Building the next generation of entrepreneurs

Scaling Founders for the Future

With support from our philanthropic donors, the UNSW Founders Program is working toward scaling this work and establish an ongoing, sustainable financial model to provide support to Australia’s entrepreneurs well into the future.  Your support to help scale the UNSW Founders Program, will have a direct impact on shaping a whole new generation of entrepreneurs.

You’ll also gain first-hand access to some of the highest potential early-stage startups and a phenomenal network of 6,000+ like-minded entrepreneurial individuals within the UNSW Founders community. 

Together we can:

• Scale the program’s reach to tens of thousands more staff, students and alumni across all levels and disciplines at UNSW.  

• Successfully fund and support hundreds more founders in launching their startup.  

• Grow diversity in entrepreneurship through targeted and inclusive programs.  

• Cultivate a substantial startup community that values social progress and giving back as a crucial element of success. 

• Forge new partnerships with industry, government and research bodies to increase the impact and influence of entrepreneurship.  

• Provide more opportunities for our entrepreneurs to have exposure to international markets and networks.  

• Drive new spin-out companies from research, with the potential to channel millions of dollars back into University research, benefit local economic development and create new jobs. 

With a current student population of approximately 66,000 students, 6000 staff and over 340,000 Alumni - the potential for impact is significant.

Our Visionary Enablers

In 2015, Michael Crouch’s generous donation and his vision to “find a better way” enabled the creation of a unique space at UNSW - the Michael Crouch Innovation Centre (MCIC).

Today as the home of the Founders Program, the MCIC is a hub for student entrepreneurs, innovators and makers to learn how to use Makerspace equipment, tools and tech from laser cutters to 3D printers to shop tools and facilitates prototyping for ​start-up ideas and entrepreneurial activities.​ 

At the MCIC we also provide a diverse range of workshops and programs to thousands of students, staff and alumni each year, empowering them with essential skills in creative thinking, problem solving, making and prototyping to enable them to identify, design and make solutions to real world problems.​ 

The Founders Program also benefits from the generous ongoing support from the Farrell Family Foundation. This enables the annual Peter Farrell Cup (PFC), UNSW’s most prestigious student-led, teams-based competitive ideas program. Now in it’s 21st year, the Peter Farrell Cup, is fast-tracking the next generation of entrepreneurs by giving them access to the knowledge, tools, expertise and learning environment they need for their ideas to flourish. 

In 2017 contributions from Dr FF Wong & Maha Sinnathamby helped establish our flagship Founders 10x Accelerator program, which to date has supported and provided seed investment into 47 high impact startups.

Managing Director of Baxter IP, Chris Baxter’s ongoing involvement in the UNSW Founders program helped establish the Entrepreneurial HDR program (eHDR). This suite of workshops helps higher degree researchers define potential pathways to impact, focusing on skills in discovery, translation, application and commercialisation.

In 2020, the Sir Rupert Myers Sustainability Award was established by the generosity of former UNSW Vice Chancellor and Emeritus Professor Sir Rupert Myers, through the James N Kirby Foundation. This award aims to support founders who are actively contributing to a more sustainable world.

Most recently, veteran entrepreneur Gary Zamel joined us as 2022 Entrepreneur-in-Residence, taking the torch from UNSW’s 2021 Entrepreneur in Residence Trevor Folsom. Zamel also brings with him a wealth of entrepreneurial experience and networks from his establishment of several successful technology companies including, MST Global, CommChain, New Medtek Devices, Jellinbah Resources, Benthic Geotech and Wikistrat. Zamel has also been an early investor in and mentor to Park Assist and Group Homes Australia.

Zamel’s contributions will go directly towards supporting the startups emerging from the program, which are all helping solve real-world problems in health, education, security and more.

To continue inspiring curiosity, bright ideas and the next generation consider supporting UNSW Founders.

Submit a donation or email founders@unsw.edu.au to find out more or have a conversation.