What is Spark Festival?

Spark Festival is Australia’s largest event for startups, innovators and entrepreneurs. Our attendees are getting started, or going global. They are entrepreneurs, investors, inventors, innovators, students, executives or just plain curious. But with a two week program of more than 160 events, many of them free, they all find their spark at Spark.

Spark Festival 2019 will run from October 10 - 27.

Interested in running an event on the Spark Festival 2019 program? Find out more and submit your event proposal here before May 16.

Spark Festival Values and Objectives

Inclusiveness and diversity always shines throughout our program: alongside events for people already working in the startup sector, Spark Festival welcomes anyone who is curious to find out what it's all about to take a peek and see where their skills might find a new home.

Spark Festival is a project of Spark Festival Ltd, a not for profit whose objectives are to

• provide opportunities for individuals of diverse background, age and gender to pursue and succeed in a career of entrepreneurship through events and other activities
• connect entrepreneurs, industry groups, government and service providers, leading to the growth of vibrant startup communities across Australia
• position Australia as a leading startup nation, fostering, attracting and retaining globally- recognised, talented individuals
• support with industry development to help transition Australia’s industries towards a digital and technology future
• help to provide training and awareness and skills for individuals of all ages, primary & secondary children and workers from any industry to help retrain and transition to new industries

As a not for profit, Spark Festival is guided and supported by its board.

The programming committee, known as the Spark Festival Track Leads, meets throughout the year to oversee the development of a festival programme that explores every corner of the ecosystem.

Keeping it all together is Program Director, Maxine Sherrin, the person to speak to if you'd like to get involved in Spark Festival.