Accelerators, delegations & other programs: currently open
If you're an Australian startup, there's no shortage of opportunities to find the kind of support you need to grow and scale. Even if you're very early stage, with little more than an idea and a whole lot of enthusiasm, an accelerator program might be just the thing you need to get to MVP.
But there's nothing worse than hearing about these opportunities after they've closed :(.
Well, Spark Festival is at your service. We maintain the listing below and add new opportunities as we find them. We also include reminders in Weekly Sparks, our Monday-afternoon email listing of all the startup and innovation events. And remember, sharing is caring, so make sure you send this on to friends and colleagues who might be good candidates.
First Gens 2020 Program
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / MELBOURNE
Searching for the most ambitious, game-changing impact ventures led by migrants and refugees in Australia for an accelerator program and the chance to receive up to $50,000 in funding.
Applications currently open: closing May 26
Seafood for Good
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / LOCATION AGNOSTIC
Looking for startups and projects which can fill the "trawler to table" gap for sustainable seafood. Four B2C "solutions" which can increase the consumption of sustainable seafood will be selected for the program, and two will ultimately receive funding and support from Austral Fisheries to launch their products.
Applications currently open: closing May 27
Bionics Queensland Challenge
Innovation Challenge / Queensland
Whether you are a person living with a disability or chronic health condition, a home-based medtech inventor, a leading clinician, bio-medical engineer, university researcher, industry practitioner or an allied health worker, this challenge is for you. $50,000 will be awarded to winning teams in each of Bionic Mobility, Bionic Senses plus Neural and AI-Enabled Bionics.
Applications currently open: closing May 29
Fempowered
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / LOCATION AGNOSTIC
6-month free program for thirty diverse women, from all over Australia, to turn their viable idea into a sustainable business. Fishburners encourages a diverse range of women to apply, including: student, migrant, disability, indigenous, and other women to come together in a facilitated and supportive environment. The successful candidates will undertake a 6-month LaunchPad program that includes membership to Fishburners Sydney, or the e-founders platform for those who are based remotely, along with the coaching and learning that they need to take their idea to launch.
Applications currently open: closing May 31
Founders 10x
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / SYDNEY
Open to startups with a co-founder who is a UNSW student, staff or alumni, this industry agnostic accelerator is tailored for founders who are ready to accelerate their startup and explore global opportunities. The program offers 10 weeks of intensive programming plus 6 months incubation.
Applications currently open: closing May 2020
EnergyLab Pre-Acceleration Program
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / LOCATION AGNOSTIC
An opportunity to refine your clean energy startup idea, achieve customer validation and map a path to launching your company, EnergyLab's Pre-Acceleration Program will help you refine your business idea, gain some traction and get ready for their full Acceleration Program.
Applications currently open: closing early June
Startmate MEL20/NZ20
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / LOCATION AGNOSTIC
Australia and NZ's most ambitious startup accelerator is currently recruiting for their next 12 week program: you'll get intensive mentoring for three months, then a network for life.
Applications currently open: closing June 2
EnergyLab's Scaleup Program
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / LOCATION AGNOSTIC
EnergyLab's Scaleup Program is designed to multiply the impact of the world's most promising late-stage clean energy startups. During this completely free (and now completely virtual) program, founders will be provided with the connections, mentorship and exposure they need to unlock their next wave of growth.
Applications currently open: closing June 3
UNSW 10x Accelerator
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / SYDNEY
Industry agnostic accelerator tailored for UNSW founders who are ready to accelerate their startup and explore global opportunities. The program offers 10 weeks of intensive programming plus 6 months incubation.
Applications currently open: closing June 7
Macquarie University Incubator
INCUBATOR / SYDNEY
When you join the Macquarie University family, you unleash valuable links to a cornucopia of world-leading expertise and research. Resident members also access a swag of transformative benefits, including custom education programs purpose-built to accelerate and enlighten your start-up journey.
Applications currently open: closing June 7
HATCH
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / SYDNEY
Taronga Zoo are calling on innovators, thought leaders, disruptors, developers, passionate individuals and everyone in between to help develop and implement brilliant ideas for the planet. With one finalised receiving up to $50,000, HATCH will inspire, support and launch innovative ideas and actions to help address some of the most pressing environmental and conservation challenges currently facing our planet. Find out more and register your interest here.
Applications currently open: closing June 9
Founder Institute Sydney: Spring 2020
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / SYDNEY
The Founder Institute focuses on helping tech or tech-enabled businesses at the pre-seed stage, including both solo-founders and teams. This includes established businesses that are pre-funding and traction, MVP and prototype-stage projects, and even part-time founders with just ideas.
Applications currently open: closing August 9
SBE Life Sciences
ADVISORY PROGRAM / NATIONWIDE
Designed for healthcare and life science industries, Springboard Enterprises program assists companies in seeking seed and growth funding, while establishing expert connections and resources. Emerging, high-growth companies with women in key senior leadership positions and with significant equity stakes are invited to apply for this program, which serves as the on-ramp to SBE's alumnae network.
Applications currently open: closing August 10
Clean Energy Accelerator Program
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / SYDNEY
A three month Clean Energy Accelerator Program that is uniquely designed to support Australian startups that have fully developed solutions, have established product market fit, and are ready for commercialization. The program is supported by Artesian’s Clean Energy Seed Fund to invest in scalable, high growth startups, encouraging innovation and creating opportunities in the development of clean technology.