ACU Co-Lab 5 year report

Co-Lab provides and promotes an innovative and entrepreneurial learning environment that connects ACU’s strategic and mission priorities with a wide range of industry opportunities, while advancing life-long learning goals.

Download the report (PDF)

We are focused on nurturing and accelerating our enterprise community through:

  • on-campus co-working hubs at North Sydney and Strathfield
  • educational opportunities, including:
    • Launch Plus Program
    • Social Enterprise Series
    • Pitch Plus Awards
    • Social Enterprise Awards
    • Lunch & Learns
  • entrepreneurial networking and events, including:
    • Spark Festival
    • EdTech Series
    • North Sydney Council Data Buzz Series
  • connection and collaboration with students, research and industry
    • Innovation Districts Challenges with Investment NSW
    • student placements with the Co-Lab entrepreneurial community
  • Prize money awarded by Co-Lab for new projects $58,500

  • $2.4 mil funding raised by Co-Lab startups

  • 380 + jobs created

Education and skill development

Our tailored learning programs are aimed at improving graduate outcomes and fostering skill development across the ACU broader community. 

  • 148 hours of entrepreneurial education and skill development
  • 677 ACU students, staff and alumni supported
  • 3045 program attendees
  • 303

    Events

  • 330+

    entrepreneurs utilised our innovation hubs

  • 6284

    event and workshop attendees

  • 80

    industry/ university connections facilitated

  • 20+

    work integrated learning placements

Sector diversity

 Our research and industry collaborations span multiple industry sectors, with an exciting focus on high-growth sectors, including:

  • ed tech
  • social services
  • artificial intelligence
  • virtual reality and augmented reality
  • marketplace platforms
  • health and wellbeing
  • clean energy

Nurturing success

Co-Lab member success stories

Leor

In-home childcare and NDIS support provider Leor, founded by ACU student Andrea Christie-David, was acquired by G8 Education for $9.5 million.


Australian international sports organisation (AUSISO)

Co-founded by ACU alumni Nicholas Toscan and business partner Herman Lotey, AUSISO won a Federal Government grant to deliver sports programs to promote engagement between Chinese-speaking international students and Australia’s diverse communities.


Calctree

Calctree received VC and investor funding totalling $800k for the world`s first multidisciplinary calculation management platform.


ACU’s Innovation Districts Challenge winners

Moove and Groove

Challenge One winner of the $10,000 grant was silent disco technology provider Moove and Groove, developed in conjunction with ACU researcher Kirsten Challinor, to better manage challenging dementia behaviours.


Studymove Pty Ltd

Challenge Two winner of the $10,000 grant was Studymove Pty Ltd, which specialises in the development of data-reporting solutions for educational institutions.


AtOne Australia 

Challenge Three winner of the $10,000 grant was AtOne Australia, founded by ACU alumni Edwina Griffin. AtOne helps organisations empower their employees and teams to manage their mental and emotional wellbeing.


Student pitch winners

ACU Co-Lab’s Social Enterprise Award winner

Veteran and Bachelor of Arts student Damian De Pyle was awarded $10,000, as well as six months of mentoring from ACU’s executive team, for his solution to the job crisis that has arisen from the pandemic and future automation


ACU Co-Lab’s Pitch Plus Award winner

Occupational therapy student Jarrad Fisher was awarded $5,000 in the inaugural ACU Pitch Plus Award. Jarrad pitched a creative solution to the clinical problems associated with capturing accurate and objective data during the assessment process for stroke survivors with an upper limb impairment


Co-Lab Team

Tayana Grundy (left) Marketing and Events Officer Since 2018 Tayana has coordinated marketing, events and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders across our western and northern Sydney hubs.

Anthony Bayss (middle) Project Officer for Western Sydney Anthony has coordinated the setup and running of Co-Lab’s Western Sydney hub since 2018. His role also includes facilitating connections and collaborations with ACU researchers and industry.

Gina d`Albora (right) Project Coordinator for Northern Sydney Gina has coordinated the setup and running of CoLab’s North Sydney hub since 2017. Her role involves coordinating hub operations, managing the co-working community and facilitating connections and collaborations with ACU academics, researchers and industry.

Have a question?

We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday

If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.

Live chat with us now

Chat to our team for real-time
answers to your questions.

Launch live chat

Visit our FAQs page

Find answers to some commonly
asked questions.

See our FAQs