Impact X Pre-Accelerator

Driving impact to address the health needs of marginalised and under-represented communities.

The Impact X Pre-Accelerator is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those often overlooked and underserved. This program is designed to support promising healthcare, wellbeing and disability initiatives that specifically focus on marginalised and under-represented communities.

If you are a passionate founder looking to drive meaningful impact and be part of a diverse, supportive community, Impact X Pre-Accelerator is the place for you.

Application will open in July 2025.

Program Details

Building upon UNSW Founders’ highly successful Health 10x Accelerator program, the Impact X Pre-Accelerator is a new pathway specifically designed for early-stage start ups and teams that are looking to address unmet health needs of marginalised and underrepresented communities.

We identify and nurture those in the early stages to form, refine and test their start up ideas with the potential to drive real impact. 

Impact X offers applicants the necessary tools, skills, guidance and support to take their ideas from that initial light bulb moment to test and pitch, and potentially launch a real business.

By offering mentorship, resources, and a network of like-minded individuals and organisations, we empower these ventures to scale their efforts and reach the communities that need them most. 

  • You’ll gain new skills, knowledge, ways of thinking, a broader network and opportunities:

    • Learn from experts who will deliver weekly master classes on how to develop or refine your MVP and build a start up

    • Learn essential entrepreneurial skills like pitching, leadership and design thinking

    • Get matched with industry mentors and coaches with extensive "been there-done that" experience

    • Get access to a world-class Makerspace and startup community.

  • Founders and Co-Founders must reside and are establishing their entity within NSW.

    Our ideal candidates are in the early stages of developing their ideas and recognise the importance of acquiring additional skills and knowledge to take their idea to market.

    Whether you feel the need for guidance in strategic planning, market validation, or building a robust business model, our program is here to empower you on your entrepreneurial journey.

    We extend a warm welcome to founders from underserved communities, fostering an inclusive environment that embraces diversity. Our program is open to individuals of marginalised groups or identities, diverse ethnicities and backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, as well as those returning to work. At our core, we believe that diverse perspectives enrich our community and empower all entrepreneurs to thrive.

    No prior experience is required in order to apply.

  • The program is completely free to attend thanks to the generous support of our partner Investment NSW and Liverpool Innovation Precinct.

  • Will this program help me get into an Accelerator?

    We’ve designed the program to help prepare teams for an accelerator program, especially our successful Health 10x program. Entry into both the pre-accelerator and the accelerator are competitive and will be assessed on a set criteria.

  • 2025 dates will be announced soon.

Got questions? Get in touch

Contact Shuoyan, the Liverpool Program Manager below, or reach out at founders@unsw.edu.au

Shuoyan Zhu

Program Manager

If you have any questions please reach out to me at shuoyan.zhu@unsw.edu.au.