American Express has doubled the scope of its Idea Exchange initiative for small business owners, with a wider program of activities and a $30,000 grant on offer.

Developed in partnership with CX Lavender, the American Express Idea Exchange aims to counter the isolation many business owners face by bringing them together as part of a supportive community to share their collective wisdom, experiences and ideas with one another.

Idea Exchange recognises that the day-to-day pressures of running a business often prevent business owners from taking time out from being ‘in’ their business to connect with other business owners – the people who best understand the challenges they face.

Following last year’s seminars and workshops in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (with more than 800 attendees), a greater range of speakers will participate this year to offer practical advice on how to tackle the day-to-day challenges and bigger issues of business ownership – including entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Andrew Banks, Thankyou creator Daniel Flynn and Adore Beauty founder Kate Morris.

In addition, this year’s wider program of activities includes mentoring, full-day workshops (expanded from two-hour lunch workshops in 2018) and a 10-part podcast series hosted by Tim Reid of the Small Business Big Marketing Show.

For the first time this year, 20 business owners will have a chance to win a 12-month Rare Birds Mentoring Program (valued at $1,500 each), while one lucky winner (out of the 20 winners) also gets the opportunity to receive one-on-one mentoring from Andrew Banks and a business grant of $30,000.

AMEX global commercial services for Japan & Asia Pacific VP marketing Peter Likoudis said: “The Idea Exchange is about American Express contributing to the SME business community and backing our business customers in their efforts to grow and achieve their goals.

“I’m proud that we can play a role in facilitating that human connection and sense of community among business owners – something that is invaluable to a group of hardworking people that contribute so much to our economy and society.”