Business of Entrepreneurship Program
After an extremely positive response to the first round of programs, BDO is happy to announce the continuation of the Business of Entrepreneurship in conjunction with Advance Queensland and the Office of the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur. This round of programs will be delivered virtually and face-to-face. We are focused on supporting regional startups and founders in diversity groups. To obtain more information or to discuss eligibility criteria contact our team.
Start to Scale Program (Virtual)
This two-day virtual workshop is open to regional and metro-based startups in Queensland who have increased momentum over the past 6-12 months. If you have seen a significant increase in growth and want to make the most of this opportunity to scale rapidly, apply today.
Date: Tuesday 16 February and Tuesday 23 February 2021
Price: Free (usually $990)
Spaces: Limited to 25
VIEW DETAILS SUBMIT APPLICATION
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About the Start to Scale Program
Over two-days, you will develop the skills required to build a financial strategy supporting your plans to scale, including a comprehensive business budget and a 90-day cash flow forecast. We will demystify the investment and capital raising process and teach you how to build a financially sound pitch. You will also learn how to build a great team and recruit the right people to suit your culture and realise your vision.
This program is ideal for:
- Entrepreneurs who have experienced growth during past 6-12 months
- Founders who want to develop skills to maintain growth
- Founders who need to improve their financial literacy and acumen
- Startups that require the tools to manage runway and build financial strategy.
VIEW PROGRAM OVERVIEW VIDEO
Hear from Director of Startups and Program Facilitator, Marc Orchard. He explains what founders can expect in the Start to Scale Program.
What you will learn in the Start to Scale Program
BDO’s virtual financial education programs are interactive, engaging and provide you with practical resources and tools. They are delivered by Zoom and supported with activity sheets to ensure startup founders apply the concepts to their own company.
Day one learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Calculate financial metrics like cash burn, MRR and PSR, customer churn, CAC
- Build revenue projections for your business
- Create a cash flow forecast
- Understand strategies to extend your runway.
Day two learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Demystify the investment and capital raising process
- Learn how to build an investment toolkit
- Assess the current investability of your company
- Understand how to recruit the right people into the right roles.
How to get involved in the Start to Scale Program
If you are ready to build a financial strategy and cash flow management process to support rapid growth and learn how to attract investment and build a great team, click a button below to enrol in the next Start to Scale Program.
Program dates
| Tuesday 16 February 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm |
| Tuesday 23 February 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm
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Runway Extender Program (Virtual)
This two-day virtual workshop is open to Queensland startups who need a better understanding of their runway. If you are unsure of your cash position, how much runway you have left or how you can pivot to emerge a stronger, leaner and better business, apply today.
Date: Tuesday 23 March and Tuesday 30 March 2021
Price: Free (usually $990)
Spaces: Limited to 25
VIEW DETAILS SUBMIT APPLICATION
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About the Runway Extender Program
Over two-days you will learn how to build a cash flow forecast for your startup and develop strategies to extend your runway. You will be empowered by the knowledge of how to maximise your current cash position and identify strategies to stretch and improve your cash flow. We will also teach you how to negotiate with suppliers, obtain additional funding, if required, and build a 90-day action plan to extend your runway.
This program is ideal for:
- Entrepreneurs who need to clarify their cash position
- Startups needing a tool to calculate the length of their runway
- Founders who want to develop skills to maintain growth
- Founders who want to improve their financial literacy.
VIEW PROGRAM OVERVIEW VIDEO
Hear from Director of Startups and Program Facilitator, Marc Orchard. He explains what founders can expect in the Runway Extender Program.
What you will learn in the Runway Extender Program
BDO’s virtual financial education programs are interactive, engaging and provide you with practical resources and tools. They are delivered by Zoom and supported with activity sheets to ensure startup founders apply the concepts to their own company.
Day one learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Identify the difference between profit, cash flow and cash burn
- Calculate the length of your runway
- Understand how cash moves through a business
- Identify levers to stretch your cash flow further.
Day two learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Review current COVID-19 Government grants and subsidies
- Consider negotiation with suppliers
- Identify your options for cash injections to extend your runway
- Build a 90-day business action plan.
How to get involved in the Runway Extender Program
If you are ready to improve your cash flow management, maximise your cash position and build a plan to extend your runway, click a button below to enrol in the next intake of the Runway Extender Program.
Program dates
| Tuesday 23 March 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm |
| Tuesday 30 March 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm
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Cairns Acceler8or Program (Face-to-face)
This face-to-face Accleler8or Program is for startups based in and around Cairns. Over two-days you will learn how to interpret your financial statements, build a comprehensive financial strategy and revenue model for your busines. You will also learn key cash flow concepts and create a weekly forecast.
Date: Tuesday 06 April and Wednesday 07 April 2021
Price: Free (usually $990)
Spaces: Limited to 20
VIEW DETAILS SUBMIT APPLICATION
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About the Cairns Acceler8or Program
Over two-days of intense learning you will build a cash flow forecast and financial strategy for your startup. Founders will learn how to translate their vision and business goals into a financial roadmap. Using our online tool, you will calculate month revenue targets, determine when you can afford to hire and how much capital investment you’ll need. Our second online tool helps founders identify their current cash position and strategies to stretch and improve your runway. This program is an excellent opportunity to connect with other entrepreneur in your region to share and collaborate on how to accelerate your business growth.
This program is ideal for:
- Entrepreneurs building tech or tech enabled companies with a scalable business model
- Globally relevant startups with import/export potential
- Founders who need to know their numbers to secure investment opportunities
- Business leaders who want to develop financial literacy to supercharge their growth
- Startups with focus on creating local employment opportunities.
What you will learn in the Acceler8or Program
BDO’s financial education programs are interactive, engaging and provide you with practical resources and tools. Founders selected to join the two-day Acceler8or program will receive two online tools and a workbook with activities to ensure startup founders apply the concepts to their own company.
Day one learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Identify the difference between profit, cash flow and cash burn
- Understand how cash moves through a business
- Calculate the length of your runway
- Identify levers to stretch your cash flow further.
Day two learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Build revenue model to deliver growth targets
- Forecast COGS, salaries, marketing, R&D and investment requirements
- Analyse key financial metrics like MRR, PSR, MSR, GP% revenue
- Build a 90 day action plan for business progress.
How to get involved in the Acceler8or Program
Relevant startups are invited to submit an application for the Cairns Acceler8or program. Participants must be available to attend two day workshop in Cairns starting the day after Easter long weekend.
Program dates
| Tuesday 6 April 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm |
| Wednesday 7 April 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm
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Location
BDO Cairns
Cairns Corporate Tower
Level 1/15 Lake St
Cairns City QLD
Mackay Acceler8or Program (Face-to-face)
This face-to-face Accleler8or Program is for startups based in and around Mackay. Over two-days you will learn how to interpret your financial statements, build a comprehensive financial strategy and revenue model for your busines. You will also learn key cash flow concepts and create a weekly forecast.
Date: Tuesday 27 April and Wednesday 28 April 2021
Price: Free (usually $990)
Spaces: Limited to 20
VIEW DETAILS SUBMIT APPLICATION
×
About the Mackay Acceler8or Program
Over two-days of intense learning you will build a cash flow forecast and financial strategy for your startup. Founders will learn how to translate their vision and business goals into a financial roadmap. Using our online tool, you will calculate month revenue targets, determine when you can afford to hire and how much capital investment you’ll need. Our second online tool helps founders identify their current cash position and strategies to stretch and improve your runway. This program is an excellent opportunity to connect with other entrepreneur in your region to share and collaborate on how to accelerate your business growth.
This program is ideal for:
- Entrepreneurs building tech or tech enabled companies with a scalable business model
- Globally relevant startups with import/export potential
- Founders who need to know their numbers to secure investment opportunities
- Business leaders who want to develop financial literacy to supercharge their growth
- Startups with focus on creating local employment opportunities.
What you will learn in the Acceler8or Program
BDO’s financial education programs are interactive, engaging and provide you with practical resources and tools. Founders selected to join the two-day Acceler8or program will receive two online tools and a workbook with activities to ensure startup founders apply the concepts to their own company.
Day one learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Identify the difference between profit, cash flow and cash burn
- Understand how cash moves through a business
- Calculate the length of your runway
- Identify levers to stretch your cash flow further.
Day two learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Build revenue model to deliver growth targets
- Forecast COGS, salaries, marketing, R&D and investment requirements
- Analyse key financial metrics like MRR, PSR, MSR, GP% revenue
- Build a 90 day action plan for business progress.
How to get involved in the Acceler8or Program
Relevant startups are invited to submit an application for the Mackay Acceler8or program. Participants must be available to attend two day workshop in Mackay starting the day after ANZAC Day long weekend.
Program dates
| Tuesday 27 April 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm |
| Wednesday 28 April 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm
|
Location
Split Spaces
Building 4 Level 2, CQUniversity
92 Sydney Street
Mackay
Female-founder Acceler8or Program (Face-to-face)
This face-to-face Accleler8or Program is for female founders of startups or scaleups from throughout Queensland. Over two-days you will learn how to interpret your financial statements, build a comprehensive financial strategy and revenue model for your busines. You will also learn key cash flow concepts and create a weekly forecast. Our intention is to create a cohort of women who lift each other up and continue to support each other even after this program has finished.
Date: Tuesday 18 May and Tuesday 25 May 2021
Price: Free (usually $990)
Spaces: Limited to 20
VIEW DETAILS SUBMIT APPLICATION
×
About the Female-founder Acceler8or Program
The program is to support female founders from throughout Queensland. Over two-days of intense learning you will build a cash flow forecast and financial strategy for your startup or scaleup. Founders will learn how to translate their vision and business goals into a financial roadmap. Using our online tool, you will calculate month revenue targets, determine when you can afford to hire and how much capital investment you’ll need. Our second online tool helps founders identify their current cash position and strategies to stretch and improve your runway. This program is an excellent opportunity to connect with other female entrepreneurs, to inspire each other through collaboration and build practical strategies to accelerate your business growth.
This program is ideal for:
- Female founders building tech or tech enabled companies with a scalable business model
- Globally relevant startups with import/export potential
- Founders who need to know their numbers to secure investment opportunities
- Female leaders who want to develop financial literacy to supercharge their growth
- Startups with focus on creating local employment opportunities
This cohort will be led by female financial educators and supported by BDO’s Director of Startups.
What you will learn in the Acceler8or Program
BDO’s financial education programs are interactive, engaging and provide you with practical resources and tools. Founders selected to join the two-day Acceler8or program will receive two online tools and a workbook with activities to ensure startup founders apply the concepts to their own company.
Day one learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Identify the difference between profit, cash flow and cash burn
- Understand how cash moves through a business
- Calculate the length of your runway
- Identify levers to stretch your cash flow further.
Day two learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Build revenue model to deliver growth targets
- Forecast COGS, salaries, marketing, R&D and investment requirements
- Analyse key financial metrics like MRR, PSR, MSR, GP% revenue
- Build a 90 day action plan for business progress.
How to get involved in the Acceler8or Program
Relevant startups are invited to submit an application for the Female-Founder Acceler8or program. Participants must be available to attend both workshop days in consecutive weeks in Brisbane.
Program dates
| Tuesday 18 May 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm |
| Tuesday 25 May 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm
|
Location
BDO Brisbane
Level 10
12 Creek St
Brisbane City QLD
Acceler8ing Inclusion Program (Face-to-face)
This face-to-face BDO Acceler8or program is designed with all Queensland founders in mind, to ensure that no one is left behind. We are committed to ensuring the workshop is as open as possible with the opportunity for equal access to our financial literacy programs.
Date: Tuesday 29 June and Wednesday 30 June 2021
Price: Free (usually $990)
Spaces: Limited to 20
VIEW DETAILS SUBMIT APPLICATION
×
About the Acceler8ing Inclusion Program
Over two-days of intense learning you will build a cash flow forecast and financial strategy for your startup or scaleup. Founders will learn how to translate their vision and business goals into a financial roadmap. Using our online tool, you will calculate month revenue targets, determine when you can afford to hire and how much capital investment you’ll need. Our second online tool helps founders identify their current cash position and strategies to stretch and improve your runway. This program is an excellent opportunity to connect with other likeminded entrepreneurs, to lift and inspire each other through collaboration and build practical strategies to accelerate your business growth.
This program is ideal for:
- Founders from these sectors building tech or tech enabled companies with a scalable business model
- Globally relevant startups with import/export potential
- Founders from these sectors who need to know their numbers to secure investment opportunities
- Business leaders from these sectors who want to develop financial literacy to supercharge their growth
- Startups with focus on creating local employment opportunities.
What you will learn in the Acceler8or Program
BDO’s financial education programs are interactive, engaging and provide you with practical resources and tools. Founders selected to join the two-day Acceler8or program will receive two online tools and a workbook with activities to ensure startup founders apply the concepts to their own company.
Day one learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Identify the difference between profit, cash flow and cash burn
- Understand how cash moves through a business
- Calculate the length of your runway
- Identify levers to stretch your cash flow further.
Day two learning objectives
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Build revenue model to deliver growth targets
- Forecast COGS, salaries, marketing, R&D and investment requirements
- Analyse key financial metrics like MRR, PSR, MSR, GP% revenue
- Build a 90 day action plan for business progress.
How to get involved in the Acceler8or Program
Relevant startups are invited to submit an application for the Acceler8ing Inclusion Program program. Participants must be available to attend two consecutive days workshop in Brisbane. Please notify our team of any accessibility requirements.
Program dates
| Tuesday 29 June 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm |
| Wednesday 30 June 2021 |
9.00am – 4.30pm
|
Location
BDO Brisbane
Level 10
12 Creek St
Brisbane City QLD
“
“Advance Queensland is pleased to continue this much needed financial education program in conjunction with BDO. More than 130 founders have now been through the program and we look forward to helping more talented entrepreneurs with the support they need to help them survive and thrive, and to continue to create jobs now and into the future. I’m also excited that the program has been extended to support female and Indigenous founders in an even more deliberate way.”
Sarah Pearson
Deputy Director-General, Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport
What other startups are saying about the programs
In 2020, through this partnership, BDO delivered online financial education programs to over 130 Queensland startups, helping to improve their business acumen, financial literacy, investability and growth plans. Here’s what they are saying about their experience.
“I attended both the Start to Scale and the Runway Extender program with BDO for Startups. I believe hands down, it is the most beneficial program in the startup ecosystem in Queensland right now. It's helped turn us from a struggling startup to a profitable company. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who is on their startup journey.”
JAKE BAIRD
CO-FOUNDER, ABODABLE
“I was fortunate to get a spot in the Business of Entrepreneurship program with Marc Orchard and the BDO team. Even with eight years working in and on startups, I got so much out of it. The sessions were not only comprehensive but incredibly practical so we all walked out of there with an action plan and some working elements already, plus someone to reach out to for help in future. I've now recommended this course to loads of other startups – this content is critical to their survival and growth.”
KATIE RICHARDS
CEO & FOUNDER, LAW ON EARTH
“If financial literacy is not your strong point, or business finance keeps you up at night, this program is for you! Having produced numerous financial forecasts in the past, none made more sense or were as simple to produce than the ones you will walk away with from this virtual workshop.”
DAN KERR
CEO, SERVICE.COM.AU
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“Being an entrepreneur means starting and building a successful business from scratch. This can lead to creative, innovative approaches, and taking financial risks which others might avoid. Queensland based startups now have the opportunity to enhance their financial and business knowledge in “The Business of Entrepreneurship”. There has never been a greater need for financial acumen than now, and I am pleased that BDO is offering financial education in this way.”
Leanne Kemp
Queensland Chief Entrepreneur Oct 2019 - Dec 2020
Meet your Program Facilitators
BDO’s Financial Educators are committed to helping early-stage, high growth companies become scalable, investable and saleable. Marc has over 15 years experience working with startup and scaleup founders from across the globe.
MARC ORCHARD
Director of Startups
VIEW PROFILE
Marc is the Director of Startups at BDO and the founder of the BDO for Startups program. Prior to this, he was the Brisbane City Manager of Fishburners, an award-winning co-working space for early-stage tech startups.
Marc has also previously started, scaled and sold his own financial planning firm, which he grew from $0 to $30 million of funds under management in less than three years. Marc has extensive experience in early stage, high growth company advisory, capital raising and board management and is well connected in the Australian startup ecosystem.
His goal is to help passionate founders grow world-class companies, and to empower Queensland’s startup ecosystem to become a mecca for the world's best scaling companies.
REBECCA WHITE
Director of Financial Education
VIEW PROFILE
Rebecca is a specialist in financial education, sales and marketing. She has delivered financial education to startups and SME’s for over six years.
As a previous business owner, Rebecca approaches training and financial education from the position of a business owner, she speaks in a language you understand. Her focus is to leave participants feeling more confident and empowered thanks to a greater understanding of their numbers.
Rebecca has a particular passion for supporting female led startups with an exclusive aim of helping women have more money, more time and less stress in their lives.
Her mission is to improve the financial literacy of business leaders, globally, so they can achieve their dreams.