At a time when innovators and startups across Newcastle and the Hunter Valley are lauded for their achievements, many people in the industry can appreciate that developing new innovations and bringing them to market is no simple task and, considering the current economic climate, it’s a task that is becoming increasingly challenging. Many Hunter startups attempt to grow organically or seek out venture capital investment, without fully exploring other, perhaps less common, alternative routes to growth. It is well documented that the extent of organic growth can be limited due a range of factors, including the level of debt available to the business, the level of entrepreneurial spirit in the business and its historical and expected financial performance.