Apply to join iAccelerate
Stepping outside the well-worn path can be exhilarating and challenging all at once. When you join us at iAccelerate, you gain the right tools to achieve your business dreams faster than you could possibly imagine. As part of our community of innovators, you also get to share the journey with like-minded people all looking to have a real and sustained impact on the world.
Activate Program
Our Activate program is designed for anyone with a brilliant idea they’re keen to pursue.
For those just starting out and looking to join our pre-accelerator program Activate, we have a minimum of two cohorts a year.
Program price $990 inc GST
Applications for our March cohort close 21 January 2024
Accelerate/Advance Program
This program is a iAccelerate residency offering designed to help established start ups scale quickly through use of our facility, community and growth related supports. This offering is for more advanced companies looking to become residents are able to join at any time.
Program price $110/week inc GST
Applications now open
Social Enterprise Program
Scholarship applications close Friday 8 December!
Our Social Enterprise Program is designed for anyone in the Illawarra region looking to making a positive social or environmental impact through a business idea.
This could include:
- Community members who want to create positive social or environmental change through a business idea
- Founders looking to turn their idea into a business
- Not-for-profits and organisations looking to make a financially sustainable impact in their community
- Existing businesses looking to revitalise their strategy to launch new products or services
Regional Entrepreneurs Program
Our Regional Entrepreneur program supports new and existing regional businesses with practical workshops, online learning and a network of experts to help you grow and scale.
In 2024 our Rise program will focus on business in several key industries:
• Aquaculture
• Advanced manufacturing
• Circularity
• Ecotourism
• High quality food production
*Offered under scholarship*
Applications now open
Female Founders Program
Scholarship applications close Friday 8 December!
Our Female Founders Program is tailored to women seeking an entrepreneurial experience.
Women from diverse backgrounds can learn about entrepreneurship and embark on their journey as female founders.
They will join iAccelerate's pre-accelerator program Activate and discover how to take their idea to a viable business or community initiative.
First Nations Program
The iAccelerate First Nations Program supports new and existing businesses and community initiatives to grow their idea or business.
It is a one day practical workshop co-designed and led by First Nations facilitators and allows for knowledge sharing and connection.
*Offered under scholarship*
Applications now open
Take a tour and talk to us
Keen to take a look inside? Step inside and see for yourself.
Visit iAccelerate tour and information session in the building. We believe what we do here is pretty special, and the best way to get a real taste for it is to step inside and see for yourself.
“Everyone is approachable, everybody is really willing to help you out and answer your questions.”
Benefits
Fusing our unique program with an incredible environment, iAccelerate puts you way ahead of the pack in building a sustainable business with impact – fast. And that’s just the beginning. iAccelerate isn’t your average incubator. Combining a startup accelerator program with incubation means we’re about more than simply getting you off the ground – we set you up with the skills and know-how to build and grow your business exponentially into the future. Our programs are open to anyone with a brilliant idea they’re keen to pursue.
Because we’re part of a world-class, research intensive university, many of our residents are academics seeking to commercialise their research for the greater good.
We also leverage our close connection with teaching and learning to host students from UOW and across the globe, embedding future-focused skills in entrepreneurship and innovation in the next generation.
Our residents are start-ups, small to medium enterprises and large organisations looking to innovate. We’re also home to government bodies ready to do things differently and social enterprises with a higher purpose for humanity.
"If you want the best start to your business and to understand how to underpin it with the important pillars that make it function properly, there is no better way to start."
