Catalysr is an accelerator for early-stage startups. It is specifically aimed at first-generation migrants and refugees. “Migrapreneurs”, as Catalysr likes to call them, have unique challenges when trying to launch businesses. Catalysr aims to provide education, and the network Migrapreneurs need to have a higher chance of success with their business and ideas.

I am not an alumnus of this accelerator, but my MIT Bootcamp teammate, Pascal Seibold, went through the accelerator with his startup Jobspottr GmbH. However, it was another MIT Bootcamp alumnus, Muheeb Hoque, an alumnus of Catalysr with this startup, The Pluralist, who recommended me as a suitable person for the Chapter Lead position for Queensland in Catalysr’s new national pre-accelerator program.

Catalysr’s Head of Operations Marlowe Mackenzie on the pre-accelerator program

A pre-accelerator program helps individuals/small teams who have a startup idea to test and validate their idea for a high-growth tech startup.

I am incredibly grateful to be given this opportunity to give back to the startup community and the migrant community. We, first-generation migrants, have to stick together, and I look forward to meeting some great Migrapreneurs from Brisbane and beyond!