10x Accelerator
We help you go faster with $100k of founder-friendly investment, powered by philanthropy 🚀
10x Accelerator invests in founders of technology startups and research ventures. We help you with your goals: get investment, win contracts or overcome challenges. We back you with founder-friendly funding, mentorship, and connections with alumni, researchers and students.
Applications for 2025 are closed. Express interest in the next cohort today!
The Program
Our 10-week intensive program is tailored to equip startup founders with the skills, connections and capital to get to market, scale and grow. 10x-ers emerge not just with knowledge, but with a robust, actionable strategy for success.
Westpac Accelerator Scholarships: Financial support for women and non-binary founders to go all-in
Westpac is proudly sponsoring three Westpac Accelerator Scholarships valued at $20,000 each to offer financial support to women and non-binary founders joining UNSW Founders 10x Accelerator programs. Applications open April. Learn more here.
UNSW Founders Portfolio
Program Benefits
10-week tailored program: Receive a comprehensive, tailored program, free of charge.
Dedicated supporters: Every startup gets dedicated support from their Program Manager, Entrepreneur in Residence and Mentor. A maximum of 6 startups will be allowed, so there will be a lot of 1:1 support.
Expert mentorship: Gain access to seasoned mentors with a wealth of domain knowledge.
$100,000 seed investment: Secure $100,000 seed investment through a founder-friendly pre-money SAFE note: 15% discount, no valuation cap.
State-of-the-art R&D facilities: Hardware founders get access to a world-class makerspace and prototyping support. And science-based ventures access to cutting-edge services and facilities vital for your research and development (available upon completion of the program).
Free coworking and lab access: Enjoy up to six months of free access to our coworking space to advance your startup.
Westpac Accelerator Scholarships: Financial support for women and non-binary founders to go all-in. By application, with three scholarships awarded valued at $20,000 each. Apply here.
Post Program Support
Continued support: Post-accelerator, we continue to support our founders with co-working space, capital raising and recruitment support, and a killer network.
Follow on funding: If you’re tracking well, UNSW may follow on with up to $130,000 additional funding.
Essentials
Key Dates
10x Accelerator 2025 Dates
2025 Info session: Wed 5 Feb (register here)
Pre-Accelerator: March (more info here)
Applications open: 1 April
Applications close: 19 May
Bootcamp: 30-31 July
10x Program commences: 6 August
10x Program concludes: 8 October
10x Demo Day: 23 October
Eligibility
You have a desire and a mission to create change
You’re building a tech-enabled startup or you’re an academic or researcher looking to spin out
You have a proof of concept, prototype or MVP with some market validation
Your company is (or will be!) an Australian registered Pty Ltd.
One of your co-founders is a current UNSW student, staff or alumni.
Prepared to commit time on a weekly basis to your startup
Is 10x for me?
You have an ambitious vision for the future
You’re looking for help to grow faster or get investment
We excel at supporting:
Academics who have an early proof of concept with commercial interest in their research
B2B and B2C tech startups with an MVP or saleable product
Deep tech founders with longer product development timeframes
Meet the founders
Read all about us in the news
