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Power networking for SA entrepreneurs at Icebreaker18

Icebreaker, the leading South Australian networking event, returns to Adelaide in November with a new format to connect hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, rising stars and employers with a ‘perfect match’.

Oct 31, 2018, updated Oct 31, 2018

After a successful launch in 2016, Icebreaker will be held at the Tonsley Innovation District on Wednesday, November 21, boosted by a data-driven matching system to provide ‘smart’ business connections.

Hosted by the New Venture Institute (NVI) at Flinders University – the top ranking university business incubator in the Asia-Pacific region – the inaugural Icebreaker16 brought over 1200 networkers to the Tonsley Innovation District to participate in 22 ‘speed dates’, each with potential employees, investors, backers, founders and innovators.

Kathryn Anderson, NVI Deputy Director Enterprise, says: “The impact of Icebreaker16 exceeded even our expectations, including an estimated $2.9 million of forward value for South Australia, according to the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute.

“We are aiming to beat that result this year.”

Using an advanced data science approach, the 2018 event will delve deeper for rich matching, providing uniquely tailored connections for each participant.

Partnerships between research and enterprise, invention and investment, and talent and opportunity will be facilitated, driving up South Australia’s vital innovation capabilities and achievements.

Director of Flinders NVI Matt Salier says: “We’re fortunate to witness and expedite a lot of the invention that’s happening in South Australia, and we have an immense pool of talent here that most people would not realise.

“This year we expanded our impact into the regions with our new Limestone Coast entrepreneurial hub, as well as launching the Innovative Manufacturing Accelerator and Innovation for Transformation Professional Certificate.

“Our data-charged Icebreaker18 is part of this journey to inspire, educate and connect even more people and businesses.”

Flinders NVI was named Top Challenger: Asia-Pacific’ in the UBI Global’s Top Challenger for Asia-Pacific 2018, a benchmark study of university-linked business incubators and accelerators.

The NVI at Flinders has been an enabler for innovation and commercialising great ideas for more than five years, helping to create 273 start-ups and training up to 3,357 people.

Icebreaker18 will be held at the Tonsley Innovation District, 1284 South Road, Clovelly Park, with all welcome including entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, researchers, and leaders from academia and industry.