Fuel your startup journey at ACU
ACU's Startup Pre-Accelerator Program is a selective 8-week program designed to help the Victorian based ACU community of students, staff, and alumni turn their startup ideas into real-world ventures.
Run in partnership with Startmate, one of Australia's leading accelerators, this fully subsidised program blends online masterclasses, in-person networking, practical startup development, and expert mentoring.
This program is made possible with funding from LaunchVic.
Register
Program partners
Who should apply?
We're looking for ambitious, values-driven founders with ideas that can make a real difference.
This program is open to:
- undergraduate and postgraduate students
- Higher Degree Researcher
- academic researchers
- ACU alumni.
Typical projects could include innovations in health tech, AI, edtech, social impact, sport, productivity, and the care economy.
Note: This is a competitive application process. Only the most promising applicants will be selected for each cohort.
What you'll gain
Entrepreneurial skills
- Customer discovery and validation
- MVP development and testing
- Early-stage fundraising and pitch readiness.
Real-world outcomes
- Investor-ready pitch
- Mentoring from ACU's and Startmate's elite startup network
- Follow-on program readiness (ACU Co-Lab Incubator Series, ACU Enterprise Clinic, Startmate Accelerator, CSIRO ON)
- Access to a vibrant, values-aligned startup community
Program details
- Onboarding/cohort introduction - date TBA
- Week 1 - Customer Obsession & Interviews
- Week 2 - MVP Development
- Week 3 - Get Your First Customers
- Week 4 - Think Bigger & Raise Investment
- Week 5 - Sprint Week - Make Progress
- Week 6 - Nail Your Pitch
- Week 7 - Practice Your Pitch
- Week 8 - Building a Successful Startup
- Startmate Pitch night
- Demo day/pitch competition - $15,000 in cash prizes per cohort
Dates
The pre-accelerator program will run twice a year from 2026 with start dates in March and September respectively.
Costs
Accepted participants will be able to attend with all costs fully subsidised by LaunchVic and ACU.
Eligibility
The ACU Co-Lab Startup Pre-Accelerator Program is open to below current ACU community members who are based in Victoria:
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students
- Higher Degree Researcher
- Academic researchers
- ACU alumni.
You don't need a fully formed startup, just a strong idea and the drive to build.
Startups from all sectors are encouraged to apply, including:
- AI and productivity tools
- Health tech and care economy
- Ed tech and sports tech
- Social impact and purpose-driven ventures.
Application process
- First, register your interest via this page.
- ACU Co-Lab will assess lodged applications and select the top 20 to be submitted to Startmate for interview progression.
- Startmate will communicate interview outcomes back to ACU Co-Lab.
- ACU Co-Lab will issue offer letters to successful applicants, including a Startmate onboarding link.
