Startup@AnyAge is a collaborative project between The City of Unley and UniSA Business. The project ran over the past 18 months with the aim to support older people to be confident at using their passion, purpose and life skills to engage in entrepreneurial activity.

The research team from UniSA Business analysed data collected via  surveys, focus groups, and workshops undertaken throughout the life of the project. Some of the findings of this project include:

• A community survey of people’s views on new ventures later in life demonstrated positive support from the Unley Community for older people to follow their business ventures at any age. This age friendly attitude was also expressed by focus group participants who were not deterred by age norms and were committed to following their venture ideas. They expressed optimism about the future.
• A diverse group of men and women aged from 50 to 70 attended the workshops. The researchers identified three distinct types of venture ideas that emerged in the workshops. The first was ‘prototype’ ideas that were well formed and ready to go, with just the help of a few specific skills or resources. With clear aims to create a  financially sustainable venture, the individuals with these ideas were assisted to identify their specific business needs (e.g., social media marketing, costing of products) and connected to external resources that could take their businesses forward.
• The second group of ideas came from individuals who were ‘community voices’ bringing up ideas that reflect community needs. Often, these were big ideas that required  large scale solutions. ‘Community voices’ ideas bring valuable information about community issues to the City of Unley, who can connect these ideas to those interested in turning them into reality.
• Lastly, the researchers identified ‘social connector’ ideas that came from individuals not motivated by financial profit but by the opportunity to contribute and connect with others. These ideas build and support relationships and identify a chance for the City of Unley to provide space and resources for skills exchange and connect young people interested in social enterprise with those over 50.

Whilst the Startup@AnyAge project has now finished, resources have been developed including a short film that highlights some of the individuals involved at the City of Unley Startup@AnyAge project.