The Founders Forum is a Not For Profit company. A voluntary board was appointed with members from key community groups and networks.

The primary objectives of the Hunter Founders Forum are to serve the local community by fostering the success of new and existing businesses, creating an environment where entrepreneurs are motivated, educated and encouraged to exchange ideas and information vital to business growth. To provide a forum where new and growing businesses can network with funding sources, where potential investors can learn of new business initiatives and strategic partnership opportunities can be developed.

In short, the Hunters Founders Forum creates a mechanism for local venture and angel capital providers to review local opportunities in an efficient and structured way. Importantly, it also creates a stage for local start-up ventures to hone their focus, their message and their presentability.

Breakfast Meetings
Founders Forum meetings offer the opportunity to develop business relationships with entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists and other business professionals. Community industry leaders serve as keynote speakers or as members of a panel to provide their business expertise on numerous aspects of entrepreneuring such as evaluating business plans, seeking venture or seed capital, investment opportunities and business success stories.

Two to three companies are selected from a pool of applicants to present their business proposition to the audience attending the members meetings.

The selection panel is made up from members of the voluntary board who meet prior to the members meeting to assess the numerous businesses that apply. During the course of the selection process all companies are provided with feedback, suggestions and advice by the panel to assist them develop their project.

The Founders Forum is the first community not for profit business angel network established in the Hunter. Its independent voluntary board made up of representatives of other community networks has allowed it to rapidly access the support of other networks, community organisations and individuals.

Its independence and not for profit status has allowed it to build trust with competitive organisations such as the professional service providers.

This in turn has allowed the forum to gain the support of extremely high profile scientists and technologist which have provided their time at no cost to the organisation.