons (whether legally related or not) are not eligible to enter or win any rewards in this Promotion. The Organiser shall verify these conditions consulting its database at the time of the selection.
• The Organiser will not accept entries or votes that are: (a) automatically generated by computer; (b) completed by third parties (on Your behalf) or in bulk; (c) illegible, have been altered, reconstructed, forged or tampered with; or (d) incomplete. The Organiser reserves the right to verify the email address provided by You including where required, any consent provided by a Guardian to require proof of age, identity and/or other provided details at any time at its discretion. In the event of any dispute, entries containing an invalid email address or incorrect data regarding the age or residence of You will be deemed ineligible. You must not enter this Promotion through the use of multiple email accounts or social media accounts. If it becomes apparent that You have used multiple email accounts or social media accounts to circumvent this rule all Your entries will be disqualified.
• Previous Kickstarter Challenge finalists are ineligible to enter.

Judging Criteria

• Each submission will be judged on the following points:
  • How well you communicate your vision
  • A strong unique selling point
  • Target market explained and understood
  • Revenue or business model discussed
  • Clarity and strength of over all submission (presentation, branding, well written)
  • Relevance to submission category
• Additional points will be awarded for including information about:
  • The scalability of your business
  • Competitive analysis
  • Marketing and sales strategy
  • Elevator pitch video (60 seconds).

For more information, visit Accelerator For Enterprising Women.