Pre-Accelerator Program
Do you have an early-stage idea that aims to positively impact Australian wildlife or the natural environment? If you’ve got an innovative idea, we can help you set the critical foundations for success through the HATCH Pre-Accelerator Program.
- Over six weeks this FREE online development program will help you to:
- Clearly articulate the problem you are addressing;
- Clearly articulate your solution to the problem;
- Develop your Theory of Change and Social Business Canvas, and;
- Develop a plan for first round market testing of you solution.
This is a great opportunity to kickstart your startup journey and connect with other awesome changemakers, as well as some of the inspiring HATCH alumni.
The program is open Australia-wide, 18 years and older; places are limited, and selection is merit based.
Program Structure
Program Dates
About HATCH
The HATCH Accelerator Program is designed to help ecopreneurs take their idea from vision to reality. If you are a not-for-profit or social enterprise founder or start up with a venture that will drive positive change for wildlife, biodiversity and the environment then we are here to support you.
We are excited that the 2023 HATCH Accelerator Program will be run in collaboration with the Odonata Foundation, which means we have amplified and multiplied the opportunities that come through joining this program.
Program highlights:
- $50,000 prize. No strings attached – free to participate, no equity required
- $2,000 equity free seed funding per initiative
- Available to applications Australia wide
- Travel and accommodation included
- Expert advice from Impact Boom, Entrepreneur in Residence and delivery partner
- Social enterprise or not-for-profit ventures accepted
- Access to Taronga’s and Odonata’s expert network and individual team support
- Access to the Odonata impact investor panel led by Nigel Sharp
- Additional prizes up to $30,000 and pathways for regenerative agriculture innovations and ideas
- Additional prizes and awards up to $5,000 each in top tier business management consulting packages, tailored to your needs
- One year membership into the Wild People Alumni Network and platform providing exclusive trade benefits and continuous collaboration and promotion opportunities all year
Accelerator Program 2024
The HATCH Accelerator Program is all about supporting ecopreneurs to take their idea from vision to reality. If you are a not-for-profit or social enterprise founder with a venture that will drive positive change for wildlife and the environment, we have an amazing network of mentors and experts who can help you bring your vision to life and reach your goals sooner. And at the end of the program one team will receive the $50,000 HATCH Grant!
The program is open Australia-wide 18 years and older, to individuals and teams who have at minimum completed their business model canvas and demonstrated initial traction through first round market testing, and are seeking to accelerate their development and path to impact.
Places are limited and selection is merit based. If you’re keen to be part of the next Accelerator Program, please register your interest and we’ll be in touch with more information.
Register your interest by emailing: web@zoo.nsw.gov.au
Program structure
HATCH delivery team
The HATCH program is led by Belinda Fairbrother, Tom Allen, Paul Maguire, Christie Gazal and Sam Marwood, with involvement and support from other members of the Taronga and Impact Boom teams.
Belinda Fairbrother - Co-Founder
Belinda is the Co-Founder of the HATCH: Taronga Accelerator Program. Belinda has over fifteen years of experience in the not-for-profit sector focussing on behaviour change, conservation and sustainability, and is passionate about helping changemakers bring their brilliant ideas to life.
Tom Allen - Entrepreneur in Residence
Tom is Founder and CEO of Impact Boom. As a certified social enterprise and leading intermediary, Impact Boom helps entrepreneurs and innovators unleash their greatest potential to create a better world. Tom has worked closely with hundreds of social entrepreneurs globally to maximise their impact and is proud to be supporting HATCH as the Entrepreneur in Residence and delivery partner.
Paul Maguire - Director of Education
Paul is the Director of Education at Taronga and is passionate about conservation, youth, Indigenous issues and behaviour change. Paul has extensive experience developing award winning behaviour change campaigns and innovative education programs, exhibits and experiences focusing on advocating for the wild. His goal is to deliver inspiring educative experiences to all those who engage with Taronga.
Christie Gazal - Community Impact Support Officer
Christie is the Community Impact Support Officer on the HATCH: Taronga Accelerator Program and has been working in the not-for-profit sector for over eleven years. With experience in program coordination, event management and behaviour change, Christie thrives on supporting ecopreneurs to take their ideas from vision to reality.
Sam Marwood - CEO of Odonata Foundation
Sam is an environmental entrepreneur and the CEO of Odonata Foundation. He has founded and sat on the board for multiple social enterprises, and most notably established and co-founded farm match-maker Cultivate Farms. Under his guidance as CEO, Odonata has become a leading conservation not for profit that is working to protect, breed and de-list threatened species through a wealth of partnerships, projects and sanctuaries.
HATCH mentors and experts
HATCH participants are supported by a range of mentors and experts from across the startup, business, and for-purpose arenas, as well as Taronga’s in-house expertise in conservation, community engagement, education and not-for-profit management. A huge vote of thanks to our mentors and experts for their commitment to support the HATCH participants and program.
Lawrence Goldstone
Partner at PwC Australia, Chairman of OzHarvest, On the Board of Creative Cubes and ForPurposeCo. and advisor to several startups.
Julie Alexander
Culture, business performance & people change specialist | MC & speaker, facilitator & trainer | Leadership & exec coach
Warren Bingham
Holly Bowman
Francisco Caffarena
David Chung
Tanya Christie
Madeline Cunningham
Jack Dean
Bradley Delamare
Robyn Foyster
Jarod Green
Rhys Lambert
Tim Middlemiss
Obama Foundation Leader: Asia Pacific - consulting on Social Impact | Strategic Communications | Creative Campaigns
Sam Marwood
Sam Founder Cultivate Farms, CEO Odonata Foundation, values driven leader and entrepreneur, passionate about supporting the business of biodiversity. Sam also founded the Odonata Wild Idea business incubator program and is a driving force for collaboration and positive change for the environment and culture.
Susan Moylan-Coombs
Alannah Pizzica
Ian Roth
Former Chief Veterinary Officer at NSW DPI
Taronga Conservation Society Australia Board Member
Tim Silverwood
Jill Storey
CEO ReadyFundGo | Non-Executive Director I Strategy, Innovation, Sustainability, Digital Disruption, CSR
Ellie Sursara
David Taylor
Johnny Timbs
Kristin Vaughan
Eric Wedepohl
Nikki Warburton
Non-Executive Board Director | Chief Customer and Marketing Officer | Strategic Advisor | Investor
Alex Zinzopoulos
Principal at William Buck | Advisor to the Tech Sector | R&D and ESOP Specialist
