ABOUT
Causeway Innovation is a specialist firm supporting the development of innovative businesses and communities.
We work directly with startups and small businesses to help them develop business models, business plans, strategies for growth, pitch for investment and identify opportunities to grow through innovation. This is achieved via one-to-one business advisory services and practical workshops for small groups of startup founders or small business owners.
We also work on a regional level to help create more dynamic, connected and innovative communities. This can include developing regional innovation ecosystems to support the growth of startups and small businesses by building a dynamic and supportive culture and network and by leveraging local assets such as universities, research centres, investors, mentors and professional service firms.
We have assisted clients in the development of business cases, implementation plans for Innovation Hubs, Business Incubators, and Accelerator programs, Coworking spaces, Student Entrepreneurship Programs and Business Education and Networking Programs. We can add value - directly or with partners - in the development of Innovation Precincts, including University Research and Innovation Precincts.
Clients for community and regional innovation programs have included economic development agencies, local and state governments, TAFE and universities.
Photo by Smartworks Coworking on Unsplash
Meet the founder, Colin Graham
Colin Graham, Managing Director, Causeway Innovation
Colin has experience in marketing, innovation and engaging talent. He has worked with over 300 startups and small businesses, 50 of the world’s leading companies and 12 regions.
Today, his principal interest is in developing innovative businesses and communities building on his work in international cities and the Sunshine Coast, one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.
Colin has degrees in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and his first job after graduating was in marketing with Dulux near London where he became International Product Manager.
At 26, he left Dulux to be the co-founder and CEO of Yellowbrick, focusing on graduate recruitment. Colin led the ‘Delivering the Promise’ project with 36 leading companies including Intel, P&G, and Deloitte.
Colin then joined the Career Innovation Company working on engaging talent projects with Global HR Directors from 18 companies including PwC and Unilever. He was the lead author of ‘ePeople, engaging talent in the entrepreneurial age.’
In 1999, Colin joined the Robert Gordon University in Scotland to create a Student Business Incubator before moving to Australia in 2002 to be the Founding CEO of the Innovation Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
At that time, the Sunshine Coast was primarily known as a lifestyle and tourism region with few tech businesses. The Innovation Centre went on to support over 260 startups in ICT, creative, healthtech and cleantech sectors.
Today, the Sunshine Coast is increasingly recognised as an innovation hotspot, ranked sixth in Australia by Startup Blink, just behind the major capital cities.
Colin established Causeway Innovation in 2012 to build on insights from working with startups, small businesses and communities. In 2021/22, he was also part of the leadership team for the Sunramp Healthtech Accelerator.
Network Partners
Causeway Innovation has developed a strong network of people and organisations with complementary skills and experience in multiple industry sectors. We regularly partner with other firms in the delivery of major projects.
Our network includes professionals in the following key areas:
Smart communities & digital
Behaviour change
Higher education and research
Economic development
Community engagement
Professional services, including legal, IP, finance, grants and R&D consulting
Marketing communications
Architecture, design and planning
Investors – high net worth individuals, angel and venture capital
In the footsteps of giants
Causeway Innovation’s name was inspired by the Giant’s Causeway, a world heritage site in Northern Ireland. The Giant’s Causeway consists of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The Giant’s Causeway has inspired generations of artists, writers, musicians and now Causeway Innovation. The name was chosen to suggest a magical pathway, network connectivity, a way ahead and reflects the founder’s Irish heritage.
“Successful innovation requires the labors of a vast ecosystem of executives, engineers, salespeople, advisors, consultants, venture capitalists, angel investors, accountants, landlords, lawyers, marketers, bankers, supportive friends, and countless others”
