KX Pilates’ founder Aaron Smith has launched the KX Entrepreneur Travel Grant, offering emerging entrepreneurs $20,000 to explore, define, and inspire their business journey.
The travel grant will provide one Australian with $20,000 for them to develop a business idea. Smith will personally mentor the winner and help refine and shape the idea.
“I’m stoked to partner with my company, KX Pilates, to award an aspiring entrepreneur with this $20,000 grant. Not only will it give them the opportunity to travel the world, but also help kick start their business, whatever that might be,” Smith said.
He knows from his own experience the importance of travel as a catalyst for fresh ideas.
KX travel grant inspired by real-life experience
“Before KX Pilates, I was at a crossroads in my life. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do but I had a passion for fitness. Through my travels, I discovered dynamic reformer Pilates in London. I fell in love with the discipline,” he said.
Smith returned to Australia to develop his own brand of reformer Pilates.
To apply for the KX travel grant, business-savvy Aussies must outline a vision of their business idea, explain why travel is important, and where they would like to visit to generate the idea. The submission can be in pdf or video format.
The top three submissions will be invited to take part in a one-on-one interview with Smith to take a deeper dive into their idea before the winner of the grant is selected.
Entries for the KX Entrepreneur Travel Grant close 11:59pm, 20 October 2023.
Survey reveals inspiration and barriers to business building
The business recently commissioned a national survey* to uncover what spurs Australians to pursue their business ideas, and what holds them back.
The results found 60 per cent of Australians are keen on a side hustle: Gen Z (82 per cent), Millennials (70 per cent).
Respondents revealed the key three reasons to start their own business were to earn more money (61.2 per cent), enjoy flexible working hours (45.8 per cent) and be their own boss (42.5 per cent).
Australians who are reluctant to start up a business cited money (27 per cent), motivation (16 per cent) and inspiration or an idea (12 per cent) as the main reasons.
The KX founder has also just published a book, Define Yourself, which reveals the stages he went through as a young entrepreneur to help build the brand.
*The survey conducted by Pure Profile includes 1,000 respondents across Australia, aged 18+.
