Startup Programs
Browse pre-accelerators, incubators, founder bootcamps, commercialisation programmes and other structured support for Australian startups.
Buy Australian AI Partnership Program
The Buy Australian AI Partnership Program is an 8-week national program helping Australian AI companies become ready to sell into large enterprises, with the first intake focused on financial services. Delivered by Stone & Chalk and sponsored by the National AI Centre, it provides workshops, industry expertise, exposure to enterprise procurement and direct engagement with potential buyers. Founding enterprise partners include Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ, NAB and Cuscal. The program focuses on helping companies navigate security, governance, risk, compliance and procurement requirements and progress toward pilots and commercial discussions.
Good fit: Australian AI companies with a proven product ready to sell into large enterprises.
Key Studio
Key Studio is a 12-week venture program for former Google and Alphabet employees building AI companies, created with Google’s AI Futures Fund. Founders can apply from pre-idea through early product stage, including as solo founders. Participants can qualify for up to US$100,000 in non-dilutive program funding, up to US$350,000 in Google Cloud and AI credits, early access to Google AI models, cofounder matching, expert mentorship and investor introductions. The program accepts applicants across geographies and provides ongoing support beyond the formal cohort
Good fit: Ex-Googlers at idea stage who want funding and support to turn domain expertise into an AI startup.
AI House Incubator
The AI House Incubator is a company-building incubator for founders creating applied AI companies from the earliest stages through their first year. Rather than a fixed-duration accelerator, AI House provides hands-on support across customer validation, product strategy, hiring, fundraising and go-to-market, alongside a community of AI founders, researchers, operators and investors. Selected companies may receive up to US$600,000 in SAFE funding, up to US$1.5 million in cloud credits, and ongoing support from the AI House team based in Seattle.
Good fit: AI founders at the earliest stages who need help validating customers and shaping the company.
Google for Startup Accelerator
The Google for Startups Accelerator: Australia is a 10-week hybrid accelerator for technology startups based in Australia. The program provides equity-free support, including mentorship from Google engineers and product specialists, workshops, and technical guidance to help founders solve product and growth challenges. Participating startups work closely with Google teams on technical projects and business strategy, and may receive Google Cloud credits and early access to Google AI products. The program combines virtual sessions with some in-person activities and focuses on startups building AI or technology-driven products.
Good fit: Seed-stage Australian startups building AI or ML products needing technical guidance.
Launch Founder University
Founder University is a practical, cohort-based virtual pre-accelerator designed to help early founders turn their startup idea into a real product and early traction over ~10–12 weeks. The program combines structured lessons, weekly live sessions, community accountability, and real feedback to help founders build and iterate their MVP, identify initial users, and sharpen key skills like pitching and customer discovery. Top performers within each cohort may be eligible for investment checks (e.g., $25 K or $125 K), though funding isn’t guaranteed — the core value is the learning, accountability, and community support that keep founders progressing toward real outcomes
Good fit: Aspiring founders with an idea or early product seeking structured weekly guidance to build MVP and find first users.
Claude for Startups
Claude for Startups is a program from Anthropic for early-stage founders and startups building with Claude. Startups can access community, resources, Claude credits and priority rate limits. The program includes founder events, hackathons, meetups, livestreams and updates on Claude launches and program perks. Any early-stage founder or startup building with Claude can apply, with additional credits and extras available for companies that have received institutional equity funding. Applications take about two minutes and require a Claude Console account and company email.
Good fit: Early-stage AI startups building directly on Claude and needing API credits.