Female founders are involved in nearly 40% of the 13 startups in the Startmate class of winter 2023, with climate tech and AI among the key themes backed by the accelerator and investment program. The Winter23 Accelerator cohort spans everything from AI-powered recruitment to misdiagnosed prenatal ultrasounds and inflatable space solar panels. Two of the… Read more »
The ANZ climate tech sector is booming, and with good reason. The world’s leading scientists are telling us – or getting arrested to warn us – that we only have until the end of the decade to secure a safe climate future. Our mission? To limit global warming to under 1.5 degrees Celsius. To put that into… Read more »
Victorian-government backed startup agency LaunchVic has granted another $300,000 to early-stage accelerator and investor Startmate to inspire around 300 university to become founders. The $300,000 grant over two years will see at least 320 Victorian university students complete the Startmate Student Fellowship, a three-week intensive designed to give students the confidence, connections and skills to… Read more »
Like so many of the world’s great tech companies, Reactory’s story starts in a garage. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, while others were making their own kombucha and sourdough, Mark Eltom bought a still, and started making and maturing booze. A few lockdowns in, he was getting pretty good at it. Mark is… Read more »
Compared to a decade ago, there’s never been more support for emerging founders in the Australian startup ecosystem. But where once scarcity was an issue, now a new problem has emerged: too much choice. There are hundreds of startup support programs and accelerators out there — all of which are aimed at growing businesses and… Read more »
Startmate has unveiled its Summer23 accelerator cohort, a week after news that mining billionaires Andrew and Nicola Forrest are investing in female founders in the cohort. CEO Michael Batko believes this year’s group is on a trajectory to have a disproportionate impact in terms of both ambition and global presence. “This cohort has been global… Read more »
Adelaide ideas and innovation festival Southstart is joining forces with startup accelerator Startmate and VC Rampersand to create two new opportunities for this year’s program, under the theme Odyssey. Rampersand’s Giant Warm Intro, which connects underrepresented founders with investors, and was a huge hit in Sydney last year (it returns in 2023) is heading to… Read more »
Mining billionaires Andrew and Nicola Forrest are backing female founders in the latest Startmate accelerator program in a bid to close the funding gap for women. The Forrests have signed a strategic partnership deal with Startmate through their private investment vehicle Tattarang. The Summer23 cohort includes Raj Bagri from Kapture, who is working on decarbonising… Read more »
Startmate CEO Michael Batko spent nine months talking to 15 Australian startup founders, from unicorns such as Mr Yum and Culture Amp, to Brighte, Forage, 5B and Mintable. He published those interviews on his substack (see below for the links). Batko then took all he learnt and summarised their insights into “how to CEO” below.… Read more »
Premier local accelerator and investment program Startmate has backed a majority of startups founded by women for the first time in its history for the latest cohort. Seven of 12 Australian and New Zealand startups are helmed by a woman. Each one receives a $120,000 investment at a $1.5 million post-money valuation if its the… Read more »
Australian and New Zealand accelerator program Startmate is increasing the investment it makes in startups $75,000 to $120,000 as it goes on the hunt for its summer cohort. It’s also increased the valuations by 50% to $1.5 million, in a move that means the equity investment remains roughly the same, increasingly from 7.5% to 8.5%.… Read more »
The founders in Startmate’s Winter21 cohort of 19 startups make their plays for money and mentors this week at Demo Day. The winter crop of Australian (13) and New Zealand (6) ventures is Startmate’s largest ever cohort and agtech, gaming, fintech and climate tech. They’ve just emerged from the 12-week program with capital from Startmate –… Read more »
It’s not essential to have a co-founder, but like anything in life, it’s often easier when you have a second set of eyes, or someone to share the load, or whatever cliche you want to employ. But you need to find the right co-founder, otherwise the relationship will probably cause more problems than it solves.… Read more »
Startmate is launching a new Founders Fellowship program to unearth and support the founders of the future in Australia and New Zealand. The 20-week program, which kicks off in July 2021, and is seeking people who want to found a company, rather than work for one, but don’t know what happens next. Sascha Kerbert, Head… Read more »
Startmate’s Open House program, kicks off next Monday, May 17. The free, two-week long virtual festival – the former Office Hours – gives budding and early-stage founders the chance to problem-solve and learn from expert founders and operators at some of the region’s top start-ups through 1:1 mentoring, founder-to-founder relationship building, fireside chats and functional… Read more »
RAZZLE DAZZLED: Tech careers platform Earlywork named Best New Idea for 2023 
FLYING HIGH: Food waste management innovator Goterra wins Best Sustainability Startup 
‘A truly flexible workplace’: Melbourne insurtech Kanopi wins Best Startup Culture award 
From pilot to climate tech founder: Onvol’s Molly Fullee brings winds of change as Best New Founder 
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