Join the Spark Festival and UNE SRI teams for an explosion of innovation and creativity, at Spark New England.

In a day packed full of entrepreneurial skills building, knowledge sharing, coaching and inspiration, this is an experience designed to bring together seasoned founders who need that extra edge in their pitch, through to those with an idea and not much else besides. 

Event One: Pitch Workshop with Alan Jones 9.30-3.30PM

Not everyone is born able to pitch, but you can learn! This is for those wanting practical skills to better pitch and articulate their startup from an investor-perspective are welcome to express their interest in this closed workshop, where participants will be guided through pitching tactics, practical tips, understanding your audience, managing your mindset and more. Alan Jones (Pitch Club) is one of Australia’s most celebrated pitch coaches, and he will be delivering expert guidance to you as part of this event. Read more about our special guest below.

You’ll love this if you: 

• Are a startup founder or innovator ready to refine your pitch

• Are looking for ways to supercharge your pitch abilities with the help of expert coaching

• Would benefit from new connections to local entrepreneurs, resources, mentors, and investment pathways 

• Are curious about innovation and entrepreneurship

Our special guest presenter: 

Alan Jones - Partner, M8 Ventures

Originally a tech reporter, then a producer for Microsoft’s Sidewalk, Alan Jones rose through the product ranks from Yahoo’s first product hire in Australia to become Product Director, South Asia.

After leaving Yahoo, he became co-founder and product head for HomeScreen Entertainment, backed by the Packer family’s CPH, and later acquired by Quickflix.

Now a startup founder mentor and tech investor, he is a partner with early-stage tech venture fund and syndicate manager M8 Ventures, and the chair of Catalysr, an entrepreneurship program focused on marginalised migrants and refugees. Disagree with him on Twitter at @bigyahu

About Spark Festival 

Spark Festival has a mandate to coordinate and promote startup-focused events that spark engagement into and across the startup ecosystem.

Spark Festival 2023 has been made possible by support from Investment NSW, the City of Sydney, Herbert Smith Freehills, the Australian Computer Society, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Stone & Chalk and the Atlassian Foundation, and continues its mission to drive engagement into and across the NSW startup ecosystem.

By registering for this event, you grant full rights to use the images from any photography/video footage for publicity and education purposes. This may include (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, coursework presentations, social media and press releases. If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform an event organiser.