UTS Startups Growth Funding Program

The UTS Startups Growth Funding Program is an innovative early-stage investment initiative developed by UTS Startups, an accelerator based in Sydney, Australia. Established to support and inspire entrepreneurs, the program is specifically designed to provide significant backing to technology-enabled startups through mentorship and capital, aiming to accelerate their growth and enhance their investment readiness. It is distinguished as one of Australia's most founder-friendly early investment programs, offering quarterly opportunities for eligible startups to compete for $100,000 in funding. This funding is typically offered on a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) note through external investors like MA Financial Group, ensuring terms favourable to founders.

UTS Startups, the overarching entity, plays a crucial role in cultivating Australia's entrepreneurial landscape. Founded in 2014, it has since grown into Australia's largest community of student-launched startups, fostering over 1,500 ventures in its first six years and creating more than 1,200 new paid jobs. The organisation serves a diverse cohort, including current and past University of Technology Sydney (UTS) students, staff, and UTS College students. Under the leadership of Murray Hurps, Director of Entrepreneurship, UTS Startups offers flexible, non-rigid programming that prioritises connections between founders and relevant experts, investors, customers, and talent, rather than a fixed curriculum.

A key differentiator is its commitment to accessibility at scale, providing free support to its community members and operating without taking equity for its general programs. The initiative also provides a substantial co-working space with 250 desks located in the heart of Sydney's Tech Central precinct, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and collaboration. Beyond its core community, UTS Startups extends its reach through programs like UTS Startups @ Schools and the UTS Startups Summit, inspiring tens of thousands of high school students annually to explore technology-enabled entrepreneurship. This comprehensive support system, from ideation to growth funding, positions UTS Startups and its Growth Funding Program as a pivotal force in the Australian startup ecosystem.