Startup Ideation

Startup Ideation is an unconventional Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program that allows Deakin University students to create their own startup with the support of SPARK Deakin.

What is the Startup Ideation Program?

Update 2022 – click here–  below information is from past program that is no longer offered from 2023 onward.

 

Startup Ideation is an unconventional Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program that allows Deakin University students to create their own startup with the support of SPARK Deakin. Students work in teams or on their own to build create a new product or service. Past participants have come out of the program with a live, revenue-generating product.

The program is hosted by a dedicated program facilitator with weekly 3-hour sessions, open communication channels, ongoing mentoring, and industry guest speakers: past speakers have included MasterChef finalists, and employees from Google and Envato.

Each week will be dedicated to a specific entrepreneurial skill, and you will be given a series of challenges designed to help you turn your idea into a real product. On the final day of the program, all participants will be able to pitch their idea in the Startups Showcase.

Applications for the Trimester 2, 2022 are now open. 

Apply Now!

Apply for T2 2022

How does it work?

Each week you will be given a series of challenges that will bring you one step closer to launching your startup. The schedule for T2’s program can be seen below – sessions will run from 11am-2pm AEST. 

  • Induction — Monday 11 July
  • Design Thinking Workshop — Monday 18 July
  • Lean Startup Workshop — Monday 25 July
  • Validation Workshop — Monday 1 August
  • Prototyping Workshop — Monday 8 August
  • Business Model Canvas Workshop – Monday 22 August
  • Branding Workshop — Monday 29 August
  • Marketing and Sales Workshop — Monday 5 September
  • Pitching Workshop — Monday 12 September
  • Pitch Practice — Monday 19 September
  • Showcase Day Rehearsal – Thursday 22 September
  • Showcase Day – Monday 26 September

Key skills and experiences gained through this program include:

• Developing an entrepreneurial mindset built on innovation and adaptation
• Understanding how to identify core problems and develop solutions
• Learning how to trial ideas through a validation process
• Collaborating with students of a variety of backgrounds and experience levels

This is not your standard internship! You will not be working for anyone; you are only working for yourself — to make your dream of owning your own business a reality.

Or Read Startup Ideation FAQ’s here

Key Dates and Eligibility

Application Dates

  • 10 May 2022 — Information Session register here. 
  • 11 April 2022 – applications open here 
  • 15 May 2022 11:59PM — round 1 applications close
  • 24 May 2022 — invitation to complete video interview released
  • 1 June 2022 — round 1 video submissions due
  • 8 June 2022 — offers for round T1 Startup Ideation interns released
  • 7 July 2022 — program starts

Eligibility 

This program is open to both cloud and on-campus students from all faculties including international, postgraduate and undergraduate students. The only requirement is that you can attend the weekly workshops in Deakin Downtown located in Melbourne, CBD (Tower 2 Collins Square).

Note that it is your responsibility to ensure that taking a WIL unit contributes towards your course requirements and will not prevent you from meeting your course rules. Please speak with a student advisor and obtain a course map from your faculty prior to submitting your application.

How does the Startup Ideation WIL Program differ from your WIL Unit? 

Startup Ideation is a (Work Integrated Learning) WIL program provided by SPARK Deakin. This means that it is an internship opportunity that Deakin University recognises as a learning opportunity, and as such, offers a credit point for participation.  

In order to have the credit point recognised, interns must enrol in the appropriate faculty-specific WIL unit. Each unit will have their own set of assessments to ensure that the learning outcome for the unit are being met, and thus, the credit point is received.  Unit assessments and results are determined by the faculty and are separate to the internship program provider.  

Apply for T2 2022

“The one thing I love about SPARK Deakin Ideation is that it actually teaches you how to start a business. I’ve taken a lot of courses which are great but miss the practical element. It’s also a great environment to meet like-minded people and mentors.”

— Lin Pointer (Startup Ideation alumni)

"Without this program I would continue to be confused about my idea. This program helped me gain so much knowledge of how I can build my business empire. The fellow classmates were brilliant and super generous with their feedback. I’ll miss being a part of the program."

— Inder Singh (Startup Ideation alumni)

"I struggled with validating my ideas but this program helped me work through a couple of ideas and provide support to help foster them into a potential business. Thank you for the semester, this subject has been the most enjoyable one I have done in my 5 years at Deakin."

— Ben McGaw (Startup Ideation alumni)