The Startup Catch-22 🐣
Hey John,
Investors love traction. Founders love traction too. The problem? Investors want evidence before they invest, but founders often need investment to build, test and gather that evidence in the first place. A chicken-and-egg situation, only with more pitch decks 🐣
So here's a question worth asking: Is Australia backing the best ideas, or just the ones that survived long enough to look investable?
This year, UNSW invested $1.6 million in 16 startups through our 10x Accelerator. For most, we were the first investor to say yes, and there is something powerful about giving an idea the chance to be tested before demanding proof that it will succeed. Perhaps the challenge isn't eliminating risk, but recognising which possibilities are worth taking a chance on.
And that's today's thread: from the first prototype to the first investment, and the million micro-decisions that shape companies at scale.
So here's a question worth asking: Is Australia backing the best ideas, or just the ones that survived long enough to look investable?
This year, UNSW invested $1.6 million in 16 startups through our 10x Accelerator. For most, we were the first investor to say yes, and there is something powerful about giving an idea the chance to be tested before demanding proof that it will succeed. Perhaps the challenge isn't eliminating risk, but recognising which possibilities are worth taking a chance on.
And that's today's thread: from the first prototype to the first investment, and the million micro-decisions that shape companies at scale.
Here's what's coming up:
🛠️ Start Something→ Turn an idea into a testable prototype, no code required. TOMORROW!
🎤 First Thursdays with Ben Thompson → Scaling globally with purpose from Australia
🩺 Impact X Showcase→ 11 founders turning lived experience into health innovations
🏛️ Powerhouse Entrepreneurs Network → Be among the first to experience the new Powerhouse Parramatta, with free tickets for our community!
🛠️ Start Something→ Turn an idea into a testable prototype, no code required. TOMORROW!
🎤 First Thursdays with Ben Thompson → Scaling globally with purpose from Australia
🩺 Impact X Showcase→ 11 founders turning lived experience into health innovations
🏛️ Powerhouse Entrepreneurs Network → Be among the first to experience the new Powerhouse Parramatta, with free tickets for our community!
Scroll on. After all, you can't prove what you never get the chance to try✌️
Mariana Luis Castillo,
Community Manager
UNSW Founders
Community Manager
UNSW Founders
$1.6 million. 16 startups. And for most of them, UNSW was the first investor.
The 10x Accelerator backs ambitious founders long before conventional investors are ready.
The 10x Accelerator backs ambitious founders long before conventional investors are ready.
But why is a university writing the first cheque, and what makes us willing to take those early bets? Our Director of Entrepreneurship, David Burt, makes the case in Startup Daily for why universities have a unique role to play at the very beginning of the startup journey.
Read the article...
Read the article...
📅 Thur, 5 November | 5:00–7:30 PM | 📍 MCIC, UNSW Kensington
What does it take to build one of Australia’s biggest tech companies – and keep scaling with purpose? This November, we’re joined by Ben Thompson, CEO & Co-Founder of Employment Hero, for a conversation about growth, leadership and building globally from Australia. Since co-founding Employment Hero in 2014, Ben has helped grow the company to serve 2.5 million active users worldwide and reach a valuation of more than A$2 billion.
What’s on:
- Building and scaling a global SaaS company from Australia
- Leadership lessons from growing across teams, markets and products
- Embedding purpose, impact and philanthropy as you scale
- Live Q&A and community networking
📅 Mon, 16 November | 5:30–9:00 PM | 📍 UNSW Kensington, venue TBA
From the first employee in 2015 to a multi-billion-dollar global business, Oleg Vornik has now stepped down as CEO of DroneShield. This conversation goes inside that journey – the decisions that paid off, the mistakes that taught the biggest lessons and what Oleg believes founders need to understand before they scale.
What’s on:
- Oleg’s journey from first employee to CEO
- Lessons from scaling DroneShield
- Presentation followed by a moderated Q&A
📅 Wed, 18 November | 5:30–8:00 PM | 📍 MCIC, UNSW Kensington
What happens when people who understand health problems firsthand decide to build the solution themselves? The Impact X Showcase brings 11 emerging founders and teams to the stage after 10 weeks of testing, mentoring and building – all competing for funding to take their impact further. Supported by the NSW Government’s Diversity Pre-Accelerator.
What’s on:
- $20K total cash prize pool
- Presentation of the $10K Roseus Scholarship
- People’s Choice Award
- Networking with founders, investors, health leaders and industry
📅 Fri, 13 November | 12:00–1:30 PM | 📍 Powerhouse Parramatta
Be among the first to experience the newly opened Powerhouse Parramatta. As part of the UNSW x Powerhouse partnership, this event brings founders from across Sydney together to learn and connect. Hear from futurist, author and engineer Mark Pesce as he shares practical insights on developing your AI capability as a founder. And the best bit... we've got FREE tickets for the UNSW Founders community, so grab yours asap because places are limited.
What’s on:
- Meet founders from across Sydney
- Be part of the first Powerhouse Entrepreneurs Network event
- Rooftop networking with light refreshments
📅 Thur, 29 October | 10:00–11:30 AM | 📍 MCIC, UNSW Kensington
Got an idea for an app, service or digital tool, but don’t know how to build it? This hands-on workshop will help you move from idea to prototype using AI and no-code tools – without waiting for a developer. Open to the UNSW community, including students, staff, startups and alumni.
What’s on:
- Design user flows and connect data
- Create a prototype you can test with users
- Turn your idea into something tangible
📅 Tue, 3 November | 2:00–3:00 PM | 📍 MCIC, UNSW Kensington
Too many ideas can be paralysing. This practical workshop is designed for creative thinkers who are juggling multiple possibilities and need a clearer way to choose what to pursue next. Open to UNSW students, staff and alumni from all faculties. No business background required.
What’s on:
- Use a simple framework to compare your options
- Test whether an idea is worth pursuing
- Leave with a practical next step you can take immediately
📅 Applications open: November | Grand Final: April 2027 | 🌏 Global
Got a climate-tech idea that could change the world? The MIT Climate and Energy Prize is the world's largest and longest-running university climate-tech startup competition. This is your chance to take it further and compete for a US$100,000 Grand Prize.
Why get invovled:
- Compete for a US$100K Grand Prize
- Connect with global mentors, investors and experts
- Join a network of 220+ teams that have launched companies
- Gain international exposure for your climate innovation
Know someone who’s always “working on something”? Or thinking about starting?
Send this newsletter their way and help them plug into the UNSW Founders community :)
Send this newsletter their way and help them plug into the UNSW Founders community :)
🏆 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence 2027 – Entries Open
The InnovationAus Awards for Excellence 2027 recognise Australian companies and innovators turning research and ideas into scalable products, technologies and services.
Entries are open across nine categories spanning health tech, defence, manufacturing, AI, energy, agritech, software and more.
🌟 National recognition across industry, government, research & investment
🤝 Opportunity to connect with investors, partners & collaborators
⏳ Entries close Fri, 30 Oct 2026, 11:59 PM AEDT
🔗 More info + enter now → InnovationAus Awards for Excellence 2027
Entries are open across nine categories spanning health tech, defence, manufacturing, AI, energy, agritech, software and more.
🌟 National recognition across industry, government, research & investment
🤝 Opportunity to connect with investors, partners & collaborators
⏳ Entries close Fri, 30 Oct 2026, 11:59 PM AEDT
🔗 More info + enter now → InnovationAus Awards for Excellence 2027
🎓 Global Student Entrepreneur Awards – Applications Open
Running a business while you study? The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) gives student founders the chance to compete globally for USD $50,000, international exposure and connections with entrepreneurs around the world.
🏆 Australian winner progresses to the regional Quarterfinal in Japan, with expenses covered
🌍 Global Final held in Cape Town
🎓 Open to enrolled students aged 18–30
📈 Business must have operated for 6+ months with at least $500 revenue or $1,000 investment
🔗 Apply now
Running a business while you study? The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) gives student founders the chance to compete globally for USD $50,000, international exposure and connections with entrepreneurs around the world.
🏆 Australian winner progresses to the regional Quarterfinal in Japan, with expenses covered
🌍 Global Final held in Cape Town
🎓 Open to enrolled students aged 18–30
📈 Business must have operated for 6+ months with at least $500 revenue or $1,000 investment
🔗 Apply now
The Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE) is accelerating Australia’s clean energy and circular economy startups through engineering support, research expertise & funding and early-stage capital. Explore the support available:
The TRaCE R&D Voucher Program provides up to $50k matched funding to help clean tech SMEs fast-track R&D. You get to work with world-class researchers at UNSW leveraging specialised facilities without the heavy capital cost.
Developing breakthrough tech but need funding and validation to move forward? De-risk your R&D, generate investor-ready data, and accelerate your pathway to market.
🔗 Learn more
Developing breakthrough tech but need funding and validation to move forward? De-risk your R&D, generate investor-ready data, and accelerate your pathway to market.
🔗 Learn more
TRaCE’s $1.7M Early-Stage Seed Fund backs clean energy and recycling startups ready to move from prototype to market. Designed to bridge the “Valley of Death,” the fund supports key milestones, from prototype development to early market validation, helping you de-risk your technology and attract VC follow-on investment.
Your tax-deductible donation supports Australia's next generation of entrepreneurs.
Mariana @UNSWFounders
UNSW Sydney, Sydney,