BE IN THE KNOW: get Weekly Sparks delivered to your inbox every Monday afternoon.
MON OCT 17
Mapping New England, Backstories of Innovation #8
Armidale | NOVA 1 | 12.00-1.00PM AEDT
Framed by an historical backstory, three New England businesses will share their stories of innovation.
Advanced materials that drive innovation
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 12.00-1.00PM AEDT
Join us for an interactive facility tour of the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) and the Translational Research Initiative for Cellular Engineering and Printing (TRICEP) facilities of the ANFF Materials Node.\
Investing like a Poker Player
ONLINE | Kamal Hassan | 13.00-4.00PM AEDT
Can VC investors optimize their returns by following poker player strategies, including small antes to see each hand, discrimination on which hands to invest further on, and large raises on hands that develop well?
Leverage high school projects into micro-credentials
Sydney Startup Hub | Level 1 | 12.00-1.00PM AEDT
In this seminar Dr Rick van der Zwan will describe how to leverage curricular and extra-curricular projects and programs into accredited micro-credentials that can be stacked into Certificate and Diploma level qualifications.
Radical Compliance: How to Use Advertising Laws for Radical Social Impact
Sydney | Marque Lawyers | 5.00-6.30PM AEDT
Learn how you can evolve your marketing, speak to your audience with honesty and integrity, and contribute in a real way to positive change.
Cash Flow Concepts for Creatives
Sydney Startup Hub | Level 1 | 5.30-7.30PM AEDT
This workshop covers more than just basic accounting principles & concepts, profit models, costings, and margins… In this workshop you’ll have the opportunity to explore how your cash really flows.
Renewable Energy Tech for Climate Resilience: Clean Tech Future Series
Armidale | NOVA | 5.30-7.30PM AEDT
Innovative renewable energy technologies in the region to support climate resilience
TUE OCT 18
Rise & Shine: Female Founders Breakfast
Sydney Startup Hub | Level 1 | 8.00-10.00AM AEDT
To help support our local ecosystem of women Founders, Investment NSW and UNSW Founders are hosting a Female Founders breakfast event to bring together inspiring women from Sydney’s Startup community.
2022 Coralus Australian Venture Announcement
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 10.00-11.00AM AEDT
Meet the women and non-binary-led Ventures funded and selected by Coralus Activators across all of Australia, learn about their businesses and what they need help with.
Don’t build a business, build a brand
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 11.00-11.45AM AEDT
Charlie Rose, Strategy Director at Principals Melbourne office, will talk about what a brand is and what makes a brand powerful.
Funding for Startups
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 12.30-1.30PM AEDT
Funding options for startups have never been so broad and it can be confusing and time consuming to navigate the funding landscape. Join Stuart Reynolds and Jack Dean who will be your guides in cutting through the noise.
Accelerating Australia’s next Cochlear
Sydney | The George Institute for Global Health | 1.00-2.15PM AEDT
Are we on the pathway to nurturing the next Cochlear and ResMed?
We are confident the answer is YES, and Health 10x is the platform that can make this a reality.
Lunch and Learn: WeConnect Global Expansion Blueprint
Tech Central | Stone & Chalk Scaleup Hub | 1.00-2.15PM AEDT
weConnect’s Co-Founder and Global Strategy Expert, Matthew Kyle, and weConnect's Australian Director, Isaac Parry, are excited to provide a free Global Expansion Blueprint Seminar.
Nanofabrication - Supporting critical technologies and advanced manufacturing
Sydney | Sydney Nanoscience Hub | 3.00-5.00PM AEDT
Join Prof Simon Fleming on an interactive facility tour of Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) capabilities followed by a networking event.
NetZero, Carbon Accounting & the Dangers of Greenwashing
Sydney | Lander & Rogers | 3.45-5.15PM AEDT
Join NetNada, a member of the 2022 LawTech Hub, at Lander & Rogers in Sydney to understand why having an ESG strategy is no longer optional for any business—startup or corporate—and what steps can be actioned now for future-proofing.
The New Kids on the Quantum Block
Sydney | Quantum Terminal | 5.00PM AEDT
Hear from some of the newest arrivals to Australia's quantum technology scene.
Live Call with Samantha Seljak, Founder of Seljak
ONLINE | StartSomeGood | 5.00-6.00PM AEDT
Samantha Seljak is co-founder and managing director of Seljak Brand. Together with her sister Karina, she harnesses the value of textile waste to create beautiful products that are circular by design.
Meet the Experts with Penrith City Council
Sydney | Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre | 5.15-7.00PM AEDT
The first in the Start Me Up Penrith event series, ‘Meet the Experts’ is your chance to find out everything you wanted to know about startups but were afraid to ask!
First Slice: A Framework for Determining How to Build Your Best Early Stage Product
Sydney | The Commons | 6.00-8.00PM AEDT
You've got an awesome idea, but how do you turn ideas into reality?
Planting Seeds: Careers in Climate Tech
Sydney Startup Hub | Fishburners | 6.00-8.30PM AEDT
Hear from Climate Tech experts and have in-depth conversations with founders and operators from across the industry about their journeys and what job opportunities exist right now for you to start yours.
How Your Business Can Benefit From A Community
Melbourne | Hub Collins Street Cafe | 6.30-8.30PM AEDT
Join Birchal and The Community Collective for this panel with industry experts as we uncover which types of businesses can benefit from building a community and how you can start building one, whatever your role!
Side Hustle | Documentary Screening | Virtual
ONLINE | Accelerator for Enterprising Women | 7.00-7.30PM AEDT
Five young women embark on a transformative journey to turn their passions into professions. With a grand prize of $30k on the line, and a high pressure ‘Shark Tank’ style live pitch, is this the make or break moment of their fledgling small businesses?
WED OCT 19
Startup Yoga & Surf Session - Bondi Beach, Sydney
Sydney | North Bondi Beach | 6.45-10.00AM AEDT
Come along to meet and mingle with an awesome startup crew and hit the waves with our free group surf lessons.
Business of Entrepreneurship: Financials for Founders
ONLINE | BDO Australia | 10.30AM-12.00PM AEDT
Presented by BDO in Australia's Financial Education Team, you will learn how to interpret your financial statements, look at your financial data from different perspectives, discuss financial terminology and more.
Unicornize Your Business Model
TBC | TBC | 12.00-1.00PM AEDT
For Founders, CEOs, leaders and Directors of Tech startups and scaleups (particularly B2BSaaS), this seminar will cover the 7 steps to developing a Unicorn Business Model for YOUR business.
ESG & Sustainability 101: 3 Essential Steps to Authentic Impact
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 12.00-1.30PM AEDT
This session breaks down the three essential steps your business should be taking today in your ESG and / or Sustainability journey.
Moving the Metric on Investment to Women Led Ventures
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 12.00-1.30PM AEDT
Join SBE + Techboard for an important conversation about how we can all support the growth of women led businesses.
Accelerating Commercialisation Fireside Chat
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 1.00-2.00PM AEDT
Join the team from i4 Connect for a Fireside Chat with some of Accelerating Commercialisation's successful grantees.
Emerging HealthTech Startups of the Next Decade
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 1.00-2.00PM AEDT
This session will focus on the future of emerging healthtech startups—some of their characteristics we are seeing and expecting to evolve in the next decade.
Setting Up an Advisory Board for your Business
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 1.30-2.30PM AEDT
Join the Advisory Board Centre for a special executive insights webinar to explore if an advisory board is right for your business, and how to go about setting one up.
Cicada Open House
Sydney | Cicada Innovations | 3.00-6.00PM AEDT
Cicada's Open House is an opportunity to tour their world-class facilities, meet their dedicated team of experts, and connect with their community of deep tech innovators.
How to bring Silicon Valley to YOUR classroom
ONLINE | Anna Lee | 4.00-4.45PM AEDT
This workshop will share some of the topics we teach across the year groups, some budget-friendly resources that can help any school bring innovation in their classroom to life, and a sample lesson plan for customer interviews.
Billion Dollar Panel with Peter Lilley from Instaclustr
Canberra | Canberra Innovation Network | 4.00-5.30PM AEDT
Join us for a fireside chat with Peter Lilley to hear the story of Instaclustr – a Canberra open-source data technology company acquired by multibillion-dollar, Nasdaq-listed, cloud tech player NetApp.
Disability Incubator Series – Understanding your customers
ONLINE | ACU Co-Lab | 4.00-6.00PM AEDT
This webinar will inspire you to get out of the building and into the real world to learn what your potential customers are really looking for.
From Stuck to Go! Create a Strategy to Accelerate Yourself
Sydney | AgriWebb | 5.00-6.30PM AEDT
In this workshop we’ll help you get clear on the strategy you are currently using to not to take action, and turn this into a strategy you can use to move forwards.
Medical Research Speed Dating: Meet Scientists & collaborators
Sydney | Centenary Institute | 530-7.30PM AEDT
Take the opportunity to chat one-on-one with the people who a striving to better understand diseases to provide us all with a healthy, longer future.
2022 Scaling Impact Showcase
Sydney | EY | 6.00-8.00PM AEDT
Are you an impact investor looking for deal flow, a social enterprise founder curious to meet your peers or collaborate with others, or just eager to discover the future superstars of the social impact scene?
Is the Future Female?
Sydney | Hall Chadwick | 6.30-8.30PM AEDT
Join Rare Birds Founder and CEO Jo Burston as she discusses the barriers and hurdles that women entrepreneurs face and what can be done to remove them.
THU OCT 20
The Future of Tech Design and Innovation is Accessible
Sydney | Stone & Chalk Scaleup Hub | 10.00-11.30AM AEDT
From investment to untapped market potential, this is an event for those eager to embrace the rapidly growing wave of the health and disability-tech space.
Business of Entrepreneurship: Investment Readiness
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 10.30AM-12.00PM AEDT
Presented by BDO in Australia's Financial Education Team, you will learn how to assess the feasibility of your company and determine the steps you need to take to prepare for investment.
Startup 101: Understanding Term Sheets
ONLINE | LegalVision| 11.00-11.45AM AEDT
If your startup is negotiating with investors, you will likely need a term sheet to outline the key terms, and to serve as a blueprint when the lawyers draft your contract.
MVP Champions
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 11.00AM-12.00PM AEDT
Join us on Thursday 20 October at 11:00am for a special panel discussion as we showcase four successful startups that have received an MVP grant.
A Founder's Guide to Startup Boards
ONLINE | Anita Brown | 12.00-1.00PM AEDT
Get tips on how to select the right directors for your board and run effective board meetings.
Sydney Angels Pitching & Preparing
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 12.00-1.00PM AEDT
The session will cover an introduction to Sydney Angels, what Angel Investors look for in a pitch, nailing the perfect presentation followed by a Q&A.
Unique Challenges Faced by Defence Startups
Sydney | Macquarie University Incubator | 12.00-1.00PM AEDT
Join us for a special panel to discuss the unique challenges faced by defence startups.
Startup Networks & Culture
Sydney | Merewether Building | 2.00-4.00PM AEDT
What is it like to work in a startup? Where can I talk to someone in startups and get more information? Adam & Sasha dive into the Sydney innovation ecosystem with innovators from Canva and Reddit.
Startup Screw-ups
Sydney | Merewether Building | 2.00-4.00PM AEDT
Hear the lessons learned from Australia's most honest founders including James Edwards from PetCircle and Jen Andre from Kitchko.
Venture Design for Early stage founders
Sydney | GHO Sydney | 4.00-5.30PM AEDT
This will help you better understand some of the elements that you can incorporate in designing your venture, as you make your way from the 'messy-middle' to product market fit.
Lights, Climate, Action!
Sydney | Merewether Building | 4.00-6.00PM AEDT
It is certain that we must reach a net zero future. So what investments, policies and innovations are key to a sustainable future?
Round 2 - Insights from repeat founders
Sydney | Merewether Building | 4.00-6.00PM AEDT
We take a look at some of the University's most successful founders and ask them why they have chosen to start again at step 1.
Latest Wine Tech Trends: a FOMENT degustation
ONLINE | Spark Festival | 4.30-5.30PM AEDT
Have your wine glasses ready for this degustation of the latest global trends in wine tech!
Don’t cook your cap table: how to stay investable
Melbourne | Skalata Ventures | 4.30-6.00PM AEDT
Find out what really matters to investors when they open up that Excel file for the first time – what they need to see, what’s concerning and what’s an absolute deal breaker.
From idea to proof-of-concept: the R&D ecosystem supporting innovation
Sydney | William Buck | 4.30-7.00PM AEDT
Join us for an evening of panel discussion about how our national R&D ecosystem supports innovation across various industry sectors, followed by a networking event with light refreshments.
How Women Will Save Us: A Climate Tech Solution
Sunshine Coast | Vitality Village | 5.00-8 .00PM AEDT
This panel of fierce female founders and investors in climate tech will tackle the barriers for entry, the design solution process and what it will take for climate tech to save us all.
Light the SPARK in Your Business
Sydney | Campbelltown Arts Centre | 5.00-8.00PM AEDT
Wherever you're at, there's never been a better time to sharpen that entrepreneurial hustle.
The Social Impact Of Technology - Disrupting with purpose and heart
Melbourne | Stone & Chalk | 5.30-7.30PM AEDT
We invite you to join Stone & Chalk as we hear from inspiring startups that are driving real positive social and environmental change and making a radical difference in a way that is full of purpose and heart.
Power your Network - Sydney
Sydney | EnergyLab | 5.30-8.30PM AEDT
Please join us for an evening of electric networking between founders, mentors, investors and peers in the climate tech ecosystem!
Launch of the Southern Sydney Innovation Network
Sydney | Upstairs Room at The Botanical | 6.00-8.00PM AEDT
Join us for the launch of a new, innovation and entrepreneurship network, focused on bringing together and connecting startups, entrepreneurs, and innovative businesses from across Sydney’s South.
Find Your Co-founder
Sydney Startup Hub | Level 1 | 6.00-8.30PM AEDT
You will have the opportunity to pitch your business or share the skill set you would bring to the table as a future co-founder. After the pitches, you'll get the chance to network and connect with those who impressed you!
FRI OCT 21
Networking In Nature
Sydney | Piccolo Me Cafe | 7.00-9.15AM AEDT
In this special 'Spark Festival' edition of Networking In Nature, our morning walk with author and entrepreneur Alan Riva will provide a platform to 'tune in' to mental health and wellbeing - specifically for professionals, innovators, start-ups and change makers.
Country Spark 2022 - Day 2 - Tour
TBA | Engage & Create Consulting | 9.00AM-1.00PM AEDT
Join us for our 2nd day Country Spark with a tour to several innovative businesses in the region, starting with AgTronics.
Bright Sparks: Sutherland Shire Youth Design Challenge
Lucas Heights | nandin Innovation Centre | 9.00AM-1.00PM AEDT
This will be a hands-on workshop format, using design thinking to understand the end-user, uncover the root problem, brainstorm creative solutions, and develop prototypes.
Office Hours: Inroads to Government
Sydney Startup Hub | Stone & Chalk Scaleup Hub | 10.00AM-4.00PM AEDT
These meaningful conversations will provide you an opportunity to ask questions, seek guidance and advice from a subject matter expert in a range of specialised fields that assist startups.
Supercharge your CREATIVITY and Present & Pitch with IMPACT
Sydney | Haymarket HQ | 11.00-11.45AM AEDT
Learn how to be stress free and harness your own personal power.
Wellbeing for Changemakers and their Teams
Sydney Startup Hub | Level 1 | 12.00-1.00PM AEDT
We invite you to join us for an immersive experience where you will get to connect to yourself and others in a safe space, get introduced to some powerful wellbeing practices and feel heard, energized and rejuvenated!
The Anxiety Breakthrough Workshop
Sydney Startup Hub | Spark Festival | 12.00-1.00PM AEDT
At this in-person event, you will learn ground-breaking mind hacks to release anxiety and boost your confidence, so that you can overcome any challenge!
Avoiding Burnout Through Effective Delegation
Sydney Startup Hub | Spark Festival | 1.10-2.10PM AEDT
This workshop will help you navigate the process of effectively delegating.
Activating your mind's full potential
Sydney Startup Hub | Spark Festival | 1.10-2.10PM AEDT
This workshop will help unleash the greatness within you through the power of your mind. It's designed for founders, operators, investors, or anyone curious about getting the edge in their lives.
Mindfull 2 Mindful
Sydney Startup Hub | Spark Festival | 2.15-3.15PM AEDT
Through this practice, you will be able to access your own powerful inner resources for insight, transformation, and healing.
New Futures Hackathon for Ageing in Place
Newcastle | I2N Hub Honeysuckle | Multi-Day Event
Meet new people, be exposed to fresh ideas, learn new skills and build creative, original work.
SAT OCT 22
Your AI Journey Starts Here
Sydney | The Learning Space | 10.00AM-4.00PM AEDT
You will learn the fundamental concepts and use cases for the technology, as well as participate in critical discussion and hands-on activities.
Spark Festival Hardware Day
Sydney | The Gateway Coworking Hub | 10.00AM-1.00PM AEDT
Come by to catch some of the awesome info sessions and connect in with other folks who are excited about physical product startups!
View all news