Accelerators, incubators and 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.
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
FOMENT
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / ADELAIDE
This program is designed for companies based in wine and/or tourism tech, where you’re invited to develop new opportunities with the potential to boost top-line growth, using the latest industry technologies and innovative approaches. As a participant, you’ll make connections, work through modules focused on your industry and draw on your mentors’ expertise to enhance and expand your business.
Applications currently open: closing August 12
RocketSeeder
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / MELBOURNE
Accelerator in the Food and Agriculture sector in Australia looking for innovators and founders ready to take their startups to the next level.
Applications currently open: closing August 14
Catalyser
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / SYDNEY
Catalysr is a pre-accelerator for early stage startups: an intensive entrepreneurship program for high-performing migrant and refugee entrepreneurs who want to find success in Australia by building their own tech startup.
Applications currently open: closing August 23
Founder Institute: Melbourne Virtual 2020
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / LOCATION AGNOSTIC
As the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, the Melbourne Founder Institute can help you focus on what's important, make smart decisions and build a global business.
Applications currently open: closing August 30
The Genesis Program
COMPETITION / LOCATION AGNOSTIC
Open to students, staff and alumnae of The University of Sydney, Genesis is a bi-annual competition which exists to support the most promising startups through mentoring from experts, assistance with media exposure and a final award of $25,000 equity-free cash.
Applications currently open: closing September 4
The Impact Accelerator
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / SYDNEY
Australia’s first urban life focused startup accelerator, focussing on startups looking to sustainably solve the challenges of tomorrow’s urban areas.
Applications currently open: commences September
Startmate Fellowship
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM / LOCATION AGNOSTIC
The Startmate Fellowship is a pathway for talented women to find their sweet spot in a rocketship startup. Whatever your background - whether you’re a corporate refugee, engineer, work in an agency, come from a hospitality background, a mother returning to the workforce or are a recent graduate - they want to help you find your dream job in a startup.
Applications currently open: closing August
Sydney Hardware Incubator
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / SYDNEY
A tailored learning experiences for early stage inventors or founders with ideas for physical products in a wide variety of industries. This 14 week part time program will show you how to segment your market, design and build your product, find and attract the right customers, attract the right partners, utilise support tools to streamline your operations and methods on how to scale to your business.
Applications: accepted throughout the year
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.
Applications: accepted throughout the year
Antler
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM / SYDNEY
The world's largest early stage investment platform. Joining Antler is a full-time commitment. Join before you started building your company, find co-founder(s) and start building from scratch with Antler's support. It's an intense, but very rewarding ten weeks. After which Antler invests in some of the companies, who will continue onto the second phase.