Griffin Accelerator

🎯 What They Do

Griffin Accelerator is a premier startup accelerator program based in Canberra, Australia, dedicated to empowering early-stage entrepreneurs and fostering the growth of innovative businesses within the ACT region. Established in 2014 as an initiative of the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN), the accelerator plays a pivotal role in diversifying and strengthening Canberra's innovation ecosystem.

📖 Their Story

The program is renowned for its intensive, three-month (or 11-week) structure, which provides participating startups with a robust framework for rapid development and achieving sustainable business success.

• ●A core differentiator of Griffin Accelerator is its mentor-driven approach.
• ●It pairs ambitious founders with a network of seasoned local entrepreneurs and investors who bring extensive experience in startups, venture capital, sales, business development, and research commercialisation.
• ●These mentors actively guide participants, offering expertise, lessons learned, and access to significant industry and investor networks.

⚡ What Sets Them Apart

Historically, the program has been championed by figures such as Craig Davis, who was noted as CEO of Griffin Accelerator in 2015, and is supported by a dynamic group of mentors including active investors like Anne-Marie Perret, who also serves as an advisor and board member to various ventures within the Canberra innovation ecosystem.

🏆 Track Record

Key achievements highlight Griffin Accelerator's impact: over its first decade, it supported 64 projects, with the Griffin Trust investing more than $2 million.

• ●Companies emerging from the program have collectively reported valuations totalling over $70 million, demonstrating the accelerator's effectiveness in nurturing high-growth potential startups.
• ●The program also provides a dedicated desk in the Canberra Innovation Network's co-working space, weekly accountability sessions, and seminars covering critical topics such as customer identification, funding, financial projections, and capital raising.

👥 The Team

What makes Griffin Accelerator distinctive is its commitment to creating a collaborative and supportive community.

• ●Founders work alongside a small, high-performing cohort, sharing challenges and successes, fostering strong relationships, and creating a powerful network effect.
• ●The program culminates in an opportunity for teams to pitch to the mentors for up to $100,000 in investment and present at the Canberra Innovation Network Annual Investor Showcase, connecting with local and interstate investors.