NEW! Female Founders Scale-up Manufacturing Program

This program offers $25,000 worth of technical expertise to female entrepreneurs and senior women in business (intrapreneurs) to help scale-up  new product or services to become more competitive in Australian and global markets.

Our program will advance your technology readiness, helping you to develop a proof-of-concept or proof-of-delivery.

It is proudly supported by the Advance Queensland Female Founders Accelerator initiative.

About the program

This program is designed to help you through a critical growth phase — moving from a viable concept to product development and into commercialisation.

Over nine months, you will work with engineering and technology experts at the ARM Hub to refine and develop your product in preparation to scale-up your business.

This will involve working on the product design, developing tailored solutions to technical challenges, and preparing for investment (if required).

Start: November 2024

End: June/July 2025

Cost: There is no cost to enter the program, but you are required to contribute to the cost of developing your project. This cost will depend on your specific project, but is capped at $25,000.

Outcomes

When you finish, you will have developed a proof-of-concept or proof-of-delivery of your product ready for commercialisation and delivery to market.

Eligibility

The program is open to women who have founded a business in Queensland, are working in a business with 50% female ownership in Queensland, or are in a leadership role (e.g. CEO, Director, Executive) in a business in Queensland.

To gain the most benefit from the program, you should have a product that is ready for scaling-up. This can mean:

• you are working towards a proof-of-concept that needs to be tested for validation
• you are working towards a prototype that needs to be tested in a relevant environment
• you are a working towards a prototype that needs to be tested in an operational environment.

Your product must require manufacturing, preferably involving Industry 4.0 technologies (e.g. robotics, automation, artificial intelligence).

We encourage young founders, First Nations founders, and regional business owners to apply for this program.

Cost

The program is funded by the ARM Hub and Advanced Queensland.

While participation in the program is heavily subsidised, you will be asked to contribute to the cost of developing your project.

How it works

Under the program, you will contribute up to $25,000 for your project (please note, not all projects will cost this amount).

The remaining costs of the project will be met by the ARM Hub and the grant funding.

For example, the cost structure for a project that costs $50,000 is as follows:

$25,000                          +            $25000                                          =               $50,000

Your contribution                      ARM Hub + grant funding                     Total project cost

Reasons to apply

The ARM Hub is an independent, not-for-profit organisation based in Brisbane. Our purpose is to help Australian companies use advanced manufacturing technologies to become more profitable.

Every day our experts work with companies like yours.

We have an in-house team of technical staff who work solely with companies looking to improve their products or solve a problem.

Our technical team is supported by researchers, many of whom are world-leaders in robotics, artificial intelligence, automation, and design.

Together, we offer you the opportunity to get the best advice on what you need for your business.

How to apply

Our next cohort begins accelerating their business journey from November 2024.

For more information about the program, please contact the ARM Hub at info@armhub.com.au.

Ready to apply?

• complete the Expression of Interest form below.
• applications are now open.