Monash’s Fastrack partners with Trout to boost start-up success for aspiring entrepreneurs

Monash University’s Fastrack and Trout Creative Thinking have teamed up to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with essential branding tools and strategies to help their start-ups succeed from the start.

Fastrack is a globally recognised start-up program created by experienced entrepreneurs and innovators. It selects students through a competitive process, allowing them to work in cross-disciplinary teams from Monash’s 10 faculties. By the end of the program, participants bring their solutions to market.

Says Prof. David Gilbert, Monash Business School’s director of entrepreneurship: “The Monash Fastrack and Trout partnership empowers start-ups with strong branding strategies, emphasising early-stage branding’s role in business success. This program sets a high standard for future entrepreneurial initiatives.”

Trout offers workshops, one-on-one coaching, tailored brand development sessions, practical exercises, and ongoing support to ensure start-ups are operational and investor ready.

Says Emily Pockley, general manager, Trout: “We enjoy working with nimble and innovative thinkers, and the Fastrack program embodies that spirit. Helping to shape impactful future brands is incredibly rewarding.

“This collaboration shows Monash University and Trout’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial growth, giving Fastrack students the tools to succeed in the competitive start-up world.”

Trout Creative Thinking is part of the Breakthrough Innovation Group (BIG), which also includes the insight and foresight team Next, digital product builders Shadowboxer, web platform builders Southpaw, and venture capital team Superseed. Next has also contributed to developing insights, strategy, and prototypes for the Fastrack program.