blog posts
Difference Makers
Two Feet Accelerator: Where are they now? Refugee Talent
TDi has been committed to inclusive sustainable businesses since the early days of the social enterprise movement in Australia. We’ve proudly partnered with NAB in a number of ways, one of which was the Two Feet Accelerator programs. These were designed as part of a long-term mission to build a critical mass of successful social enterprises across Australia. Now, several years on we’re seeing the real fruits of these initiatives. We’re following up on several Two Feet Accelerator Alumni businesses to see what they’re up to…We met the founders of Refugee Talent Nirary and Anna right at ... READ MORE
Two Feet Accelerator: Where are they now? YEVU
This week we’ve been chatting with Anna Robertson from YEVU – a social enterprise clothing brand designed and manufactured in Ghana. READ MORE
YuMi Tourism Partners (Alotau) – Milne Bay Organics
“Coconut has been incredibly embedded in the Milne Bay tradition – from the food consumption through to the traditional dancing.” Last year, the YuMi pilot program took us to Alotau in Papua New Guinea, where we worked with difference maker, Rhona. READ MORE
YuMi Tourism Partners (Alotau) – VilLink Tours & Expeditions PNG
“With what I’m doing, I want to encourage the other young women out there, that they can also have the chance to make a difference. Not only in earning money, but sharing what they know, and getting other communities involved.” READ MORE
Flexible and responsive coaching is key to sustaining women’s economic empowerment during a crisis
While each business owner faces their own set of challenges in response to the uncertainty and upheaval of COVID-19, we are observing a series of consistent coaching requirements emerge. READ MORE
When life gives you lemons… pivot your business model
Nemika Brunton is based in Alotau, Papua New Guinea. We met her during the YuMi Tourism Partners Pilot program. The program addressed starting small, testing and learning, and how to adapt and respond to market needs. These lessons have certainly helped Nemika shift her business focus in response to COVID-19. Tourism is a key industry for the town and many of the local businesses were tourism based. So, the impact of COVID-19 hit the town hard. Many locals - including Nemika - have adapted quickly to totally new businesses and customers. READ MORE
Supporting Social Enterprise during COVID-19
Following a tumultuous year of bushfires, COVID-19 and recent floods in Southern NSW, lots of small businesses and the families and communities they serve, are doing it tough. One way we’ve seen people showing their support for these local businesses is through the #shoplocal #shopvictoria and #buyfromthebush movements. We’ve been inspired by this and wanted to share a #shopsocialenterprise guide based on some of the businesses we’ve been working with over the last 18 months. READ MORE
Finding motivation to continue business during COVID-19
By Isaac Jeffries & Erin Wallis As the current economic climate evolves with COVID-19, we have been sharing some perspective from both our own work and the continual conversations and support we’re offering others. Initially, we shared a metaphor about what this first felt like – like our house was burning down and we were setting up camp. After a few weeks set up at camp, and many conversations by the campfire later, we then shared some perspective on what people were feeling and how they were coping. Now five months into these altered conditions, we've started to hear ... READ MORE
Pivoting during COVID: responses from Fiji
Recently, we caught up with Deb Sadranu at Essence of Fiji to see how things are going for her, her business, and Fiji in the face of COVID-19. Tourism is a key industry for Fiji, and Essence of Fiji usually serves the tourists. As a result of COVID-19, Deb’s whole business model has pivoted from predominantly local, in-store sales, to predominantly international, online sales. READ MORE
A letter to my daughter about Black Lives Matter and racial inequality
A letter to my daughter in the wake of Black Lives Matter. READ MORE
Why mindset matters to women’s entrepreneurship and why we should invest in it, especially now
At The Difference Incubator (TDi) we’ve been supporting social entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses for over a decade. In 2019 we partnered with PNG Women’s Business Resource Centre and Kate Wilson from Kamaji Tree Consulting and Coaching, with the support of the Australian Government, to unlock the full potential of eleven talented female social entrepreneurs in PNG. At TDi, we know that an individual’s mindset is a big driver of business success. For us, mindset is made up of the underlying beliefs we hold about ourselves, others and the world. It shows up in all ... READ MORE
Pivoting your business model during a crisis
A conversation with Geert from FarmWallGeert Hendrix founded FarmWall in 2016. Farmwall is an agrifood-tech startup that designs urban farming technology and experiences to enhance fresh produce accessibility in the city. In our constantly developing world, the need for more efficient and sustainable ways of living is rapidly becoming a must. Farmwall is a response to this call to action. Here’s what Geert had to share…Thanks for meeting with us Geert. You've recently been working with TDi as you’ve had to quickly pivot your business. So I wondered if you can share your story with other ... READ MORE