A New Era of Entrepreneurship: UNSW's Startup Year Takes Off

Through a collaborative effort that brings together government, industry, and academia, UNSW's Startup Year Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship has established a new standard for entrepreneurial education in Australia. This program goes beyond traditional coursework, offering young entrepreneurs the tools and encouragement to "take the leap" and forge their paths in the startup ecosystem. 

Top row- David Burt, Rita Wu, Vincent Bang and Jordan Haifer. Bottom row- Reuben Roy, Avril Lim and Natasha Tupas.

The First Startup Year Cohort: Diverse Backgrounds, Unified Vision 

The inaugural cohort of UNSW's Startup Year is as diverse as it is dynamic. These students come from varied professional and cultural backgrounds. Creating a startup is undeniably challenging, and fraught with uncertainties and fear. Yet, we are proud to say that 40% of our cohort are women and 80% were born overseas. None of them could have envisioned being where they are now, doing what they’re doing today, without the opportunities provided by Startup Year. 

Meet the first cohort of Startup Year

Natasha Tupas brings her experience as a journalist and marketer to the table, "The program is great... "I’ve learned so much in 10 weeks. I’m excited about the final form of my startup by the end of next year.” 

Avril Lim, a veterinary medicine specialist, is leveraging her 12 years of clinical experience to innovate in animal healthcare. Her startup aims to address the shortage of veterinary services in Australia. "The mentors have been wonderful; they’ve even spent their weekends doing research for my project. It’s been incredibly supportive." For Avril, the program has been the catalyst she needed to turn her long-held idea into reality. "I had this idea for two years but did nothing about it. Two months into this course, and it has pushed me to do so much," she says, highlighting the program's ability to accelerate entrepreneurial action. 

For Vincent Bang, a professional with over a decade of experience running a small business, the program has been "life changing." Vincent is on a mission to merge his business mindset with his passion for technology. "This course has given me the structure I needed to start building my startup. Networking and personal branding have been key takeaways for me." He describes how it has pushed him out of his comfort zone and boosted his confidence. "The support from the Founders team is invaluable." 

Jordan Haifer is on a mission to transform consumer-brand interactions in the retail industry. "The biggest learning so far has been about problem framing. It’s really made me take a step back and think about my idea as a whole." 

Reuben Roy, an immigrant founder with a background in architecture, is passionate about helping international students adapt to life in Sydney. His startup, Rekro, has already made significant strides, with a prototype tested by over 50 students across five universities. "Startup Year has smashed all my goals. It’s helped me bring a systematic approach to my startup journey and validated a lot of my fears and successes. I would have never been where I am with my startup right now if I didn’t join Startup Year. I am so ahead in just two months." 

A Promising Future: Two Terms to Go 

As one of the first universities to launch under the Federal Government's new Startup Year initiative, UNSW is leading the way in fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs. The program's hands-on, immersive approach is empowering students to turn their ideas into reality, setting a new standard for what entrepreneurial education can achieve. 

 With two terms remaining, the excitement within the cohort is palpable. Students are eager to continue building, testing, and refining their ideas, with the support of mentors and a community of like-minded peers. As they look ahead to the next phases of their journey, one thing is clear: UNSW's Startup Year is more than just a course—it's a movement, empowering young entrepreneurs to “forge ahead” and create their own paths into the startup world. 

Find out more about Startup Year and submit your EOI for 2025👇