Both these programs are designed to challenge you and grow your startup! Pre X is a shorter, less intense version of an accelerator designed to get you up to speed with your startup and gives you a headstart in getting to know our team. In short, it’s your try before you buy for the 10x Accelerator.

In practice the key differences are:

Time commitment: Pre X is 4 weeks with a 1 day bootcamp at the beginning and some light-touch programming. We accept founders who are not yet full-time on their startup, but want to build up to it.

The accelerator is 10 weeks with more touchpoints. We typically expect founders to be full-time on their startup.

We strike a balance between bringing the cohort in person to get the most out of the thriving Sydney startup ecosystem and recognising that there are high-potential founders all around the country we could support. Starting up is a team sport and the connection between like-minded founders is invaluable.

Cohort size: You’ll have a larger group of colleagues in Pre X. It means more cohort interaction and engagement than workshops with space to build your network across the UNSW Founders ecosystem. Plus, we get to support more of you.

The Accelerators are more selective - each stream only takes 5 to 7 teams because we spend a lot of 1:1 time working with startups on what they need to supercharge their growth.

Startup stage: In Pre X, you’ll mix with a range of startups at different stages. You can apply to Pre X if you’re still pre-revenue or pre-product, as long as you’ve committed to putting in serious work and building your velocity.

The accelerator is more selective. Startups in the accelerators have clearly demonstrated growth and progress and usually have a saleable product (or a POC for deep tech startups). This is true of most startup accelerators.

1:1 Support: Pre X startups get some 1:1 support by talking to Program Managers in our weekly group sessions, or by booking coaching & mentoring sessions.

Accelerator startups have scheduled weekly 1:1 support and accountability.

Investment: Only 10x Accelerator startups receive investment from UNSW Founders. Each industry vertical offer different amounts.

Check the relevant web page for more details.

Not at all! Pre X is a great way to make time to work on your pre-revenue startup under the guidance of the UNSW Founders coaching team.

What we expect is some demonstration of prior commitment to making genuine, dedicated progress.

If you have an idea or a concept and you’re unsure if it’s the right fit for you - book a coaching call with one of the Program Managers.

Not at all - building a sales pipeline is only one aspect of building a startup, but the support we provide goes way beyond that. You can use the Pre X as a way to get access to some 1:1 coaching, make sure you’ve set up your business for future success, sort out all your must have business admin or develop your team.

You could even just be figuring out if an accelerator is the right next step for you.This is a great way to give yourself a leg up and prep that application early.

The Pre X is optional but keep this advice in mind: we invest in people as much as we do ideas.

So the best way for us to know YOU as a founder or founding team is to take part.

These sprints are a great way to immerse yourself in the Founders network and access our mentors and support!

Not a problem. We strike a balance between bringing the cohort in person to get the most out of of the striving Sydney startup ecosystem and recognising that there are high-potential founders all around the country we could support.

This means we will ask you to come to Sydney once or twice over the program to spend a day with us and the other founders. Most sessions will be offered hybrid or and online only. We always recommend that startups spend their time in Sydney connecting to the wider ecosystem here.

Having said that, we 100% advocate for you to join us in person if you can. Joining online only means you miss out on the network effects of being around other founders.

Great question!

A proof of concept shows that your concept is technically viable (This can be done by yourself or demonstrated in published literature) and that there may be a market opportunity for it.

A Prototype builds on this where there is more technical development, perhaps you’ve demonstrated your idea or technology works in a relevant scenario with minimal features. Here you may also have a deeper understanding of the market and customer.

MVP is the limited feature version of your technology that you could technically start to sell but still needs time put into refining, debugging and scaling.

Yes. We’ve designed the program for teams to develop all the startups essentials we look for in our participants and other accelerator look for in theirs.

This is because entry into the Pre X and 10x are competitive and we see a lot of promising startups that are just too early for an accelerator.

Entry into both Pre X and the accelerator are competitive.

Not necessarily. Our Health, Bio, Defence and Climate streams can accept founders from across Australia with no affiliation to UNSW at all.

10x All industries is limited to founders who have an affiliation with UNSW (student, staff member or alum) Only one team member needs to be affiliated to be eligible for the program.

Absolutely, Solo founders are welcome to join!