Youth entrepreneurship hub Geniaus seeks new members

A Melbourne-based start-up accelerator is to throw its doors open to applications from young entrepreneurs keen to utilise the collaborative working space.

Geniaus, a not-for-profit organisation based in a warehouse in the suburb of Springvale, will hold an open day on August 15 for interested start-ups.

The Springvale facility currently hosts seven entrepreneurs aged between 18- and 23-years-old. Geniaus is looking for another 10 entrepreneurs, all aged under 30-years-old, to join the project.

Despite being set up just six months ago, Geniaus has already nurtured two highly promising businesses – On Demand IT solutions, which has partnered with multinational clients, and Playzone Parties, a party planning service that recently received $20,000 in funding from a group of Norwegian investors.

Geniaus was established by seven young entrepreneurs. The facility provides internet, boardroom, kitchen and desk facilities to its tenants, with a strong focus on collaboration between entrepreneurs.

“We choose people based on complementary skills sets, rather than their actual expertise,” managing director Cameron Rambert tells StartupSmart. “I’m 23-years-old myself and when I started a previous venture I was staggered that there was no place to answer my questions about not ‘what’s now?’ but ‘what’s next?’

“I feel our generation is more socially aware. There’s a strong yearning to give something back. I’ve always loved the idea of doing something in the non-profit area that’s not just for yourself.”

Participants are encouraged to work together using a variety of tactics, including a gaming-based system that creates a leader board of entrepreneurs that have worked on other projects.

Rambert says that he hopes to work with other businesses and the Government to expand the Geniaus concept. Another collaborative working space is planned for Melbourne’s CBD within the next six months.

“We want to build this up as a model and once we have the prototype, we can replicate it,” he says. “I’m quite passionate about turning Melbourne into an entrepreneurial hub but I’m also keen for us to broaden our horizons beyond Melbourne.”

Geniaus’ open day will take place between 10am and 10pm on August 15. You can request an invite by emailing enquiries@geniaus.com