River City Labs

River City Labs is a prominent Australian accelerator based in Brisbane, dedicated to fostering the growth of technology innovators and entrepreneurs. Established in 2012 by renowned tech entrepreneur and 'Shark Tank' investor Steve Baxter, it quickly became a vital hub for Queensland's burgeoning startup ecosystem. Initially operating as a coworking space and incubator, River City Labs expanded its offerings to include dedicated accelerator programs, notably partnering with Telstra-backed muru-D in 2015 to launch its inaugural accelerator.

In 2018, the Australian Computer Society (ACS), the professional association for Australia's ICT sector, acquired River City Labs. This acquisition marked a significant evolution, as ACS committed AU$7.5 million to expand its mission and national reach. As a not-for-profit organisation, River City Labs, under the umbrella of ACS Labs, is focused on powering Australia's Technology brilliance by providing resources that empower, support, and connect entrepreneurs to grow and go global. This includes a diverse range of programs, events, and engagement opportunities designed to elevate the Australian tech ecosystem.

River City Labs serves a broad spectrum of tech startups and scale-ups, from early-stage founders with an idea to later-stage companies seeking growth and capital. They offer tailored support through programs like the 'Activate' series for early and later-stage startups, and the 'Elevating Female Founders Program' which specifically targets women entrepreneurs with a product in market. The organisation transitioned in early 2024 to a digital membership model, providing an online ecosystem for its programs and services, while maintaining physical presence and networking opportunities through partnerships with co-working spaces like Hub Australia in Brisbane.

Since its inception, River City Labs has supported over 700 startup founders, hosted more than 1,000 events, and welcomed over 29,000 guests, playing a catalytic role in the Brisbane startup community. Notable alumni include companies such as Travello, FloodMapp, and Kapiche, with successes like Cohort Go being acquired by Flywire. Leadership includes Pauline Fetaui as Director of Innovation Labs Australia and Manager of River City Labs, and Laura Ashmole as Head of Growth, who continue to drive its mission of fostering innovation and connecting founders with essential networks and expertise.