GAP BLITZ Program
12 week startup gap analysis program
GAP BLITZ is a program that aims to help founders close the gap in startup business performance and prepare them for growth through highly targeted insights, coaching and program support.
With the help of experienced coaches and innovation experts, founders will explore the scope of startup success and baseline their startup performance goals.
Commencing with a 2 day bootcamp, a mid-program face-to-face workshop, finale showcase and Expo, in between a series of online content and coaching sessions, Gap Blitz will help founders identify and address gaps in their understanding of:
- their competitive landscape
- customer discovery and the use of insights to drive differentiation
- how to translate business models to action plans.
Through the program, founders will have the opportunity to learn from the experience of other startups, coaches and businesses, and learn about the pathways to more support, available through CSIRO.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR 2025 ARE NOW OPEN.
To express interest in the 2025 program, please complete this expression of interest form.
Participants of the Gap Blitz Program at the Showcase held at CSIRO Lindfield 7 May 2024
Participants of the Gap Blitz Program at the Showcase held at CSIRO Lindfield 7 May 2024
FAQs
What is Gap Blitz?
Delivered by CSIRO’s Lindfield Collaboration Hub and facilitated by external facilitators, Gap Blitz is an intensive specialised coaching program for early stage startups that runs for 12 weeks.
The program aims to close the gap in startup business performance and prepare founders for growth through highly targeted insights, coaching and program support.
How does it work?
Starting with a 2 day in-person deep dive into your business – looking at your product, your customers, your culture, your goals – followed by weekly sessions with experts and business coaches, a mid-program immersion workshop and a showcase event to conclude the program. By the end you will have a clear plan for tackling the challenges identified and a supportive network of peers to boot.
Who is eligible?
The program is for registered businesses working in the areas of engineering, science or technology. You may have been through an accelerator or incubation program previously, but have hit some barriers on your path to growth.
Ideally your business is based in Greater Sydney, NSW in order attended the immersion workshop in person (25-26 Feb 2025).
When does it start?
The program commences 24 February 2025 with an online induction session, and follow with a 2 day in-person workshop 25 & 26 February 2025. Please complete this EOI form if you wish to be notified when applications open.
How do I apply?
Please complete this EOI form if you wish to be notified when applications open.
Applications will open 6 Jan 2025.
What is the time commitment?
- As with all programs, you get out of it what you put in! For the Gap Blitz Program, you will need to commit to 3-4 hours a week over the 12 weeks.
- Here is program overview:
- Online kick off and orientation: 90 min online session.
- In person immersion workshop at CSIRO Lindfield: 2 x full days in person at CSIRO Lindfield (25-26 Feb 2025)
- 1 hour online session with a coach to prepare video pitches (27, 28 Feb 2025)
- Online Coaching sessions (60 min once a fortnight): you will be able to schedule at a time that works for you (managed through TidyCal) which commences 3 March 2025 and continues once a fortnight for 5 weeks.
- Mid-program immersion: During week 5 of the program – spend half a day in person at CSIRO Lindfield.
- Online cohort based learning (2 hrs once a fortnight): these will be scheduled on Tuesdays from 11am – 1pm from 11 March 2025.
- Showcase will be in person in Sydney (venue TBC) Tuesday 13 May 2025 from 3pm – 7:30pm.
What does it cost?
Gap Blitz is a free program supported by CSIRO – Australian’ national science agency and Investment NSW under the Boosting Business Innovation Program (BBIP).
In person versus virtual participation?
This program will be delivered in a hybrid mode with a variety of online and in-person sessions in Sydney, NSW Australia.
The program commences with a virtual orientation session 24 February 2025, then moves to an in-person workshop for 2 days at CSIRO Lindfield, NSW. It then continues with weekly online sessions, a mid-program in-person immersion at week 5 and concludes with an in-person showcase event a in Sydney (venue TBC).
Who is the CSIRO Lindfield Collaboration Hub?
The CSIRO Lindfield Collaboration Hub is an incubation facility housed at CSIRO Lindfield (NSW), and a program that supports early stage deep tech startups to commercialise their hardware devices through the provision of specialist labs, office space, workshops and makerspaces.
The Hub is located in the CSIRO campus at 36 Bradfield Rd, West Lindfield, NSW.
The Lindfield Collaboration Hub has been supported by Investment NSW through the Boosting Business Innovation Program since 2017.
Who owns the intellectual property?
Program participants retain all their intellectual property.
Do you take equity?
CSIRO Lindfield Collaboration Hub does not take any equity.
What will I get out of it? What will the outcome be?
As with many workshop programs, you get out of it what you put into it. If you actively participate in the full program, you will come away with:
- knowledge of where the gaps lay in your business
- understanding of what steps to take to address these gaps
- a roadmap for implementation.
How is Gap Blitz different to startup accelerator or incubator programs?
Unlike traditional startup accelerator or incubator programs which tend to deliver a ‘once size fits all’ approach, Gap Blitz adopts a customised methodology in analysing the gaps in your business. It is designed to get to the heart of your challenges, through deep diving into what makes your startup tick, and what is keeping your startup stuck.
I have questions, who do I contact?
Please contact CSIRO Lindfield Collaboration Hub Program Manager, Leah Lucas leah.lucas@csiro.au