The annual Spark Festival is on this week - here's what's happening

NSW Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Anoulack Chanthivong, will open the ninth annual Spark Festival in Sydney today– bringing together a network of over 40,000 tech sector leaders from across Australia.

“Spark Festival is created by startups, for startups – sparking engagement across a community that shares knowledge and finds ways through challenges that seem impossible,’ said Spark Festival co-CEO David Lillo-Trynes.

“Every successful global startup ecosystem is all about success for the next founder as much as our own. This is the culture we exist to encourage.’

‘It’s a challenging time for small businesses and capital-raising – which makes Spark Festival more important than ever in boosting visibility and collaboration across the ecosystem,’ said Spark Festival co-CEO Harry Godber.

“We’re thrilled to be showcasing Australia’s biggest startup success stories – many of whom had their roots in Spark Festivals past – and the infrastructure that supports them.’

Spark Festival 2024 has more than 70 events across NSW, bringing together founders, investors, universities and government for discussions in seven streams:

1. Learn capital raising and business structures

16 events – hosts include Canva, Investment NSW, Rampersand, Herbert Smith Freehills

2. Learn to build a tech product

7 events – hosts include Macquarie University Incubator, Miroma Project Factory, Disruptors Co

3. Learn startup sales and marketing

9 events – hosts include ACS Harbour City Labs, LegalVision, Purpose Advisory

4. Find problems worth solving

13 events – hosts include UNSW, Prime Life Partners, Australian Academy of Robotics & STEM

5. Explore mentoring, mindset and management

5 events – hosts include VRM Performance Coaching, Impact HR, Worldwide SHEroes

6. Discover the future of energy and climate tech

5 events – hosts include CtrlPrint, The Melt, UTS Startups, EnergyLab, Govhack