Matthew Salier

The ideas factory

Social and cultural entrepreneurs play a vital role in a vibrant society alongside economic entrepreneurs.

At the Flinders University New Venture Institute (NVI), the Director, Mr Matthew Salier, is working to give students an opportunity to gain all kinds of entrepreneurial experience before they graduate, providing an environment to pursue bold new ideas.

“We want more entrepreneurs with the skills and insight to make a real difference, so our program is about entrepreneurial thinking, innovation and creativity,” Mr Salier said.

After working with a range of not-for-profit organisations setting up businesses, Mr Salier has extensive experience in identifying some of the key ingredients required to establish a successful venture.

“The NVI is open to any student at the University with an idea or a goal to be able to make change because we understand that some of the best ideas come from the most unlikely places,” Mr Salier said.

Students complete assignments and develop business plans in their own time. When they come into the classroom, their attention is focused on working with the successful entrepreneurs, CEOs and executives who volunteer to work with the program.

An NVI Fund under the University’s trust provides students with the resources to advance their ideas and seek start-up capital.

“As a university we want our students to be at the forefront of the graduate market,” Mr Salier said.

“Having these experiences and these qualities is a key way to achieve this. We want to encourage our students to experiment and take chances, that’s how we at Flinders and the NVI can make a real impact on the world.”