Guide for migrant entrepreneurs

Docklands co-working space Hatch Quarter continues to provide vital start-up support for migrants with the release of a “playbook”.

The digital guide, created by brothers Aiman and Mo Hamdouna, aims to ease the stress on first-generation Australian entrepreneurs commencing their startup journeys.

The tool includes useful advice on things such as idea testing and local business laws, as well as key tips from industry experts.

The brothers understand the difficulties in starting a business in Australia as newcomers, and want to help others in the same position.

“It’s important for [migrants] because it’s a tool I wish I had access to when I started in the start-up ecosystem,” Aiman said.

“The start-up ecosystem in Victoria is thriving, it’s welcoming, it’s warm, and there’s a lot going on. However it’s very hard to find all the places that you can join and go to meet the right people if you are new to the country.”

The brothers founded Hatch Quarter in 2015, located off LaTrobe St, next door to Marvel Stadium.

The shared office environment welcomes a mix of freelancers, small business owners, creative professionals and tech start-ups.

Both Mo and Aiman know that the entrepreneurial sprit of newcomers is rooted in drive and resilience and they want to encourage that with the playbook.

“I do believe that the playbook will significantly shorten the time needed for an international entrepreneur to engage in the start-up industry,” Aiman said.

The playbook also includes stories from other migrants who started their businesses in Victoria.

In it, they detail what they learned when starting out, the unique challenges they faced and any advice they may have for budding entrepreneurs.

Available in English, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic and Spanish, the step-by-step advice aims to ease fears and ensure good ideas are acted upon and fostered.

The playbook was created as part of a $70,000 grant from LaunchVic, a Victorian Government start-up initiative.

As part of the grant, Hatch Quarter has also run a series of events and community meet-ups.

Chair of Multicultural Business Ministerial Council Rohini Kappadath said the playbook addressed the problems faced by newly-arrived migrants who lacked visibility into relevant markets.

“It will compress the time to lift-off for so many and wipe away months, sometimes years, of struggle for our aspiring and hardworking migrants. Bring it on,” she said.