Stone & Chalk - Melbourne

Stone & Chalk Melbourne is a key component of Australia's largest innovation community, dedicated to fostering a sustainable, technology-driven economy. Established with a mission to support emerging tech companies, it provides a comprehensive ecosystem where startups, scaleups, corporations, and government entities can connect, grow, and commercialise their ideas. Stone & Chalk operates as a not-for-profit, purpose-driven organisation, focusing on accelerating the journey of founders through critical stages of development.

The entity offers modern co-working spaces in prime locations across Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, including its vibrant Melbourne Startup Hub at 121 King Street. These spaces are designed to be move-in ready, alleviating the administrative burden on nascent businesses so they can concentrate on their core mission of growth. Beyond physical infrastructure, Stone & Chalk provides tailored growth programs, including mentorship, capital and funding assistance, market access strategies, and people and culture development. This holistic support framework helps entrepreneurs refine their product-market fit, build robust business models, and execute effective go-to-market strategies.

Stone & Chalk originated in August 2015 as a fintech co-working hub in Sydney, quickly gaining recognition as a leading global fintech centre. Over the past decade, it has significantly expanded its scope beyond financial technology to encompass a diverse array of emerging tech sectors deemed vital for Australia's future, such as cybersecurity, climate tech, and artificial intelligence. In 2025, Stone & Chalk marked its tenth anniversary, reflecting on its journey from a single hub to a national network. The organisation aims to power 10,000 Australian startup success stories by 2035, an ambitious goal underpinned by an expanded alumni program and initiatives like the Startup Success Index.

A distinguishing factor for Stone & Chalk is its founder-first approach and the emphasis on building a strong, collaborative community. It fosters an environment where founders, investors, mentors, and partners interact daily, facilitating invaluable connections and knowledge sharing. This commitment to community has earned Stone & Chalk the recognition as the most recommended startup support organisation in Australia in the 2025 Startup Muster Report. Former CEO Chris Kirk, who led the organisation for approximately three years, is credited with navigating it through a challenging financial period and returning it to stability. Leona Murphy serves as the Board Chair, overseeing the strategic direction of this impactful organisation. Stone & Chalk connects startups with the essential customers, capital, talent, space, and expertise needed to accelerate their progress.

Collectively, residents and alumni across all Stone & Chalk hubs have raised over $4.4 billion in capital, a testament to the effectiveness of its support model. The organisation regularly hosts events, workshops, and networking sessions, bringing together the broader tech community to share insights and forge partnerships that advance Australian technology. By working closely with corporate and government partners, Stone & Chalk also helps shape innovation policies and connect established entities with new technologies, thereby nurturing a dynamic emerging tech ecosystem.