Are you interested in seeing a selection of the best early stage, innovative businesses in Australia?

Have you been successful in a particular sector and are on the lookout for your next big challenge?

Are you a successful business builder or leader who's ready to share what you've learned with Australia's aspiring entrepreneurs?

Are you an expert in your field of technology with an interest in commercialisation activity in Australia?

Are you a professional investor with an interest in early stage deal flow?

If you answered "YES" to any of the above questions then you may be an ideal candidate to join Commercialisation Australia's Volunteer Business Mentor ("VBM") network.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for people who are willing to pass on some of the wealth of knowledge and experience that has led to their own success in order to support the success of others.

People who have one or more of the following attributes may provide a significant value add to our participants:

·         proven business building experience in successfully commercialising a new, innovative product or process (as founder or CEO)

·         professional investing experience in early stage ventures including venture capital management, angel and/or high net worth private investing

·         expertise in a specific technology field (e.g. photovoltaics, genetic engineering, optic fibre communications, bio-fuels, mechanical engineering, materials science etc)

·         domain expertise in relevant disciplines (i.e. prototype design and manufacture, telecommunications market, clinical trials and regulatory compliance, eCommerce growth strategies, consumer marketing, enterprise computing, mobile applications etc)

·         domestic and international networks in select fields 

·         a genuine interest in helping researchers, individuals and innovative companies commercialise new IP

·         the capacity to provide mentoring support to Commercialisation Australia participants

What is the role of a VBM?

Volunteer Business Mentors complement the assistance provided by Commercialisation Australia Case Managers.  They offer vital knowledge, insights, business connections and domain expertise gained through their own experiences to help participants:

·         identify appropriate options or solutions to address hurdles they have encountered in taking their product, process or service to market

·         better understand the commercialisation process, including difficulties commonly faced by entrepreneurs, researchers or businesses new to commercialisation activity

·         develop valuable business networks.

Commercialisation Australia Volunteer Business Mentors do not provide professional advice regarding investment, financial, legal or taxation matters.

How much time is required?

Commercialisation Australia Case Managers will facilitate and arrange meetings between participants and their matched mentors.  Mentoring relationships are intended to be of short duration, addressing a specific issue/need. As such, it is expected that most mentoring relationships are unlikely to exceed 1-3 sessions, with individual sessions taking 1-2 hours.

The exact format and time required for each mentoring relationship will be negotiated directly by the Case Manager with the business mentor and the participant. The frequency of referrals to individual mentors is likely to vary significantly depending upon the skill set of the mentors and the requirements of program participants at any given time. 

What’s in it for the VBM?

We are building a network of high quality business and innovation professionals. As a Commercialisation Australia VBM you will contribute to the commercialisation ecosystem in Australia through sharing your experiences and knowledge.

Membership of the network offers many and varied benefits to the Volunteer Business Mentor.  Principally it is an acknowledgement of your exceptional experience and skills and your position as an expert in your nominated field.  Additional benefits include:

·         opportunities to engage with a selection of the best early stage, innovative businesses in Australia

·         a mechanism for successful business builders to share their experiences and insights with Australia's aspiring entrepreneurs

·         maintaining currency with emerging trends and/or new business models

·         opportunities to network with high calibre mentors for peer learning and knowledge sharing

·         opportunities to selectively invest in early stage, high growth companies

Commercialisation Australia supports our mentors by covering reasonable costs for travel and associated expenses.

What’s involved in signing up?

On joining as a Commercialisation Australia Volunteer Business Mentor, you will be required to sign a Volunteer Business Mentor Declaration by which you agree to act ethically and respect confidentiality of information.  Mentors will also need to familiarise themselves with the Commercialisation Australia Volunteer Business Mentor Guidelines and undergo an induction briefing prior to undertaking mentoring activities.  A copy of the Volunteer Business Mentor Declaration and the Volunteer Business Mentor Guidelines are available below.

 Download a PDF version of the Volunteer Business Mentor Declaration. [48 Kb]

 Download an Word version of the Volunteer Business Mentor Declaration. [232 Kb]

 Download a PDF version of the Volunteer Business Mentor Guidelines. [582 Kb]

Download a RTF version of the Vounteer Business Mentor Guidelines. [1.77 Mb]

Only Commercialisation Australia participants, who have been successful in the application process, are able to access Volunteer Business Mentors. Participants are required to sign a Deed as part of their Funding Agreement (Schedule 3) by which they agree to indemnify the Volunteer Business Mentor and Commercialisation Australia against any claim resulting from any activity or actions taken by the participant. A copy of the Commercialisation Australia Funding Agreement is available on the Funding Agreement Page.

How do I Apply?

To become a Volunteer Business Mentor, please complete the Expression of Interest form.

Please note that individuals submitting Expressions of Interest will undergo a screening process. Applicants will be contacted in writing to advise them of the outcome of their application.

If you encounter any difficulties in completing or submitting the Expression of Interest form, or would like any further information in relation to the Volunteer Business Mentor Program, please contact Commercialisation Australia at CA.Mentors@innovation.gov.au or call the Commercialisation Australia Hotline on 13 22 56.

*Commercialisation Australia will use the information provided in the Expression of Interest form to assess and register mentors for the Volunteer Business Mentor Program, to prepare a mentor profile in the Commercialisation Australia volunteer mentor database and for the administration of the Commercialisation Australia Program.

Your information may be disclosed within Commercialisation Australia and its staff, including Commercialisation Australia Case Managers and within the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research for the purposes of administering Commercialisation Australia. It may also be disclosed as permitted or required by law, or in response to questions posed by the Minister, Parliament or its committees.