First Innovators - Our Story
Who We Are
First Innovators is a First Nations led not for profit creating opportunities for First Nations people, businesses and communities across Australia.
We work across business development, community development, youth, leadership, innovation, storytelling, research and funding, developing programs and providing practical support that helps people build capability, develop ideas, strengthen businesses and create new opportunities.
Since our beginnings, we have supported more than 300 First Nations businesses and entrepreneurs and delivered programs and initiatives across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia.
We connect people with knowledge, expertise, networks, resources and opportunities, while creating stronger connections between First Nations communities and the wider business, government and community sectors.
Sometimes the opportunity already exists. Sometimes we need to create it.
Our Story
The First Innovators story began in 2016 with one of Australia’s early First Nations led business accelerator programs.
The early work focused on supporting First Nations entrepreneurs to develop ideas, build businesses and strengthen their capability through business programs, coaching, mentoring and connections.
As we worked with more businesses and communities, the work continued to grow.
We saw that supporting First Nations businesses wasn’t only about business skills. People needed access to networks, markets, funding, mentors, expertise, partnerships and opportunities. We also saw the importance of creating stronger connections between businesses, communities, government, industry and the wider business sector.
First Innovators was formally established in 2021, building on that work and expanding what we could do.
Since then, we have developed and delivered programs across Australia supporting business development, women in business and leadership, young people, innovation, storytelling, digital capability, funding, investment readiness, research and community development.
We have worked in metropolitan, regional and remote communities, supported more than 300 First Nations businesses and entrepreneurs, helped businesses raise money and secure grants, and created new connections, partnerships and opportunities.
Our work continues to evolve because the needs and opportunities within communities continue to evolve.
What hasn’t changed is why we do it.
To create opportunities, remove barriers, strengthen capability and help First Nations people, businesses and communities turn ideas and possibilities into action.
Our Team
First Innovators is supported by an experienced team, Board and national network of people who bring different knowledge, skills and perspectives to our work.
We work with First Nations and non First Nations entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals, mentors, coaches, facilitators, creatives and industry experts across Australia.
Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, we bring the right people into different programs, projects and services depending on what is needed.
Our team and Board bring extensive experience across First Nations communities, business, education, community development, leadership, governance and social enterprise.
We also actively create opportunities for First Nations businesses, professionals and experts to contribute to and deliver our work.
This collective experience allows us to draw on a much wider pool of knowledge, relationships and expertise when working with businesses, organisations and communities.
First Innovators is led by Founder and CEO Greg Hodgkinson, a Wirangu Aboriginal man with extensive experience working across government, community organisations, education and business. Greg brings a strong background in community development, First Nations business, youth development and leadership, and a long standing commitment to creating opportunities and building stronger connections between people, communities and organisations.
Why First Innovators?
We believe good ideas and strong people shouldn’t be held back by a lack of access to the right knowledge, networks, resources or opportunities.
Our approach starts with listening and understanding what people are trying to achieve.
Then we work alongside them.
We bring together people, knowledge, experience and connections to develop practical pathways forward. That could mean building capability, developing a program, finding expertise, exploring funding, creating partnerships, connecting businesses with opportunities or turning an idea into something real.
We are First Nations led, but we also believe meaningful change is created when First Nations and non First Nations people, businesses, communities and organisations work together.
Our strength is in those connections.
We listen. We connect. We create. We support. We build.
And as First Innovators continues to grow, we want the impact to grow beyond us: businesses creating jobs, participants becoming mentors, ideas becoming projects, connections becoming partnerships and communities creating new opportunities for what comes next.
