A FAREWELL TO BASECAMP
By Linda Liem
Like all good things in life, Basecamp grant money has sadly come to an end. But, that's not a reason to be sad.
Christiane Taylor, CT Hypnotherapist and Wandoo Anderson, Diving instructor & student (Image credit: Linda Liem)
Our Learning Lead, Emma Jackson has worked hard over the past few years doing all the behind the scenes work to get Basecamp off the ground. For those who have no idea, here’s what you missed.
What is Basecamp?
The Basecamp money has funded in-house programs like Basecamp Incubator - an intensive eight week workshop, focusing on the tourism sector. People like Carol Redford began their journey here (read more about her journey below).
Moola also went to programs like Kickstart, a one day workshop for startups or those needing a little kick with their business idea.
The fried feast supplied by Aunty Nhan @ Platform Market and cupcakes by Anita. (Image credit: Linda Liem).
Smells like a party
For the sake of wrapping things up, Pollinators threw a little shindig to celebrate.
A big warm thank you for those who attended, and especially our former Basecampers and Kickstarters.
The former attendees shared stories of hard beginnings and continuing business journeys.
Innovate the night sky – why not?
As for Carol Redford, who came in believing she was an "impostor".
Going strong since 2018, she admits she had a really hard time getting started. When she found Pollinators and signed up for the Basecamp program, Sam Birmingham, who facilitated the workshops at the time, helped her define what an inventor was.
"I realised I wasn't an imposter at all, but I was in the perfect place – an innovator in an innovative space."
Carol took her passion of stargazing and business idea to local government investors to create a unique and WA-based stargazing tourism industry, aptly named Astrotourism WA.
She also kindly sent us some Yued Aboriginal Astronomy Planispheres, a cardboard star gazing tool to help us find the emu or kangaroo in the sky at different times of the year. They are so much fun to play with!
Can you find the kangaroo in the sky? (Image credit: Linda Liem)
Did someone say automating grant writing?
For Priscilla Clayton, owner of Clayton Consulting, she recognised "we all had the same (business startup) problems."
She helps businesses win grant submissions and engage in stakeholder relations.
Priscilla says "part of that equation should be also the monetary value that this program actually bought across."
Frankly, she admits
"over the last two years I bought 20 million dollars into the region."
And that is to be commended.
Lea Putri, our former workplace student and PM Haik, QC lab technician @ GMA Garnet (Image credit: Linda Liem)