Northern Australian migrant new business owners could benefit from US business accelerator program

Senior Researcher at Charles Darwin University’s Northern Institute, Kate Golebiowska has recently returned from Atlanta in the United States where, as a Fulbright Professional Coral Sea Scholar, she furthered her research into the impact of business acceleration for migrant women micro-entrepreneurs.  

Dr Golebiowska investigated Start:ME, a business accelerator program offered by Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and community and industry partners to new and aspiring micro-entrepreneurs, many of whom are women of minority, migrant and refugee backgrounds. 

Micro-entrepreneurs are people who work in their own business and employ up to 4 other people.

“Before the pandemic, I led a small project on the micro-entrepreneurship of migrant women in Darwin, which drove me to look at accelerator models for this population,” Dr Golebiowska said. 

“Business acceleration for migrant and refugee women can support social justice advancements.” 

 Dr Golebiowska said Start:ME fitted what and how she wanted to learn perfectly.

“Not only has the program been working with minority, migrant and refugee women in Atlanta for a decade now, but it has been delivered by a university and local stakeholders, who share Emory’s vision to foster economic opportunity across Atlanta’s communities.”

“I observed the weekly sessions of Start:ME in Clarkston often referred to as the most diverse square mile in America.”

“I interviewed the Start:ME management, current and past participants, volunteer business mentors, community-based, not-for-profit partner organisations as well as funders to develop a well-rounded understanding of the program.”

The accelerator equips the participants with knowledge and networks necessary to establish and operate micro-businesses, with the micro-entrepreneurs having the opportunity to pitch business grants with their mentors. 

“Having experienced Start:ME and having learned about other business accelerator models, I returned home with ideas how migrant and refugee women in Darwin and elsewhere in Australia might be supported,” Dr Golebiowska said.

“I also learned first-hand how empowered they become when they graduate from such programs.” 

To find out about the Fulbright Awards, go to the Australian-American Fulbright Commission at https://www.fulbright.org.au/