AMP Foundation Tomorrow Makers SPARK Program (Australia)

SPARK is a fully subsidised 18-week program delivered in partnership with Impact Boom that includes a series of immersive workshops, weekly digital modules, and ongoing support from industry experts and mentors. You’ll learn key skills such as business modelling, pitching, marketing, and more, while also having the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and build your network.

Funding Information

• Tomorrow Makers will each receive a grant of up to $20,000 (the “Funds”). The grant will be distributed in four instalments based on the completion of key milestones.
• The timeline for the distribution of the grant is as follows:
  • Week 1: $5,000 at the beginning of the program
  • Week 6: $5,000 upon submission of a revised business model
  • Week 15/16: $5,000 after the delivery of their practice pitch
  • After the Showcase event on 27 November: $5,000 upon completion of the program deliverables

Benefits and Outcome

• By completing SPARK, you’ll gain a range of benefits and outcomes, including a solid business model to assist with future funding and support, access to a closed alumni group for continued learning and networking, and the chance to showcase your achievements at the awards night in November 2024.

What can the funds be used for?

• The Funds can be utilised for a diverse set of purposes such as supporting you as you take time off from any paid employment in order to participate in this program, pursuing academic or research endeavours to support your social enterprise, purchasing equipment or tools relevant to your project and purpose.
• Whatever helps support you through the program and to develop your social enterprise.

What content will the workshops cover?

• 12 Weekly Digital Modules.
• Welcome to spark. Setting selves up for success.
• Purpose, vision, impact. Project management and effective teams.
• Understanding root causes & solving the right problem.
• Game changing business modelling and value proposition design.
• Creativity jam! Conceptualisation & ideation to create new, sustainable possibilities.
• Purposeful prototyping and pilots.
• Impact marketing & branding strategy.
• Financing projects and getting them off the ground.
• Powerful pitching & storytelling secrets.
• Key legal considerations for social entrepreneurs.
• Understanding the ecosystem. Leading impact enterprises.
• Creating tracks and moving forward with impact.

Criteria

• They expect to award up to 15 Tomorrow Makers in 2024. Each recipient may be an individual or a team of up to two people.
• All applicants for a Tomorrow Makers SPARK program must meet the following criteria:
  • An individual or team (up to two people) with a new social enterprise idea
  • An existing social enterprise with either a new idea or looking to scale their existing operation (same service however new territory or market)
  • Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident of Australia and must be living in Australia
  • The application must meet the program definition of a “social enterprise” (For profit, For Purpose)
  • Must be able to measure social impact and generate some revenue
  • The social enterprise must support at least one of the following funding streams: Female-led businesses, First Nations People, Retiring with Dignity and Improving Financial Fairness
  • Must be able to commence and participate in the SPARK program starting on in July 2024.

For more information, visit AMP Foundation Tomorrow Makers.