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 theoretical learnings.
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.
UP to $1000 equity-free grant (pending successful completion of metrics).

want to know more...

2026 Key Dates

Applications Open: TBC

Applications Close: TBC

Program Dates: TBC

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 (students, alumni, researchers and staff) 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