Startup Apprentice – Transforming Young Minds

Are You Ready for the Future of Work?

In a world that is rapidly evolving, how do we equip the next generation for careers that do not exist yet?

For six years Startup Apprentice has been working in the youth education space teaching entrepreneurship.

We develop programs, workshops and presentations that help high school and tertiary students to develop creativity, adaptability, resilience, leadership, emotional intelligence, technical aptitude and curiosity – essential skills to cope with and thrive in the entrepreneurial post-industrial world.

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Real World Results

The Startup Apprentice program is structured to support the development of ‘un-teachable’ life skills by facilitating real world business creation and helping students navigate the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial path.

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International Reach

Startup Apprentice launched Australia’s first High School startup accelerator program 6 years ago and have had thousands of students participate in their programs, workshops and activities.

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Award Winning Programs

The Queensland Government named the founding team as ‘Innovation Champions’ under the Innovation & Science Champions Program for the creation of the 8 week accelerator program.

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The Startup Apprentice program supports endeavours for job creation, creativity and community connection to help conquer rising youth unemployment.

17%

of the global population are under 25 years of age

48%

of graduates feel their education did not equip them for the workforce

65%

of primary aged children will perform jobs that don’t exist yet

Our Highlights

Startup
Landing Pad

Launched in 2019, the Student Startup Landing Pad is a dedicated startup space for students under the age of 25 located at the Gold Coast Innovation Hub

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Mayor’s Technology Awards

The Mayor’s Technology Awards are an annual awards program for high school aged inventors co-created by Startup Apprentice, Bond University, Telstra and the Office of the Gold Coast Mayor in 2014.

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Mindvalley University

Startup Apprentice have fostered a global collaboration with international online learning portal, Mindvalley. In July 2019 they will be delivering a 1 week entrepreneurial program for teens at Mindvalley U in Pula, Croatia.

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Innovation Champions

In 2014, Sharon Hunneybell and Sam Winter, co-founders of Startup Apprentice were named ‘Innovation Champions’ by the Queensland Government for their work with startups and youth.

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Somerset College

Somerset College has partnered with Startup Apprentice over the past three years to provide entrepreneurship education to 10 to 18 years old Gold Coasters as part of the Somerset Celebration of Entrepreneurship. The time spent working with Sam and Sharron from Startup Apprentice at the Somerset Celebration of Entrepreneurship has enabled many of our students to develop 21^st century skills in readiness for their entry to the workforce. – Dane Oman, Head of Entrepreneurship.

Varsity College

“The start up apprentice program has truly unlocked the potential of our students, in a way that traditional school programs couldn’t. They are engaged and motivated by seeing their own ideas turn into a viable business product, changing them from student to entrepreneur, in a matter of weeks.” – Mirella Zulli

Mindvalley University

“I worked with the Startup Apprentice team for our international personal growth event Mindvalley University in Pula Croatia where they organised a full week of SUA workshops for 50+ teens from all over the world. Working with SUA was a great pleasure as they work with full passion in all phases – preparation, execution and conclusions. They definitely have the over delivering mindset as they surprised us with small details and extra efforts so that the workshop would work on all the senses of the youth. The interest in the workshops was huge, the content was valuable and the outcome very practical – the youth got the chance to use their creativity, innovative thinking and teamwork skills together with design thinking and content creation. The SUA team are experts in celebrating small and big victories throughout the process together with the teens and everyone else involved in the workshops. I would definitely work with them again.” – Minna Sild, Events & Author Success Manager, Mindvalley.

Bond University

“I witnessed clear gains in the soft skills of teamwork, resilience, problem solving and critical thinking from the Startup Apprentice Program.” – Dr Shelley Kinash Associate Professor Higher Education and Director, Learning and Teaching

The Smith Family

“Entrepreneurship is one of the fastest growing areas of job creation in the world and has been recognised by the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance as a major element in tackling global youth unemployment. The Startup Apprentice program provides the perfect way for schools to engage students and develop their entrepreneurial skills. It gives students the confidence to follow their dreams of creating a business.” – John Gilders, Partnership Broker

WOW Learning Lab

“It was a pleasure and an honor to work with Startup Apprentice at Mindvalley University 2019 in Pula, Croatia. My WOW team of 7 and I had the pleasure of interfacing with Sam Winter and Sharon Hunneybell via zoom for several planning meetings prior to the month long summer event. Their level of professionalism, attention to detail and the ease with which they collaborated was unmatched by any companies we’ve worked with thus far. The Startup Apprentice programs were incredibly innovative and very well received by Mindvalley teens, parents and staff. I must say the depth of their offerings, their commitment to excellence and their passion-inspired work ethic was/is wonderful and infectious.” – Judy Julin, CEO & Founder, WOWLearningLab.com.

Global Leaders in Immersive Entrepreneurial Education.

Developing programs, workshops and activities that encourage curiosity, creativity, innovation and critical thinking in youth.

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“Teaching kids how to nourish their creativity and curiosity, while still providing a sound foundation in critical thinking, literacy and math, is the best way to prepare them for a future of increasingly rapid technological change.”

Peter Diamandis, Co-Founder Singularity University

Trusted Partners

Startup Apprentice is proud to be supported on an international, national and local level by passionate business leaders that recognise the importance of entrepreneurship and creativity in the workforce of the future.

Sponsors, Mentors and Customers.