‘Serial entrepreneur’ Mal Chia kickstarts 54 hours of new venture initiatives at Flinders Tonsley tonight.

The next big business idea could be unearthed at Startup Adelaide at the Flinders New Venture Institute Startup Weekend Adelaide (17-19 July).

In 54 hours, more than 100 bright sparks are putting their entrepreneurial ideas to the test with local business leaders.

Assisted by 30 experienced business mentors and 12 volunteers, the results will be assessed by industry leaders including Seeley International company chairman Frank Seeley, Vinomofo online wine retailer Andre Eikmeier and new economy entrepreneurs Belinda Jennings and Grace Lever.

Uber marketing manager Mal Chia, pictured, will give his motivational speech at 7pm.  He started his first business as a mobile DJ at the age of 14.

“Starting your own business is a complex business,” says Flinders New Venture Institute director Matt Salier. “But the globally proven Startup model is a lean, simple way to put a plan to a concept and find the best way to market with some new and novel ideas,” he says.

“Participants, from members of the public to bright young students, will be inspired and motivated by a wealth of experienced business people, and have a lot of fun in the process as part of the world’s largest entrepreneurial community.”

Among them is Vinomofo chief executive Andre Eikmeier who won a Startup award in 2014 and went on to build a $30 million company with 50 staff within three years.

Over the 54 hours, participants in this year’s Adelaide event will share their experiences with like-minded participants in Startup Weekend Dallas in the USA.

A marathon hashtag competition will be conducted between the simultaneous events in the two cities, so join the fun on Twitter by following #startupADL versus #SWDFW.

The New Venture Institute, based at the Tonsley precinct, is a Flinders University initiative to promote entrepreneurship and startup companies.