The following selection of businesses located in the City of Melbourne received a Small Business grant in the Start-up category.
Each was chosen for its capacity to enhance the city's reputation for innovation and business vitality, while demonstrating a business model based on solid market potential and long-term financial viability.
Electron Workshop
Electron Workshop will establish an environmentally aware co-working space for digital companies, studio facilities for pod casting and a dedicated bicycle storage area to be located in the North Melbourne Precinct.
Funds will be used on capital expenditure for fit-out, website development and the purchase of IT equipment. Visit Electron Workshop.
City Handyman
City Handyman will establish a mobile handyman and property maintenance service. The business model will embrace sustainable and environmental practices through using a fleet of scooters, bicycles and public transport to service the City.
Funding is provided to assist with the fit-out of a CBD office, developing a website and the purchase of specialist tools. Visit City Handyman.
Gumbo Kitchen
Gumbo Kitchen is a mobile gourmet food van specialising in fast food based on recipes from the New Orleans region in the United States. The business will be present at various locations during Melbourne events and festivals and will operate its head office in William Street, Melbourne.
Funding will be directed towards enabling the van to minimise its ecological impact through a range of environmental sustainability measures and initiatives. This includes installation of photovoltaic cells on the roof of the vehicle and energy efficient gas kitchen appliances, as well as funds for website development. Visit Gumbo Kitchen.
House of CQ
House of CQ will establish a new fashion studio introducing luxury, handcrafted corsetry, made-to-measure bridal and couture, and tailor-made lingerie. The business will deliver high-end bespoke clothing under four brands: Corset Queen, CQ couture, CQ Bridal and Retro Slave. House of CQ nurtures the creative industries sector and envisages to set up traineeships and mentoring programs for young designers.
Funds are provided for fit-out of the studio, IT and equipment requirements.
Visit House of CQ.
Melbourne City Rooftop Honey
Melbourne City Rooftop Honey will deliver the provision of honey, via sustainable urban bee keeping to the local hospitality sector and establish a retail outlet in Melbourne. The business aims to bring bees back to the city through deploying hives on the roof spaces of cafés, restaurants, hotels and in individual's gardens in and around Melbourne.
Funding will be used to purchase materials and equipment to deploy 50 hives on rooftops in the first year. Visit the Melbourne City Rooftop Honey.
YBF Pty Ltd
YBF will develop a co-working space where entrepreneurs can work in a collaborative and creative environment and be resourced by a seed accelerator program.
Start up businesses are provided with seed capital to grow from the seed stage to the next stage of the business cycle. Mentoring, administrative services and professional advice as well as space will be provided.
The funding being provided is for fitting out the York Butter Factory (YBF). Visit the York Butter Factory.
Advanced Composite Structures Australia
Advanced Composite Structures (ACS) Australia Pty Ltd is a spin-off company from the Cooperatives Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures. The core business of ACS Australia will be to provide research and development services to industries that use composite (or light weight material) such as the aerospace, marine and automotive industries. Visit Advanced Composite Structures Australia.
Brandon Capital Partners
Brandon Capital Partners is a venture capital firm that focuses on investments in the biotechnology / life science industry. Visit Brandon Capital Partners.
Gewürzhaus
Gewürzhaus is a retailer of premium herbs and spice blends offering high quality product at competitive prices. The store offers a sensory, stimulating retail experience where customers can smell, see and then self-fill their selection of spices into specially crafted, air-seal spice bags for home storage convenience. The store also offers products in pre-packaged jars, stocks a complementary range of kitchenware, cookbooks, herbs, seeds and a range of cakes and biscuits.
The store is located at Lygon Street, Carlton, or visit Gewürzhaus.
Global (SE Asia)
Global (SE Asia) Pty Ltd provides an environmental management system called SmartTrash. It is a monitoring device attached to stationary compactors (waste and recycling) that changes clearance rates from a fixed schedule to 'as requested'. This just-in-time system lowers transport costs and transport-related carbon emissions. Visit Global (SE Asia).
Indigenous Careers & Employment
Indigenous Careers & Employment is a new Indigenous-owned and -staffed recruitment company. It was established to help employers attract and retain Indigenous staff; and to make sure Indigenous Australians have easy access to information on job vacancies.
The organisation will deliver culturally responsive and cost-effective recruitment and employment solutions for clients who want to connect with Indigenous jobseekers and people with Indigenous competencies.
Funding was approved to assist with the organisation's website development. Visit Indigenous Careers & Employment.
Ink and Spindle
Ink and Spindle produces environmentally friendly hand screen printed textiles, with custom patterns and design for sale by the metre to both wholesale and retail customers. Visit Ink and Spindle.
Kimono House
Kimono House provides authentic classes and demonstrations in Japanese arts, crafts and culture from its CBD retail premises and at secondary schools around Australia. Kimono House also sells a range of Japanese textiles, kimonos, kits and workshops with a selection of handbags and purses in Japanese design. Visit Kimono House.
Melbourne Canine Hydrotherapy Centre
Melbourne Canine Hydrotherapy is establising a new hydrotherapy centre in Melbourne for dogs. Hydrotherapy can be used to aid recovery from musculoskeletal surgery and non-weight bearing exercise for dogs with debilating diseases such osteoarthiritis.
Nanocycle
Nanocycle has designed a unique battery and motor control technology that allows a conventional bicycle to be converted to an electric bike. The technology makes improvements in weight, reliability and aesthetic appearance. Using offshore suppliers, Nanocycle will manufacture and introduce the kits to the Australian market.
Thread Den
Thread Den is a sanctuary for sewers, followers of fashion and lovers of vintage that includes a sewing lounge and classes and stocks local designer and vintage clothes. Visit Thread Den.