Top Startup Accelerators & Incubators in Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne isn't just about great coffee, stunning street art, and unpredictable weather – it's quietly become Australia's startup powerhouse. While Sydney might grab headlines, Melbourne's blend of creative culture, world-class universities, and livability has created the perfect breeding ground for innovation. The city's entrepreneurial scene has exploded in recent years, transforming from a handful of co-working spaces to a robust ecosystem where founders can find support at every stage of their journey.
This guide explores the leading accelerators and incubators shaping Melbourne's evolving startup landscape. These programs support domestic and international startups seeking to establish themselves in the Australian market.
Top 20 Startup Accelerators & Incubators in Melbourne, Australia
1. Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP)
Target Audience: University-affiliated ventures and early-stage startups
Niche: Multi-sector innovation
Melbourne Accelerator Program is Australia's leading university startup accelerator with exceptional success metrics. It provides $20,000 equity-free seed funding alongside intensive mentorship programs. It has supported over 100 startups, collectively investing over $300 million. It creates sustainable pathways for startups generating over $250 million combined revenue.
2. Startmate
Target Audience: Early-stage technology startups
Niche: Ambitious technology ventures
Startmate delivers Australia's most ambitious accelerator program for early-stage ventures. It provides a $75,000 investment alongside comprehensive mentorship from successful founders and operators. It offers access to an extensive global network spanning Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Through strategic guidance and connections, Startmate creates opportunities for startups to scale internationally.
3. Founder Institute Melbourne
Target Audience: Pre-seed entrepreneurs and teams
Niche: Technology company building
Founder Institute Melbourne is part of a global network supporting very early-stage ventures. It provides a structured program helping entrepreneurs transform ideas into viable companies. It offers comprehensive mentorship from experienced founders and industry experts. It creates a foundation for building enduring technology companies with global potential.
4. Startupbootcamp Energy Australia Accelerator
Target Audience: Energy-focused startups
Niche: Sustainable energy innovation
Startupbootcamp Energy Australia specializes in accelerating ventures that address energy sector challenges. It provides AUD 25,000 funding alongside industry-specific mentorship and resources. It directly connects major energy companies and potential customers and creates pathways for scaling energy innovations through structured development programs.
5. Cyrise Cyber Security Accelerator
Target Audience: Cybersecurity ventures
Niche: Digital security
Cyrise is a specialized accelerator that focuses exclusively on cybersecurity innovations. It provides $50,000 in funding for selected startups developing security solutions. Cyrise also offers access to cybersecurity experts, potential customers, and industry partners, creating opportunities for security startups to validate and scale their technologies.
6. SproutX Accelerator
Target Audience: Agricultural technology startups
Niche: Agtech innovation
SproutX is Australia's first dedicated agricultural technology accelerator. It provides specialized support for innovations addressing farming and food production challenges, offers connections to Australia's extensive agricultural industry and related stakeholders, and creates pathways for commercializing agricultural innovations with domestic and global potential.
7. Melbourne Innovation Centre
Target Audience: Small businesses across sectors
Niche: Business growth and development
Melbourne Innovation Centre delivers comprehensive support services for small business growth and development. It provides workspace and practical business resources tailored to early-stage company needs. It offers mentorship and guidance across diverse business sectors and models and creates a supportive environment for sustainable small business growth and development.
8. Skalata Ventures
Target Audience: Early-stage companies with validated products
Niche: Business scaling and sustainability
Skalata Ventures invests up to $1 million in seed funding for promising early-stage companies. It provides extensive support focused on achieving business sustainability and scalability. It offers structured programs addressing key growth challenges and opportunities and creates pathways for transforming validated startups into established businesses.
9. RMIT Activator
Target Audience: RMIT-affiliated entrepreneurs
Niche: Academic entrepreneurship
RMIT Activator serves as RMIT University's primary entrepreneurship and startup support program. It provides dedicated resources for students, alums, and staff developing innovative ventures. It offers specialized mentorship connecting academic innovation with commercial opportunities. It creates bridges between university research and market applications.
10. Runway HQ
Target Audience: Early-stage startups and scale-ups
Niche: Innovation and entrepreneurship community
Runway HQ operates a comprehensive startup hub and co-working environment. It provides a collaborative space designed specifically for entrepreneurial development. It offers community support and networking opportunities connecting founders and resources. It creates an ecosystem fostering innovation and collaborative business growth.
11. Monash Generator
Target Audience: Monash University students and alumni
Niche: University entrepreneurship
Monash Generator functions as Monash University's entrepreneurship program for student ventures. It provides resources, mentorship, and support for transforming ideas into viable businesses. It offers access to university research facilities and academic expertise and creates pathways for students and alums to commercialize their innovations.
12. Deakin Startup Accelerator
Target Audience: Deakin-affiliated founders
Niche: University startup support
Deakin Startup Accelerator supports ventures founded by students, staff, and alums of Deakin University. It provides dedicated resources for early-stage company development and validation. It offers mentorship that connects academic knowledge with commercial applications. It also creates opportunities for university-affiliated entrepreneurs to launch sustainable ventures.
13. LaunchVic
Target Audience: Victorian startup ecosystem
Niche: Ecosystem development
LaunchVic is Victoria's startup agency, supporting the broader ecosystem's development. It provides various programs with different funding amounts tailored to specific needs and offers strategic initiatives connecting different elements of the startup community. LaunchVic creates a foundation for the sustainable growth of Victoria's overall innovation ecosystem.
14. Inspire9
Target Audience: Entrepreneurs and creative professionals
Niche: Co-working community
Inspire9 provides a collaborative co-working space and community hub for startups. It offers an environment designed to foster connections between entrepreneurs and resources. It provides regular events and programming supporting entrepreneurial development. It creates a supportive community where founders can connect and collaborate.
15. York Butter Factory
Target Audience: Technology startups and scale-ups
Niche: Tech innovation hub
York Butter Factory functions as Melbourne's established innovation hub for technology ventures. It provides specialized support for startups developing technology solutions across sectors. It offers networking and resources connecting founders with industry partners and creates an environment fostering technological innovation and business growth.
16. Stone & Chalk Melbourne
Target Audience: Fintech and emerging technology startups
Niche: Financial technology
Stone & Chalk operates as a specialized innovation hub for financial technology ventures. It provides dedicated resources for startups developing solutions for the financial sector. It offers connections to established financial institutions and potential partners. It creates an environment fostering innovation in fintech and related emerging technologies.
17. Outcome.Life
Target Audience: International students and graduates
Niche: International entrepreneur support
Outcome.Life delivers targeted support for international students pursuing entrepreneurship. It provides specialized resources addressing unique challenges faced by international founders. It offers guidance on navigating business development and visa considerations. Life creates pathways for global talent to contribute to Australia's innovation ecosystem.
18. Atto Accelerator
Target Audience: Early-stage startup founders
Niche: Growth and scaling support
Atto Accelerator focuses on helping early-stage ventures achieve sustainable growth. It provides comprehensive support for business model development and market validation, offers mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts, and creates structured pathways for startups to achieve significant scale.
19. Translating Research at Melbourne (TRAM)
Target Audience: Academic researchers
Niche: Research commercialization
TRAM specializes in supporting University of Melbourne researchers in commercializing their work. It provides resources for translating academic discoveries into market applications, offers guidance on navigating intellectual property and technology transfer processes, and creates pathways for research to achieve real-world impact through commercialization.
20. Runway Geelong
Target Audience: Regional entrepreneurs
Niche: Regional innovation
Runway Geelong is a specialized accelerator supporting entrepreneurs in Victoria's Geelong region. It provides resources tailored to the unique challenges of building startups outside major city centers. It offers mentorship and connections to the broader Australian startup ecosystem. It creates opportunities for regional innovation and economic development.
AcceleratorApp's Closing Thoughts on Startup Accelerators and Incubators in Melbourne, Australia
What makes Melbourne's startup scene special isn't just the funding or the fancy co-working spaces – it's the genuine community spirit that underpins everything. Unlike the cutthroat competitiveness you might find in other tech hubs, Melbourne's ecosystem thrives on collaboration. Grab a flat white at a startup event, and you'll likely meet founders who are eager to share their mistakes and victories with equal enthusiasm.
As the ecosystem continues to mature, Melbourne isn't trying to be the next Silicon Valley – it's creating something uniquely its own. With strong university partnerships, government support, and a growing pool of experienced mentors who've built and exited companies, Melbourne has all the ingredients to remain Australia's startup capital for years.