Accelerator Program

Apply to launch your startup with INCUBATE’s Flagship 14-week Accelerator Program.

INCUBATE is The University of Sydney’s Flagship Accelerator Program designed to take startups from their first MVP to their first investment, customer or dollar figure. The 14-week, internationally-recognised Startup Program supports startups iterate their offering through skill building-workshops, 1:1 mentoring, industry connections and free collaborative workspace for the duration of the program.
Applications for INCUBATE Class 20 will open at the beginning of 2024.

Submit your expression of interest here to be notified when they open.

Join us at Class 19 Demo Day this November! Grab your ticket now.

Application and Interview Process

All applications will be judged by the INCUBATE team and our mentor panel of experienced business leaders and entrepreneurs who have founded or funded successful startup businesses.
The stages of the Judging Process look like:

Screening: Applicants will be screened online and selected for an interview if they meet the selected eligibility criteria

First Interview: You’ll have a 45-minute interview with one of the INCUBATE Team to chat through your startup and suitability for the Program

Second Interview: Your second interview will be a call with one of our mentor panel who will chat through further questions in regards to your startup idea and feasibility.

Selection: Those who are you successful will advised of their acceptance into the Program. Upon your written commitment to the Program, you’re officially in!
Please note that we will utilise the primary email address you provide in the application form to contact you.

Eligibility

We welcome startups of all sizes, though at least one founder must be a student, alumni, staff or researcher at The University of Sydney
Must have a working MVP currently being tested with users
Working full-time in your startup
Revenue under $1m
On the pathway to finding product-market fit

Program Overview:

14-week full-time Accelerator Program
One full-day weekly in-person programming session
One weekly accountability session with an Entrepreneur in Residence and actionable items
Weekly guest speakers and frequent networking events
5-minute Business Pitch at Demo Day to 250+ key industry stakeholders
Access to INCUBATE’s community of dedicated mentors, investors and industry professionals
$5000 Equity-Free Grant upon successful completion of Program

Want to find out more about some of our amazing INCUBATE alumni?
Read about all the INCUBATE alumni here.

Recommended Reading

We’re looking for

Global thinking, talented and motivated students, researchers and alumni.

INCUBATE funds up to 15 high-potential startup teams. This means your business idea will:

Help solve a problem
Be a scalable solution
Will have a big impact on your target market

You will be required to develop your idea into a first-version product or platform, and obtain your first customers within the 3-month program period – all in time to pitch at our Demo Day. Check out our previous startups for an idea of what we have funded in the past and remember: the crazier your idea, the better. Both early-stage and later-stage startups are welcome to apply.

Applicants will ideally be able to define:

The problem you are trying to solve
The technology or process you will use to solve this problem
Who you think your customers will be
The competition and market size, in Australia and around the world
How you will go-to-market and what you will achieve in the 3 month period

INCUBATE 2023 Dates

INCUBATE Accelerator, 2023 Class 18 Program Dates: 24th February – 1st June

INCUBATE Accelerator, 2023 Class 19 Program Dates: 17th August – 23rd November

Applications Assessment

All applications will be judged by our mentor panel of experienced business leaders and entrepreneurs, all of whom have either started their own business or have funded a successful startup business.

Stages in the judging process:

Screening: applicants will be screened online by the mentor panel and selected for an interview
Workshop: finalists will be invited to attend a half-day workshop to meet the INCUBATE team, pitch their startup & demonstrate their vision.
Interview: selected startups will be invited to a 15-minute interview with a panel of industry mentors
Selection: Selected INCUBATE startups will be notified

We will use the primary email address you provide in the application form to contact you.

INCUBATE Flagship Accelerator Program

Recommended Reading

Launch Your Startup with INCUBATE

Elevating Student Startups

From Researcher to Entrepreneur

We’re looking for

Global thinking, talented and motivated students, researchers and alumni.

INCUBATE 2023 Dates

Applications Assessment

More questions?

Sign Up to our Newsletter for the latest INCUBATE information.

until the next Accelerator Program begins!