sTARTUP SUCCESS PENRITH
Free Business Training For Startups
SSE has been proud to partner with Penrith City Council to deliver an exciting series of online and in-person workshops for any new and early-stage startup founders with a personal or commercial connection to the City of Penrith.
Whether you’re at the start of your entrepreneurial journey and have an idea you want to explore, or you are already in business and looking to build your customer base or better understand how to leverage networking or access funding, you’ll find a workshop to suit.
Workshops are completed as stand-alone modules, each with its own microcredential after successful completion. Complete one or two, or for the best experience and to receive your Startup Success Master badge, complete all six.
UPDATE 9 November 2023: Live online and face to face workshops are now complete. Instead, all workshops and learning materials are now available via our online learning platform ('SSQ Quad'). But be quick, Startup Success closes its doors for good on Wednesday 6 December.
MODULE | MODE | WHEN / WHERE |
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Microcredential 1: Small Business Startup |
1hr live online, 1hr self-paced (2 learning hours) |
Wednesday, 4 October 2023 19:00-20:00 Online |
Microcredential 2: Test Your Business Idea |
3hrs face to face |
Wednesday, 11 October 2023 17:30-20:30 The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High St, Penrith |
Microcredential 3: Structuring Your Small Business Startup |
1hr live online, 2-3hrs self-paced (4 learning hours) |
Wednesday, 18 October 2023 19:00-20:00 Online |
Microcredential 4: Building a Customer Base |
1hr live online, 2-3hrs self-paced (4 learning hours) |
Wednesday, 25 October 2023 19:00-20:00 Online |
Microcredential 5: Finance and Funding |
1hr live online, 2-3hrs self-paced (4 learning hours) |
Wednesday, 1 November 2023 19:00-20:00 Online |
Microcredential 6: Present Your Small Business Startup |
3hrs face to face |
Wednesday, 8 November 2023 17:30-20:30 The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High St, Penrith |
Participants may complete all six microcredentials or select the individual microcredential/s with most relevancy to their current startup stage.
Two of the six microcredentials are delivered as live 3-hour workshops featuring industry mentors who provide individualised mentoring, consultation and feedback. The remaining four microcredentials are held online, once a week with a one-hour live kick-off introducing the online, self-paced learning activities to complete for that module. Workshop sessions are planned for early evening timeslots to minimise disruption to regular your work hours and will be recorded to be accessible to everyone.
Your verified microcredential/s
Upon completing each of the assessed microcredentials, you'll be awarded with an authorised digital SSE badge (your microcredential), issued by Credly, which we encourage you to share on your social media profiles, in particular LinkedIn. Aligned with the National Microcredentials Framework (NMF), this badge is a certification of an assessed learning module that is outcome-based, driven by industry need, tailored to support lifelong learning, and transparent and accessible. Verifiable micro-skills are embedded into the digital badge as part of its meta-data and are accessible to employers seeking candidates with the relevant skills.
Learn more about each workshop
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MICROCREDENTIAL 1: SMALL BUSINESS STARTUP
The first microcredential is online, with a live 1hr all-in 'Meet and Greet' followed by an overview of the program. Participants are introduced to the online learning program and the introduction to Module 1, which focuses on the entrepreneurial mindset, entrepreneurial process and the ecosystem within Sydney and Greater Western Sydney. Participants then work self-paced to complete the module and are invited to complete an optional digital internship experience with a current Sydney startup.
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MICROCREDENTIAL 2: TEST YOUR BUSINESS IDEA
The second microcredential is held as an interactive face-to-face workshop enabling peer-to-peer connection and community building. 'Test Your Business Idea' addresses the concept of identifying a problem for which a business solution (product/service) is created and allows participants to rapid test their business idea to identify barriers to growth. Guest industry mentors work with participants to refine and/or adjust the business idea.
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MICROCREDENTIAL 3: STRUCTURING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS STARTUP
For the third microcredential, participants are able to use their refined business idea and begin the process of developing the business by creating a minimal viable product (MVP) and structuring a business plan, based on the Lean Canvas model. Through 'Structuring Your Small Business Startup', participants are led through the steps of setting up their business. Any problem areas identified are addressed through additional 1:1 mentoring sessions.
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MICROCREDENTIAL 4: BUILDING A CUSTOMER BASE
The fourth microcredential in this series caters to those participants looking to find and grow their customer base. Using their minimal viable product (MVP), participants address the marketing stage of commercialisation and explore and identify marketing strategies suitable for their business. Promotion and networking are also addressed in this module to demonstrate ways to find connections, confidence and to expand horizons.
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MICROCREDENTIAL 5: FINANCE AND FUNDING
The fifth microcredential explores the financial stage of business development. In this module, participants are supported in reviewing (or creating) their costing structures to determine the capital required. Startup costs are explored, with a focus on possible funding models for startups such as grants, loans, crowdfunding and angel investment.
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MICROCREDENTIAL 6: PRESENT YOUR SMALL BUSINESS STARTUP
The final microcredential in the series is a live workshop allowing participants to reconnect and reflect on their progress throughout the program. Participants learn about pitching and prepare, practice, and present their own business pitch to an expert panel for feedback. A review of the topics already covered is presented by way of a final checklist for success. During this workshop, participants are provided the opportunity to ask final questions and seek advice from the industry mentors as well as a reflection.
Meet our Mentors
Frank Newman
Training Facilitator
Frank facilitates online and in-person workshops that demystify and develop the traits and capabilities required to be a successful entrepreneur and change maker.
Juan Pereyra
Startup Success Mentor
Juan Pereyra is the Founder and director of Pnyx. Based in the Blue Mountains, Pnyx is the technology company behind Comm.care, a collaborative case management solution for the community care sector that facilitates reporting to NDIS and Age Care.
Mihajlo Zivcec
Startup Success Mentor
Mihajlo has developed two commercial EV charging platforms and has extensive experience with FPGA development, electric vehicle standards, enclosure design, and electronics.
Veronica Neal
Startup Success Mentor
Veronica Neal is the owner of The Gifting Emporium, a luxury e-commerce gift hamper business. She has extensive experience in service-based businesses, including running a commercial air-conditioning company and a Virtual Assistant business.
Erum Nasser
Startup Success Mentor
Erum is a consultant with experience across technology and transformation programs, having worked in a range of industries including the public sector, banking and financial services, utilities, hospitality, media and advertising.