Westpac Continues to Back Women-Led Startups at UNSW Founders
10 December, 2025
At this year’s 10x Demo Day, Westpac reaffirmed its commitment to backing women founders by awarding $20,000 scholarships to three exceptional entrepreneurs through its partnership with UNSW Founders.
“We believe in supporting women founders and breaking down the barriers that still exist,” said Kristen Pelletier, Head of Product at Westpac.
“Partnering with UNSW helps make entrepreneurship more accessible and equitable.”
Now in its second year, the Westpac Accelerator Scholarships provide non-dilutive funding to help women cover the personal costs that often make entrepreneurship harder, such as travel, childcare, and lost income, so they can focus on scaling their ventures during the intensive 10-week 10x Accelerator.
This year’s recipients are tackling some of the most pressing challenges in health and sustainability
Far left Kristen Pelletier, from left to right:
Tori Fox, CEO of Arelis (Health 10x) – Developing a non-invasive, early detection test for endometriosis.
Nilufer Haksever, CEO of SeeStone (10x) – Using AI to eliminate $230B in global retail waste.
Emma Sierecki, CSO of AttoQuest (Health 10x) – Creating ultra-sensitive pathogen testing to guide effective antibiotic use in hospitals.
Backed by Generosity, Built on Inclusion
The strength of the 10x Accelerator isn’t just in the capital; it’s in the generosity behind it.
“UNSW’s mission is to be the most entrepreneurial university in the world. And the way we get there is through generosity, of time, of mentorship, of belief.” said David Burt, Director of Entrepreneurship at UNSW.
This generosity shows up at every level.
From Westpac’s national commitment to women in business, including its $1B fund, to the thousands of hours volunteered by UNSW mentors and advisors each year, the program is fueled by people who choose to show up for founders.
National Spotlight and Real-World Momentum
This momentum is already translating into real-world impact. Earlier this month, Health 10x startup Arelis, founded by scholarship recipient Tori Fox, was featured on the front page of The Age for its revolutionary approach to endometriosis diagnosis. The story sparked national conversation and significant engagement from clinicians, researchers and women’s health advocates, highlighting the calibre of founders participating in UNSW’s accelerators and the growing influence of women-led innovation.
What This Partnership Makes Possible
The Westpac Accelerator Scholarships embody the shared belief that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. By reducing financial barriers and creating dedicated spaces for women to develop and test ambitious ideas, UNSW Founders and Westpac are working together to build a more equitable, inclusive and innovative future for Australia.