Launching a startup is tough but you don’t have to do it alone. Causeway Innovation offers startup coaching and advisory services from our Sunshine Coast base as well as practical workshops for startup founders.
Although starting a business is undoubtedly tough it can also be very rewarding. We have worked with over 300 startup and small businesses founders from the Sunshine Coast and across Australia and draw upon that experience to help startups to grow stronger, faster and boost their chance of success.
We help startup founders to develop both themselves and their business. This includes a needs analysis to identify areas to accelerate business growth and tasks such as developing business models and plans, customer acquisition, building a team, building a network, and raising investment.
Financing business growth is a major challenge for startups and scaleups. We help businesses to become investor ready - via a good business plan, team, and some runs on the road with sales - and then help to identify and approach relevant investors, ideally with a warm introduction through network contacts.
We have worked with startups from a wide range of industries, including many technology businesses - e.g. healthtech, digital and cleantech - as well as more mainstream businesses in sectors such as food and beverages, training and education, marketing and professional services. Many are focused on global markets and others are mainly targeting Australia but they all share an ambition to grow and make a profit and impact.
We have also designed and delivered a series of startup workshops, see below, which are often sponsored by local governments, universities, or industry associations.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Startup coaching: avoid pitfalls and boost chances of success
Pitching for investment: feedback on approach, communication and pitch deck; identifying and approaching investors
Support due diligence by potential investors or conduct business reviews for startup boards to provide a fresh view of business position and direction.
Startup and scaleup accelerator programs
University entrepreneurship programs from undergraduates to MBAs
“Colin Graham is a straight-shooting, practical and insightful sounding board. He is proactive, considered and has personally offered me many great insights into what it takes to launch, run and scale a successful startup.
I’m very grateful for his time and expertise.”
Check out our blog posts on startups:
1. Building a winning startup team
2. Building a business of value
WHY WORK WITH A STARTUP COACH
Benefit from experience
Tap into insights into success gained from working with over 300 startups and small businesses across many industry sectors.
Grow stronger, faster
Avoid common mistakes that cost time and money. Make better use of limited resources and tap into an extensive business network.
Keep focused
Startups are hard - an external coach can help you to focus on your goals, stay motivated, and celebrate successes.
It works!
Numerous studies have found coaching to have a positive effects on goal attainment, resilience and improved business performance.
Startup workshops
BUILD A BETTER STARTUP
Format: Typically three 2-3 hour workshops
A short course aimed at budding and early stage entrepreneurs – a flexible delivery format typically with three sessions. Designed to feed into regional innovation programs.
This short course covers ideas, structures and approaches to help startup entrepreneurs build a better business, faster and increase their chances of success by avoiding common issues.
Content includes entrepreneurship autonomy, idea generation, startup motivation, how to make a new idea happen, networking, sources of funds, Lean Startup principles, building a business model and team.
Key focus areas
Startup principles and how to build a successful business fast
How to increase chances of success by avoiding common mistakes
Startup motivation and how to make new ideas happen
Networking skills and sourcing funds
STARTUP PITCHING SKILLS
Format: Typically a 4 to 5-hour workshop
An interactive workshop aimed at startup and early stage businesses. Initially developed for QUT bluebox to help entrepreneurs develop their businesses pitches for the QUT $500k Innovation Challenge and Accelerator programs.
The workshop provides an overview of sources of finance for startup businesses, what different types of investors are looking for and how to effectively pitch a business idea to a potential investor.
Workshop format is flexible and is delivered over one or two sessions.
Key focus areas
How to develop a successful business pitch to a potential investor
Understanding sources of finance for startup businesses
What investors are looking for