A one-stop-shop for impact startup support
Small Steps Vol. 30: Directory for capital, mentorships, and working space as an impact startup š literal food for thought š and robot hearts??? š¤
āTo know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.ā
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essayist and Philosopher
Kick start
š„ Last week we launched AustraliaāsĀ first report into the impact startup ecosystem. As a part of that weāve created a number of resources for the sector.
š One of them is anĀ open-source impact startup ecosystem directory. Itās an extensive list ofĀ the Australian accelerators, incubators, VC funds,Ā and support networks available for impact founders. Check it out if you're thinking starting or scaling an impact startup.Ā
You can find the ecosystem directory here.
What stopped us in our tracks
š Our global food system simultaneously has a mega climate impact, underpins our nutritional health, and is theĀ most likely cause of the next pandemic. Despite this, because we think with our stomachs (not our heads), weāll only see mass scale change to more sustainable foods once we can give consumers like-for-like on taste, price, and convenience. This is where cultured meats that can produce the same taste and calories with a fraction of the environmental impact, antibiotics, and (eventually) cost, have a huge potential for impact. With its reduction in climate and pandemic risk, itās also a no-brainer for government funding. Check outĀ cultured meat jobs pathways here.
š² On the topic of food, did you know that 90% of serotonin receptors are located in the gut? Dr Uma Naidoo shared her studies on theĀ strong connections between nutrition and our mental health, making the case that no one person is the same and adjusting your individual diet according to your bodyās reactions to food can substantially improve mental wellbeing. This emerging demandĀ for individualised data is being increasingly met by new direct-to-consumer monitoring tools for nutrition, such asĀ metabolic fitness program, Levels, that provide patient-specific insights rather than broad prescriptions for the āaverage patientā that have dominated nutritional advice to date (we loved this chat withĀ Levels Founder, Josh Clement, on the topic).
Career pathwaysĀ
š Like Family is on the hunt for aĀ Head of Marketing.
š Perx is hiring anĀ Enrolment Marketing Manager.
š GlamCorner is hiring acrossĀ product and logistics.
šĀ Impact Investing Australia is looking for aĀ Social Enterprise Development Officer.
šø Skip Capital is seeking anĀ Investment Associate.
š± If you ever wanted to get involved in the latest on cultured meat, have a look atĀ Cell Agās pathways program.
š„ Thereās 30+ more jobs on theĀ Giant Leap Fund jobs boardĀ and more jobs at ethical companies on theĀ global B-Work job board.
Giant leaps
š Work180 has released aĀ comprehensive toolkitĀ to help companies get diversity, equity,Ā and inclusion policies right from the very beginning. You can also read about some of theirĀ best practices advice here.
ā Rachel is presenting at theĀ 4th annual Innovate Health Summit.
š Looking to catch up with us? Our Associate Charlie Macdonald has releaseĀ his office hours for the next month.
ForĀ the road
š· Medical student turned Startmate fellow and health tech guru Emily Casey has released this reallyĀ insightful and detailed guide on the sector. Itās an excellent resource if you are looking for those either looking to get into or work more closely with the sector.Ā
š It was really cool to see Car Next Door pledge toĀ offset emissions not only from its fleet, but also from its head office operations too. If your company wants to make a similar pledge they can sign up on the Leaders For Climate Action page.Ā
š If you havenāt read Radical Candor itās well worth your time. Now, the author Kim Scott has come back with another book on creating a framework for a diverse but inclusive workplace where work gets done with minimal fuss. Hereās a blurb on it from theĀ First Round Review.Ā
š» Booze-free beer is theĀ newest best seller in bottle shops around Australia. Itās a massive win for the growing culture of non-alcoholism thatās been bubbling away.Ā
š Looking for an accelerator? Try these:Ā
Is your company solving a problem tied to the health of our oceans? If so, take a look at theĀ Sustainable Ocean Accelerator.
RMITās Activator pre-accelerator is also back for another year, and this time it has a focus on early-stage impact startups.Ā
š Scientists have createdĀ edible packagingĀ out of seaweed for fruit, vegetables, meat and seafood.Ā
š What happens when you turn to an AI for love advice? It spits cliches back at you, but -- alarmingly --Ā they arenāt that far from the truth.Ā
ā¤ļøĀ Jacinda Ardern speaks our language.