{"id":53672,"date":"2023-10-20T16:24:31","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T16:24:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/government-open-data-offer-presents-wealth-of-opportunities-to-startups-startupsmart\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T16:24:31","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T16:24:31","slug":"government-open-data-offer-presents-wealth-of-opportunities-to-startups-startupsmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/government-open-data-offer-presents-wealth-of-opportunities-to-startups-startupsmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Government open data offer presents \u201cwealth of opportunities\u201d to startups – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The government will be opening treasure troves of public data as part of a pilot program aiming to encourage innovation in e-governance.<\/p>\n

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The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet will be working with Pollenizer for DataStart<\/a> – an open data program that it hopes will drive data-driven innovation and produce a commercially-viable business.<\/p>\n

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After a series of competitive pitches, one startup will be chosen to receive nine months incubation at Pollenizer, support from the government, and $200,000 in seed investment from Right Click Capital<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s about utilising the open data to create something meaningful and worthwhile, Right Click Capital partner Benjamin Chong tells StartupSmart.<\/i><\/p>\n


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\u201cFor the Australian government to be very serious about this, to open the data, is not only presenting a wealth of opportunities for entrepreneurs, but also allowing many Australians to benefit from this,\u201d Chong says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe want the founders to use creativity and leverage the data that is being opened by government to come up with things to change people\u2019s lives and have a huge impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Throwing open the data<\/b><\/p>\n


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DataStart aims to \u201cfind, incubate and accelerate innovative business ideas\u201d that use openly available data from the Australian government.<\/p>\n

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Applications will be open for six weeks along with information sessions in six cities from 17 November. From there a shortlist of 20 founders will receive mentoring for a month as well as intensive workshops and coaching from government officials before a final winner is selected from a showcase event on 18 January next year.<\/p>\n

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Pollenizer partner Daniel Ringrose says it\u2019s not meant to be a competitive environment along the lines of Shark Tank, <\/i>and he hopes \u201chundreds\u201d of Australian entrepreneurs will apply to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe hope is that we\u2019ll be able to find something that has impact beyond just what the government\u2019s social objectives might be \u2013 for it to be a big, viable commercial entity as well and to inspire further startups,\u201d Ringrose says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe want it to become a big and meaningful business.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Chong points to open-data initiatives in the US that have utilised weather and geological information to help farmers find the best time to plant and formulate weather-based insurance policies, as proof of the value of such programs.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s about working with the government and leveraging what they have to offer, rather than solely relying on it, Ringrose says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe opportunities through government partnerships are really powerful,\u201d he says. \u201cWorking with the Prime Minister\u2019s office and Cabinet means they\u2019ll get profiles, chances to discover early customers and distribute through government channels.<\/p>\n

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\u201cBut that only comes if we can prove the business is viable in its own right and not just a project to build a company and try to push it through government. We want to build a legitimate standalone business.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ultimately it\u2019ll be the founders that determine whether DataStart will be a success or not, Ringrose says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe expect they\u2019ll have good skills and domain knowledge, and will also recognise that their ideas are not the things that\u2019ll necessarily be a successful business \u2013 they\u2019ll be flexible and willing to test and learn,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cOpen data will be a powerful tool, not just a prescription. It\u2019s the founders, not the data that will make this program succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Do you know more on this story or have a tip of your own? Raising capital or launching a startup? Let us know. Follow StartupSmart on <\/i>Facebook<\/i><\/a>, <\/i>Twitter<\/i><\/a>, and <\/i>LinkedIn<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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