Labs

ACS Labs is an Australian innovation ecosystem dedicated to fostering technology entrepreneurship and solving global challenges through innovation. With hubs in major cities including Sydney (Harbour City Labs in Barangaroo), Brisbane (River City Labs), and Maroochydore (Ocean City Labs), it provides a virtual platform that connects entrepreneurs, mentors, talent, partners, and industry across the nation. The organisation offers essential networks, knowledge, news, and talent support to accelerate growth for innovation within Australia, making technology entrepreneurship more accessible and empowering for emerging tech companies and communities.

At its core, ACS Labs offers a range of services designed to support ambitious entrepreneurs throughout their unique journey, whether they are in early-stage development, scaling their operations, or focused on growth. This support includes bespoke, one-on-one coaching and comprehensive resources tailored to individual business needs, regular accountability check-ins, and access to group mentoring sessions with expert mentors. Additionally, members can attend partner office hours and monthly member mixers, fostering a strong community spirit and networking opportunities.

The entity originated with River City Labs, founded in 2012 by prominent Australian tech entrepreneur and Shark Tank investor, Steve Baxter. Harbour City Labs in Sydney was established in 2018, expanding the network's reach. ACS Labs has notably evolved beyond a traditional accelerator model, forgoing rigid multi-week sprints and one-size-fits-all learning. Instead, it embraces rolling annual residencies with on-demand programming that adapts to the real-time needs of its founders, a model they term a "sustainer program." This flexible approach aims to empower founders to grow their businesses on their own terms, supported by external contributors when needed. By April 2021, Harbour City Labs had supported 21 companies, achieving a combined capital raising of approximately $50 million.

Leadership within the ACS Labs network, as of April 2021, included Andrew Corbett-Jones as the Head of Growth for Harbour City Labs and Siobhan Casey as ACS' Director for Scaleups and Innovation Labs. The organisation also runs specialised programs such as an Internship Program, a Tech and Business Professionals program for connecting talent with startups, and an Elevating Female Founders Program, underscoring its commitment to nurturing diverse talent and leadership in the Australian tech sector. Its eligibility criteria require businesses to be registered in Australia, be technology startups or scaleups with demonstrable product differentiation, and commit to a minimum three-month membership, ensuring a focused and dedicated community.