Genesis welcomes two new program heads

The University of Sydney Business School’s Discipline of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship has welcomed two new co-heads for its Genesis program, as it puts a push behind entrepreneurship and Genesis as a key vehicle for budding start-ups at the University of Sydney.

The Genesis program supports founders with mentoring, an entrepreneurial community and a chance to win $25,000 in its biannual startup program.

Since launching in 2008, Genesis has supported more than 1,000 University of Sydney alumni, students and staff to accelerate their commercial and social enterprises. At the beginning of 2023, there were around 700 start-ups actively engaged in the Genesis program.

Start-up teams gain one-on-one access to industry mentors and advisors, a database of entrepreneurship resources, networking events and media exposure.

David Oliver, Head of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) said: “We are delighted to have attracted two exceptional people with complementary backgrounds across innovation, entrepreneurship and education from a practical and academic lens. Much like a start-up or scale-up, Genesis will have two co-heads steering the ship.

“It will aim to grow itself and add even more value to The University’s entrepreneurial students and alumni producing products and companies of the future, particularly in thematics the Business School is actively behind.”

Matt Bright joints Genesis as Entrepreneur-in-Residence on the back of continued engagement with The University of Sydney Business School as a guest lecturer in SIE and as current President of the Business Alumni Network (BAN).

Matt created the ‘Unconventional Careers’ series for students showcasing alumni on their non-traditional paths into start-up success and was most recently a Genesis mentor in cohort 31.

A serial executive in high growth ventures, Matt built the Australian operations of European fintech Spotcap to its acquisition by Zip Co and the creation of Zip Co’s Zip Business unit. This was during Zip’s hyper-growth mode from less than 400 staff in two markets to over 1,100 staff in 14 markets. Actively involved in the startup community, Matt has served as a mentor in Blackbird’s Giants program, Stone & Chalk, as an expert at WeWork Labs.

“It’s an exciting time to be an entrepreneur in 2023 as the post-Covid world grapples with pressing issues such as the rising cost of living, rapidly emerging artificial intelligence and combatting intractable problems driven by climate change,” Matt said.

"The University’s students and alumni deserve a forward-thinking program and active mentorship within Genesis to prepare for the challenges and ambiguities of navigating technology commercialisation, and getting from ideation and incorporation to a level of market-readiness with first customers and investors.”

Joining Matt is Jeri Childers, PhD. Jeri is the CEO and Founder of Accelerate You! which provides coaching, leadership and business development services to organisations, leaders, entrepreneurs and business builders who are inventing the future in their sectors.

Jeri brings a depth of experience in coaching tech startup leaders and teams, and has a passion for advancing female founders and university researchers in their commercialisation pathways.

“I am proud to join the Genesis program and to grow the University of Sydney Business School’s support of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. I am passionate about enabling innovative and enterprising leaders and their start-up to scale-up journeys,” Jeri said.

“The Genesis program is invested in the long-term success of its founders, and we want to contribute to building a thriving business community that has a positive impact on the world.”

Jeri led the ON Research Accelerator Services at the CSIRO. She is also a lecturer in the EMAB program in the School of Business and Law at The University of Wollongong and was formerly a Director, Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the Faculty of Engineering and IT and a Founding Director of UTS Techcelerator.

The University thanks outgoing Entrepreneur-in-Residence James Crowther for his tenure and the contribution that he has made to the program. James looks forward to focusing more on his own start-up Crowd Render, exploring new projects, and spending more time with his young family.

“Over the years Genesis has had some great entrepreneurs-in-residence and program heads including James – as well as Alex Carpenter, James Alexander, Jarred Harrison and Cayetana Martinez,” said David Oliver.

“We look forward to Jeri and Matt’s contribution to Genesis and to continued program growth under their stewardship, and actively encourage students and alumni of The University starting companies to consider us as their first destination to refine their proposition for market.”

Applications for the 2023 Genesis Program close 18 August 2023. Register to find out more.