Deadline Date: January 11, 2026
Startmate delivers the Student Founder Bootcamp as the #1 way for students to explore being a founder and experience what it takes to build a startup from the ground up.
The Student Founder Bootcamp is designed as a one-day crash course in entrepreneurship where students learn what a startup is and how to build one. Participants gain exposure to the full startup journey, from ideation and validation through to pitching to investors, while learning directly from experienced speakers. Learn the fundamentals of founding a startup; Meet co-founders and found a startup; Submit your pitch to Startmate’s Investment Team. During the program, students form teams, come up with an idea, speak to customers and build the first version of a product. The bootcamp focuses on teaching participants how to capture investors’ attention, communicate their vision clearly and explain why their idea deserves funding.
At the end of the Student Founder Bootcamp, participants are given the opportunity to submit their pitch to Startmate’s investment team. Top teams are offered a guaranteed spot in the pre-accelerator program, Launch Club, and may also gain access to investment opportunities, including potential entry into the Accelerator program with a $120k investment. The bootcamp is aimed at students who do not want a traditional corporate path, aspiring founders who are ready to give entrepreneurship a go, and students who want to be coached by real founders, operators and investors from leading startups across ANZ.
Participants leave the program having met potential co-founders, developed and validated an idea with real customers, and built the first version of a product, with no prior experience required. Founders who submit their idea after the bootcamp will also have their idea reviewed by the Investment Team, with top submissions offered a scholarship into Launch Club.
For more information, visit Startmate.
