A Perth startup is expanding to the Peel region after receiving a State Government grant.
IDEAcademy was one of six WA innovative companies to share in $547,300 of funding as part of the latest round of X-TEND WA grants.
Founders Nicole Gazey and Rebecca Loftus will receive $100,000 to bring their Perth-based program for young entrepreneurs to the Mandurah area.
The pair started IDEAcademy in 2020 to provide an alternative option to mainstream senior-secondary education for students aged between 15 to 18.
Early this year, they flagged their intention to launch their second location at the Food Innovation Precinct WA in Stake Hill.
IDEAcademy was one of five regional programs to receive a grant, with the others covering Geraldton, Karratha, the East Kimberley and the Pilbara.
One of the recipients is a First Nations entrepreneurial initiative in the East Kimberley, led by women, which explores bush food and botanical industry innovation.
Applications are open for the next funding round, seeking submissions that will educate, grow and encourage investor education alongside corporate connections with startups.
The maximum grant will increase to $150,000 and applications close August 30.
Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson said the program supported businesses that “build entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialisation to create local jobs”.
“The X-TEND WA program provides valuable support to grow our local innovation ecosystem,” he said.
“It’s an exciting time to be an innovator in WA, with our next round of X-TEND grants now offering an increased maximum grant of $150,000. I encourage both local and regional businesses to take advantage of what X-TEND WA can offer and consider an application for the next round.”
Apply via wa.gov.au.