MAP14 launches, announcing it’s now more than just an accelerator

Melbourne University’s startup accelerator MAP will officially launch for the year at an event tonight. This year it will again award six Entrepreneurial Fellowships of $20,000, however it is no longer MAP’s sole component.

The launch marks the beginning of a broader focus for the program, which has extended into a number of events for those at an early ideas stage, as well as a new program for those who have already been though MAP.

MAP manager Rohan Workman says the changes make it one of the most comprehensive startup programs in Australia. MAP has also welcomed the Faculty of Business and Economics, Melbourne Business School, Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences as program partners, covering 75% of the university faculties.

Some of the extended activities of MAP will involve public forums, masterclasses and feeder programs. It’s hoped these initiatives will build up a strong pipeline for the MAP program itself.

Startup Velocity is a three-day program for students who are interested in getting involved in entrepreneurship.  The program comprises workshops, mentoring and focuses on idea validation and learning how to pitch. Selected students will form teams with individuals from different backgrounds and pitch an idea on the final day.

Escape Velocity is an extension of the Startup Velocity Program. Selected participants will obtain insight from a talented group of mentors, into the more advanced techniques required to build a venture.

In order to be eligible, one member of the founding team must be a student, staff or alumni (within the past five years) from the one of the participating faculties.