Take a seat and discover the best startup resources in Victoria in one go!
Join us for a fast-paced, high-energy evening where 20 leaders from Victoria’s startup ecosystem will each deliver a 3-minute pitch on how they support aspiring and early-stage founders.
You’ll hear directly from funders, accelerators, meetup organisers, supporting services, government and other key players who are here to help founders succeed.
Whether you’re a founder, new to Victoria, a supporter of the ecosystem, or simply startup-curious, this event is for you.
Event details
Date: Tuesday 13 May
Time: 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue – In-person: Conversation Quarter, State Library Victoria
Venue – Online: Livestream broadcast
Event agenda
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Doors open, registration and bar service.
5:00 PM – 5:15 PM | Event opening and welcome.
5:15 PM – 6:00 PM | First round: 10 speakers, 3-minute pitch each.
6:00 PM – 6:15 PM | Break.
6:15 PM – 7:15 PM | Second round: 10 speakers, 3-minute pitching each, followed by Q&A.
7:15 PM – 8:00 PM | Networking with drinks and nibbles available to purchase.
Tickets:
- In-person – Early bird (for a limited time) – $31.00.
- General Admission – $36.00.
- Online – $15.00.
Why attend in person?
- Expand your network and connect with key players in Victoria’s startup scene.
- Discover collaboration opportunities with founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders.
- Enjoy a high-energy, fast-paced pitch format and get a chance to ask questions.
- A free drink and light snacks included.
Can’t make it in person?
Not a problem. Join us Online to enjoy all of the pitches and submit questions for the Q&A.
Gold Sponsor
Event Speakers
See some of the featured speakers below, with more yet to be revealed.
Andrew Middleton, Program Director, Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship
Wade is a leading centre for entrepreneurial training based at Ormond College, the University of Melbourne. Wade Institute delivers immersive education programs to accelerate learning, creation and connection.
Andrew Rowse, Councillor, City of Melbourne and Director, Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre
The City of Melbourne supports aspiring and early-stage founders with grants, mentoring, networking, and capacity-building programs. We provide the tools to launch and grow ventures, helping entrepreneurs navigate challenges and foster innovation and inclusivity in Melbourne’s dynamic startup ecosystem.
Elle Phillips, Head of Startup Development, and Josh Lipscombe, Head of Startup Success, LaunchVic
LaunchVic is Victoria’s startup agency, fuelling the growth of Victoria’s startup sector. We build the capability and confidence of Victorians, so they have the skills to start, grow, invest in, or work for globally impactful tech startups.
Geo George, Partner, Mayfly Ventures
We are a venture studio, we partner with founders and corporates to build and launch vertical SaaS and AI ventures. We’re a team of designers, engineers and venture builders passionate about building delightful technology solutions that address the critical challenges faced by industry.
Jess Merlo, Learning Experience Lead, HEX
HEX is an award-winning EdTech company upskilling the next generation of founders. We deliver real-world, future-focused programs that connect emerging entrepreneurs to global networks, industry experts, and the skills to launch, grow, and lead with impact.
Josh Sharma, Head of Startups, LUNA
The world – and the world of business is moving fast. That’s why LUNA offers forward-thinking legal and accounting services in one place. For over a decade, thousands of startups, venture capital funds, and corporations have chosen LUNA to help them see a better tomorrow.
Kirstin Hunter, Chief Executive Officer, Birchal
Birchal is Australia’s leading equity crowdfunding platform, helping founders raise capital from their biggest advocates – their community. Fast, engaging and founder-friendly, Birchal makes it easy to turn your community into your investors.
Megan Luttrell, Founder, Aussie Founders Club
Aussie Founders Club (AFC) is an event-first community supporting Aussie startup founders through connection, education & real talk. From panels to casual meetups, we create spaces where founders learn, share & grow—together. Built by founders, for founders.
Rani Heraputeri, Program and Ecosystem Manager, and Leila Oliveira, Scouting Manager, Antler
Antler is an early-stage VC that enables and invests in exceptional people building the defining companies of tomorrow. It supports founders as long-term investors by providing a clear pathway to capital, a global footprint to scale, and access to one of the world’s fastest-growing networks of early-stage entrepreneurs.
Dr Sam Donegan, Vice President, MLAI
MLAI is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fostering a vibrant community interested in AI. With 10,000+ members, our mission is to make AI learning fun and impactful through awesome events that connect builders and people that need their problems solved.
Sangeeta Mulchandani, Founder, Jumpstart Studios
At Jumpstart Studios, we design high-impact startup and innovation programs for universities, governments, and corporates. Our flagship programs include Press Play Ventures, empowering women to launch ventures, and the Overseas Accelerator, helping founders scale globally.
Saranya Hansen, Business Development Executive, Torrens University
At Torrens University, education is flexible, accessible, and aligned with industry needs. With online and on-campus options, students gain career-ready skills while balancing life commitments, preparing to excel in their chosen fields.
Scotty Allen, Founder, The Product Bus
The Product Bus empowers founders through fractional product management, cohort-based learning, and partner-led accelerator programs. We design and deliver founder education with key institutions, helping entrepreneurs validate ideas, understand customers, and navigate growth—all while maintaining control of their vision and equity.
Usman Iftikhar, CEO and Founder, Catalysr
Catalysr is an award winning startup incubator for migrant and refugee entrepreneurs (migrapreneurs) across Australia. Since 2016, Catalysr has supported 1045 migrapreneurs from 87 countries, through our Migrapreneur Fellowship and Accelerate programs, to launch 250+ businesses.
Victoria Obieglo, Content Director, The Digital Picnic
We’re a digital marketing agency with a difference; we’re teachers first. We live and breathe digital marketing and social media, and our passion is to share that knowledge ] through our training, education or management services across social media, paid ads and more.
Xue Huang, StartSpace Lead, StartSpace
StartSpace is an inclusive and growing community of over 2,000 early-stage founders looking to learn, connect and build new businesses, powered by State Library Victoria. Free and paid memberships include coworking access, learning, networking and funding opportunities. Founders start at StartSpace.
Founders Start at StartSpace.
Watch the video to find out more about the impact StartSpace is having with new and early-stage founders, and by connecting the startup ecosystem together.
