STARTMATE NATION: THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO BUILD A STARTUP

Welcome to ANZ's most ambitious, talented and diverse tech community.

TAKE YOUR STARTUP 
TO THE NEXT LEVEL

For 12 years we have invested in and supercharged the best founders in ANZ.  It doesn't matter where you are on your founder journey - aspiring or proven - Startmates' DNA is giving founders an unfair advantage.

invest in anz’s top startups

Be a first believer in the regions’ most promising startups alongside Startmate - the most active early-stage ANZ investor. For new investors and veteran angels alike, lean on the best frameworks, founder deal flows and community in ANZ.

build your network or land a job

Land your dream startup position or build your network with the support of ANZ’s top startup community. Our memberships and programs give you the skills, mentorship, network and job opportunities to excel in your career as a startup operator.

Join a community of unstoppable women in Tech

Tech is the driving force that shapes the future, and Ladymates ensures that women play an equal role in driving it. By unleashing the next generation of female founders, leaders and operators, we’re here to level the playing field.

Startmate is building the ecosystem that startups need to thrive in our own backyard

250+

Portfolio companies

$3.5B

Combined portfolio value

40%

Women-founded companies

Launch Club panel

Our pre-Accelerator founders sharing their why

Summer'24 Demo Day

1000+ attendees and 11 startups at Carriageworks

Ladymates masterclass

Workshop with May Samali

Ladymates founder and speaker at our monthly workshop

Leeat Bosco and Lisa Lie

Pizza and Pitch night for our Pre-Accelerator founders

The three winners

Startmate team offsite

Week-long strategy escapade on the Great Ocean Road

OUR COMMUNITY

Founder
Alex Naoumidis

Founder @ Mindset Health

Founder
Alan Downie

Founder @ Bugherd

Founder
Alan Sharp-Paul

Founder @ Upguard

Founder
Ben Sze

Founder @ Edrolo

Founder
Chris Naoumidis

Founder @ Mindset Health

Founder
Dominic Pym

Founder @ Up Bank

Founder
Fabian Le Gay Brereton

Founder @ GridCog

Founder
George Hartley

Founder @ Smartmail

Founder
Kate Morris

Founder @ Adore Beauty

Founder
Lane Litz

Founder @ Chatterize

Founder
Matt Allen

Founder @ Tractor Ventures

Founder
Mick Liubinskas

Founder @ Climate Salad

Founder
Niki Scevak

Founder @ Blackbird & Startmate

Founder
Shannon Poulton

Founder @ Good Thnx

Founder
Silvia Hope

Founder @ AmazingCo.

Founder
Tom Mcleod

Founder @Myagi

Operator
Evan Lim

Content Lead at Climate Salad

Operator
Ewan Jacob

Product at Ebay

Operator
Ewan Jacob

Product at Ebay

Operator
Evan Lim

Content Lead at Climate Salad

Operator
Sally-Ann Williams

CEO @ Cicada Innovations

Operator
Samantha Wong

General Partner @ Blacbird

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Mentors
Rod Hamilton

Founder @ Culture Amp

Hear it from them

"The Student Fellowship was such an incredible experience. I learnt so much about the start up space, made numerous new connections, learnt so many valuable insights from coaches and peers, and got to create and pitch a product that I was passionate about! Couldn't recommend it more to students interested in entrepreneurship and the startup realm."

Julia Zhang

Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science @ USYD

"Startmate opens up opportunities within the startup ecosystem through a community found nowhere else."

Joy Yin

Bachelor of Computer Science @ UQ

"The Startmate Fellowship was an amazing experience that exceeded all my expectations! The program provided invaluable resources and mentorship, allowing me to grow both personally and professionally. The opportunity to also belong to a community of like-minded entrepreneurs was truly invaluable and has helped me take my next step forwards with absolute confidence."

Jerry X'Lingson

Bachelor of Biomedicine @ UniMelb

"The best Australian program to meet liked minded individuals that have a passion from startups whilst in university!"

Aleksy Ginovic

Bachelor of Business & Creative Intelligence and Innovation @ UTS

"Launch Club is to aspiring or early-stage Founder community what Canva is to their tech stack: game-changing."

Marie Bondeville

Founder @ Newsary

"The Startmate and Launch Club community is invaluable for an early-stage founder. I am a naturally skeptical person, but the program exceeded my expectations in content, involvement and community, and I feel dumb for ever doubting it"

Oren Bahari

Founder @ Ractivi

“I think a lot of people have an idea, and then they get paralysed about what to do. Launch Club provides really great clarity around the next steps.”

Kai Van Lieshout

Founder @ Lyrebird Health

"Love this whole concept. It really was an opportunity to be part of something very special at the outset. The learnings, personal growth and the friendships have been worth every second. I was seeking a community when I applied, but I ended up with so much more."

Kirstin McIntosh

Co-founder @ Something Real Ventures

"Ladymates has reminded and reinforced for me the value in creating time to pause and actively think and reflect before choosing a course of action. This is a lesson I'm working to integrate more and more into my everyday decision making."

Hannah Iwanov

General Manager, People @ Akaysha Energy

"The best thing has truly been meeting the amazing cohort of women. In terms of the content we've covered, it would be hard to pick just one thing - but I think the top two would probably be learning about my saboteurs and the workshop on difficult conversations. I've printed out the problems vs possibilities image and have it next to my computer as a reminder!"

Kate Sherburn

Head of Legal @ Who Gives A Crap

"This program really opens doors! I really loved the practical and hand-on nature of the learning which was always geared toward action. It was an excellent way to take my knowledge from near-zero to hero in only 12 weeks."

Nick Sinclair

Airbnb - Head of Marketing APAC

"First Believers transformed me into an Angel Investor. It’s part of my identity now and I am thrilled. Being able to support Australia’s newest Founders is a huge privilege, sometimes I still pinch myself. First Believers has been a pivotal life moment for me."

Melissa Beaumont Lee

Skip Capital Foundation - CEO

"This fellowship was eye opening to the opportunities around us where we can make an impact. In particular it has motivated me to join the power-force Climate Tech community who are creating positive solutions to the climate problem!"

Bailey Thomas

Relationships Manager @ One Girl

"First Believers is the must-do program for any aspiring or current angel investor. It took my understanding and connections within the start-up ecosystem from 1 to 100. I could not recommend this program more highly to anyone who is keen to learn more about the ANZ start-up ecosystem and how to back aspiring founders."

Matt Herring

KPMG - Partner

"Was so fun! I loved the community aspect, it really feels like you are part of the “in” group. The tips and takeaways can be applied instantly, which is great."

Gabriel Tucker

Bachelor of commerce @ Monash

"Joining Ladymates Leadership gives me the chance to connect with like-minded women, share our struggles, and learn how to handle new situations. I'm using this collective wisdom to help me do better in my role and support my community, while also becoming part of a new community of like-minded women."

Cathleen Santoso

Head of Growth & Operations @ Athletic Ventures

"The best thing about Ladymates Leadership is the instant connection to a support network of women, all navigating similar aspects of work and career. It's the brains trust we've all been missing! And such an uplifting part of my week."

Beth Fitzpatrick

Head of Operations @ Emmi

"I would recommend Launch Club to anyone out there who is strongly considering starting a company. The industry access, supportive community and expert advice is at a caliber that can only be found at Startmate. You will leave Launch Club with at least 5 different outcomes which push you closer to your goals, and are each worth the price of admission alone.”

Daniel McGee

Founder @ GitConnect

“I was working from a super low base from a knowledge perspective and didn’t feel like a idiot at any point (rare!) content was super inclusive. WOW! I loved the HANDS ON EXPERIENCE. Actually getting to meet founders with real investment outcomes was an incredible way to apply knowledge immediately.”

Claire Bull

Extolla - Director of Sustainability

"First Believers is like getting thrown into the deep end of the pool -- with all your friends! Bad metaphors aside: whether you're in the beginning of your investing journey or a seasoned investor, the hands-on experience and the community at First Believers is truly incomparable. You learn quickly that investing is a team sport, and First Believers is one of the best teams!"

Chenelle Tanglao

Trawalla Group - Investor

“Our Startmate mentor squad absolutely accelerated us. It gave us the right backing to get us through the 12 weeks and beyond that.”

Anvil Serg Bañez

Founder & CEO @ Dennisson Technologies

“When we applied to Startmate we didn't have much more than an idea, if you're in a similar position, go for it anyways. You can get into Startmate regardless of where you are in your journey. I think what really helped us was being very clear about our ambition and where we wanted to take our technology and showing it was possible on a very small scale.”

Billy Jeremijenko

Co-founder & CEO @ Aquila

“The impact of Startmate was that we wouldn’t have achieved any of this without going through the Accelerator. The Accelerator stretched expectations of what was possible of ourselves as founders and our business in a short period of time. It helped us grow momentum by practising good habits as founders and put us in front of mentors who had the belief and means to help us scale our business.”

Andy Miller

Co-founder and CEO @ Heaps Normal

“We had (and still have) lots to learn. Startmate creates an environment where you’re challenged and can take growth to the next level. Specifically, as first-time founders, Jake and I knew we had tonnes to learn, and were looking for mentors in product, investor relations and strategy.”

Cara Davies

Co-founder @ Steppen

I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the startup ecosystem and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough.

Chritel

Women Founder

I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the startup ecosystem and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough.

Nicole Tesler

Broker Assistant @ MGA Insurance Group

I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the startup ecosystem and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough.

Eran

Founder

I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the startup ecosystem and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough.

Watson

Founder

I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the startup ecosystem and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough.

Jeremy

Student Fellow S24

I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the startup ecosystem and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough.

Mike

Student contributor

I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the startup ecosystem and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough.

Christopher

Founder

I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the startup ecosystem and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough.

Nolan

Student Fellow S24

I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the startup ecosystem and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough.

Melanie Booth

Community Organiser @ Nature Conservation Council NSW

I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the startup ecosystem and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough.

John Doe

Student Fellow S24

ESSENTIAL READS

Ladymates
Startmate's Woman Leader of the Year 2024

Daniel Simons

February 5, 2025

A huge congratulations to the winner and the 26 nominees for Startmate’s 2024 Women Leader of the Year Award.