Pre-Accelerator

From idea to impact. A hands-on startup program with expert mentoring to kickstart your idea.

About the program

INCUBATE’s Pre-Accelerator is a 12-week program designed for University of Sydney students who are ready to transform their ideas or research into impactful startups.

Access 1:1 mentoring from industry-leading professionals and guidance by experienced Program Managers, this program helps founders gain clarity, validate problems and build strong foundations for growth.

Program Overview

Pre-Accelerator offers you

12-week program comprising of 2-hour weekly workshops
1:1 weekly mentorship meetings with an Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR).
Key startup concepts covered.
Hands-on customer testing and experimentation.
Opportunity to pitch your business idea to the community and industry.
Access to INCUBATE’s community of dedicated mentors, investors and industry professionals.

Pre-Accelerator FAQs

1. Who is eligible to apply for the Pre-Accelerator?

To apply, at least one member of your founding team must be a current University of Sydney student.

The program is competitive, and we assess applications based on the strength of the idea, team, and commitment to building a venture. Alumni, staff, and researchers can currently participate in Startup Fundamentals, but Pre-Accelerator eligibility is limited to current students.

2. Do I need a registered company to apply?

No. You can apply with just an idea.

We welcome teams who:

Have already registered a company
Haven’t started trading yet
Are in early validation stages

Pre-Accelerator is designed to help you test, refine, and build momentum around your idea – wherever you’re starting from.

3. Can solo founders apply?

Yes. Solo founders are very common – typically around 50% of the cohort.

You do not need a co-founder to apply. However, we do encourage founders to think about complementary skillsets and be aware of skill gaps.

4. How do I apply, and what is the selection process?

Applications are submitted online via the Pre-Accelerator application form.

Key dates:

Applications close: Sunday night, 8 March
Interviews (for shortlisted applicants): 9–13 March
All applicants are notified of the outcome by the 18th of March

If shortlisted, you’ll receive a link to book your interview time.

5. I’m new to startups. Should I apply for Pre-Accelerator or Startup Fundamentals?

If you’re new to the startup space, we recommend starting with Startup Fundamentals.

Startup Fundamentals is designed to build your core knowledge and confidence. Many founders progress from Startup Fundamentals into Pre-Accelerator once they’re ready to develop their venture further.

If you are already working on a startup idea and are passionate about the problem space, go for Pre-Accelerator.

6. How much time commitment is required?

The program is designed to be manageable alongside university study.

Founders do not need to be working full-time on their startup. However, consistent engagement, preparation, and customer validation work outside sessions is expected to get the most value from the program. We recommend 8 hours per week, spread across the week. This includes a 2-hour workshop, 1 hour of mentoring, plus 5 hours of working on your startup.

2026 Key Dates

Applications Open: 24th February

Applications Close: Sunday night, 8th March

Program Dates: 24th March – 9th June

Time Commitment

2-hour weekly workshop in-person or online – attendance required.
1-hour weekly meeting with EiR to discuss goals, updates and action items.
Workshops, networking or community events hosted on alternate weeks – non-compulsory but attendance encouraged.
At least 5 hours per week should be spent focused on completing theoretical workshop tasks & customer testing outside of abovementioned events.

We also offer specialised program streams...

IDEATION TO CREATION

Supporting startup founders from the University of Sydney community (current students) to refine and grow their early-stage business ideas into thriving ventures across any sector.

FEMALE FOUNDERS

Supporting startups with over 50% female-identifying founders, helping them overcome challenges in the startup space and grow their ideas into businesses.

ARTS

In partnership with the Australia Council for the Arts, empowering members of the Australian arts community with the tools, skills, and networks to transform creative ideas into successful businesses.

FIRST NATIONS

Fostering Indigenous entrepreneurship within the University of Sydney community, with a focus on cultural awareness to help amplify the influence and impact of Indigenous-owned businesses.

STUDENTS

Exclusively supporting early-stage founders who are current students at The University of Sydney, providing them with the resources, mentorship and connections needed to turn their ideas into successful startups.

RESEARCH TO IMPACT

Enabling the translation of groundbreaking research into commercial opportunities, supporting University of Sydney researchers to transform their work into real-world solutions.

Hear from one of our Pre-Accelerator Founders

“I absolutely would not have made the progress I did without Pre-Accelerator. It gave me the confidence, opportunity and motivation to conduct my first customer interviews and get my first paying customers. The program made me accountable, and gave me an opportunity to pitch my ideas and demonstrate my progress.
During Pre-Accelerator, I was able to ask for support or ideas from the Program Manager and the other founders, who came from different industries, experiences, and stages of life. It gave me a more rounded view than just working alone.”

Victoria ROMEO

founder of Carers Corner
Pre-Accelerator Alumni
INCUBATE Accelerator Class 21