Archie Whiting

Business: Club Bid

Age: 24

State: Victoria

Archie Whiting comes from a small country town in south-western Victoria and knows the importance of a footy club to its local community.

“When the footy club is up and about, the town is quite vibrant,” he says.

Whiting says it was while watching his own club’s viability threatened because of a lack of funds that he came up with the idea of Club Bid, an online auction community purpose-built to help sporting clubs and not-for-profit organisations raise money.

The website was launched in mid-April and has already built up a community of more than 110 sporting clubs and charities and raised over $85,000.

It has also recently signed up Geelong Football Club star Tom Hawkins as an ambassador.

Whiting, who is studying sports management and played football at a high level until injury forced him to retire, says Club Bid gives local businesses the opportunity to donate products instead of cash to clubs, which are then auctioned online.

“Our mission is to make fundraising easier, less demanding and ultimately improve the financial position of clubs and charities,” he says. “We plan to be a national brand by September 2014.”

Whiting says he doesn’t have a background in technology but built up a “fantastic team” with specific skill sets to handle key areas of the business while he concentrates on business operations and development.

He says his advice to other young entrepreneurs is to be prepared to learn and learn quickly and work and work hard.

“Ensure you have the passion to ride the highs and lows but most importantly believe in yourself and your idea,” he says.