Pitch Night South West

Talent exists everywhere. Opportunity doesn’t.

A flagship entrepreneurship event for South West Sydney, supporting early-stage founders to pitch, connect and win $40,000 in cash prizes.

Info Session & Workshop: 17 June

Applications Close: 1 July

Pitch Night South West: 30 July

Apply to Pitch
Attend Pitch Night

South West Sydney, this is your stage

Why apply?

  • Skill development: Transform your idea into a compelling pitch through hands-on workshops focused on storytelling, pitch structure and slide design.

  • Expert guidance: Receive dedicated coaching and feedback from experienced founders, investors and industry mentors.

  • Networking opportunities: Connect with judges, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and key figures across the innovation ecosystem.

  • Funding & support: Pitch live for a share of our biggest prize pool yet and gain access to ongoing support through UNSW Founders.

  • Real-world experience: Build confidence pitching your idea live on stage and receive valuable feedback from judges and the community.

Why South West Sydney?

South West Sydney is home to incredible entrepreneurial talent, but many founders lack access to networks, visibility and opportunities to showcase their ideas.

Pitch Night South West exists to create a platform for emerging founders to connect with community, industry and opportunity, while celebrating the growing innovation ecosystem across the region.

Now in its third year, the event continues to support the next generation of founders.

Key Dates

  • 1 June: Applications open (apply here)

  • 17 June : Pitch Like a Pro Workshop (register here)

  • 1 July: Applications Close at 5pm AEST

  • 10 July: Finalists Announced

  • 13-24 July: 1-1 Coaching for Finalists

  • 30 July: Pitch Night South West (register here)

Featuring

Managing Director, 
Business Lending
Westpac
Deputy Vice Chancellor
Research & Enterprise
UNSW Sydney

The Hon. Jihad Dib MP

Member for Bankstown
Minister for Youth Justice, Emergency Services, Customer Service and Digital Government

Co-Founder & Investor
Flying Fox 
Ventures

The Hon. Jason Clare MP

Kylie Frazer

Minister for Education
Member for Blaxland
Parliament of Australia

Prof. Bronwyn Fox

Tamara Bryden

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Pitch Night South West is a flagship entrepreneurship event led by UNSW Founders, showcasing emerging founders and bold ideas from South West Sydney through live pitching, coaching and community celebration.

    Now in its third year, the event brings together students, entrepreneurs, industry, government and community leaders for an evening of innovation and regional talent.

    • We’re looking for early-stage founders and aspiring entrepreneurs from South West and Western Sydney, or founders building a solution for the region.

    • You do not need a polished pitch. We’re looking for founders with:

      • A clear problem they care about solving

      • A strong idea or early concept

      • Passion, ambition and willingness to learn

  • Step 1 : Apply

    Submit your application along with a short video by 1 July 5PM AEST.

    Step 2: Shortlist

    Shortlisted applicants will be invited to meet with the UNSW Founders team.

    Step 3: Founder Coaching

    The finalists will participate in coaching and pitch preparation sessions.

    Step 4: Pitch Night

    Selected finalists with pitch live at Pitch Night South West on Thursday 30 July 2026 at Bryan Brown Theatre, Bankstown.

    If you aren’t pitching, you are invited to join the celebration.

  • Check out our video guide to recording a great application video.

    In summary: Your video should be 1-2 minutes long, explaining four key things:

    • Who are you? Introduce yourself and your team.

    • What is the problem you're trying to solve? Tell us about the challenge you're passionate about.

    • What’s the product or service that will solve the problem? If it’s benefiting the Western Sydney community, explain this too!

    • Why are you the right person or team to solve it? What makes you uniquely qualified to take on this challenge?

  • Selected finalists will receive:

    • Dedicated 1:1 coaching

    • Group founder preparation sessions

    • On-stage pitch rehearsal

    • Support from the UNSW Founders team leading into the event

    Important dates for finalists:

    • 10 July: Finalists announced

    • 13–24 July: 1:1 pitch coaching

    • 27 July: On-stage pitch rehearsal

    • 30 July: Pitch Night South West

  • If you’re planning to apply, we strongly encourage you to attend the workshop on 17 June (register here). It’s designed to help you strengthen your idea, improve your pitch and build confidence before applying.

    You do not need to pitch to attend the workshop. Anyone interested in innovation, entrepreneurship or learning how to pitch is welcome.

  • Date: Thursday 30 July 2026

    Time: 5-8pm

    Location: Bryan Brown Theatre Bankstown

    Registration: Grab your free ticket

    What to Expect:

    • Live founder pitches

    • Audience voting

    • Networking opportunities

    • Community celebration

    • Prize presentations

    • Industry and government leaders in attendance

  • Questions? Contact Julie Pham, Program Manager on email here.

”Being part of Pitch Night connected me with mentors, founders and opportunities I wouldn’t have found otherwise”

—2025 Participant

Celebrating Innovation and Community.

The 2025 edition of Pitch Night South West brought together emerging founders, students, industry and government leaders for an evening of bold ideas, live pitching and regional innovation.

Hosted by UNSW Founders, the event showcased the entrepreneurial energy emerging from South West Sydney, with founders pitching solutions tackling real-world challenges across climate resilience, accessibility, community wellbeing and future industries.

Building on the success of the inaugural event in 2024, Pitch Night South West has continued to grow as a flagship platform supporting the next generation of founders shaping the future of the region.

Read about 2025 Pitch Night South West here.

Event Partners

Help us build a legacy in Geater Western Sydney

Get in touch with Julie Pham, Program Manager here

UNSW Founders is part of Australia’s leading university for entrepreneurship, ranked #1 in the Asia-Pacific region by the QS World University Rankings. We are dedicated to supporting the next generation of innovators, creators, and business leaders. Through our comprehensive programs and resources, we provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge, mentorship, and hands-on experience they need to turn their ideas into reality. Join UNSW Founders and become part of a thriving community that fosters creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurial success.

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