Ready to take your idea to the next level?
ACU's Startup Pre-Accelerator Program is your chance to turn your idea into reality. In 10 weeks, you'll validate your idea, build a minimum viable product (MVP), attract your first customers and craft an investor-ready pitch deck - all with the guidance of industry experts and Australia's biggest startup community.
Open to all ACU students, researchers, staff and alumni based in Victoria, this fully subsidised program is delivered in partnership with Startmate, one of Australia's top accelerators, and funded by LaunchVic. Through online masterclasses, in-person networking, and hands-on startup development, you'll gain practical skills and capabilities, access valuable industry insights, and connect with mentors and leaders who can create opportunities. Past speakers and mentors have included leaders from Canva, Tesla, eBay, Salesforce and many more.
By the end of the program, you'll pitch to a panel of investors and industry leaders for the chance to win up to $10,000 in cash prizes - giving you the momentum to secure funding and take your idea further.
Applications close Sunday 15 February 2026 for the March 2026 intake.
Apply now
This program is made possible with funding from LaunchVic: Victoria's Startup Agency.
Program partners
Why join?
This program is designed to give you everything you need to launch and grow your startup. You'll:
- validate your idea and understand your customers through industry-led workshops
- be mentored by ACU and Startmate experts
- collaborate with a supportive cohort each week
- sharpen your pitch and present to investors for your chance to win up to $10,000 in cash prizes ($10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second)
- enjoy free access to Co-Lab's coworking space at ACU's Melbourne Campus
- network with founders, venture capitalists, and innovation leaders across Victoria
- unlock pathways to scale through programs like the ACU Co-Lab Incubator Series or the Startmate Accelerator, plus opportunities to gain commercialisation support via ACU's Enterprise Clinic or CSIRO ON
- finish with an investor-ready pitch, transferable skills, and a digital badge to showcase your achievement.
Who should apply?
The ACU Co-Lab Startup Pre-Accelerator is open to Victorian ACU community members who are:
- undergraduate or postgraduate students
- Higher degree researchers
- academic researchers
- ACU staff
- ACU alumni.
You don't need a fully formed startup, just a strong idea and the drive to build. Your idea must be tech-driven, and startups from all sectors are encouraged to apply, including:
- AI and productivity tools
- health tech and care economy
- education tech and sports tech
- social impact and purpose-driven ventures.
Note: This is a competitive application process. Only the most promising applicants will be selected for each cohort.
Application process
Stage 1: Submit your application on this page.
Stage 2: Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a 20-minute interview with the ACU Co-Lab team to further assess and discuss your startup idea.
Stage 3: Successful applicants will receive an official offer letter along with a Startmate onboarding link.
Key dates
The pre-accelerator program will run twice a year in 2026 and 2027 with start dates in March and September respectively.
Cohort 1 dates:
Applications close: 15 Feb 2026
Interviews: w/c 16 Feb 2026
Offer letters sent out: 6 March 2026
Cohort 1 program dates: 16 March - 22 May 2026
ACU Demo day: w/c 18 May 2026 (TBC)
Cohort 2 dates:
TBC
Costs
Accepted participants will be able to attend for free, with all costs fully subsidised by LaunchVic and ACU.
Program details
- Week 0: ACU welcome and onboarding
- Week 1: Customer Obsession and Interviews
- Week 2: MVP Development
- Week 3: Get Your First Customers
- Week 4: Think Bigger and Raise Investment
- Week 5: Sprint Week - Make Progress
- Week 6: Nail Your Pitch
- Week 7: Practice Your Pitch
- Week 8: Building a Successful Startup, and apply to present at Startmate Pitch night
- Week 9: ACU Demo day - $15,000 in cash prizes per cohort
