VentureHUB Social Innovation Accelerator Program (Australia)

Delivered over 16 weeks, the program supports post-revenue ventures led by committed RMIT-affiliated founders ready to grow their businesses and catalyse system change.

Why VentureHUB? 

• Access to Funding
  • Receive a $15,000 equity-free entry grant from The Jacques Nasser Fund for Innovation by sharing how you’ll use the funding to increase your impact and innovation. Upon completing the program, pitch for a share of a $50,000 equity-free grant pool from the Activator Capital Fund.
• Mentorship & Expert Coaching
  • Sessions are tailored to your startup. Receiving hands-on guidance from experienced founders, domain experts, and investors is invaluable to refine your strategy and avoid pitfalls.
• Investor & Network Access
  • Warm introductions to the networks that matter. VCs, angels, strategic partners, and customers can accelerate growth and open critical doors.
• Validation & Credibility
  • Amplify your social or environmental impact with trusted, high-quality training. Being part of their accelerator boosts your startup’s reputation, signalling to investors, partners, and customers that your venture has strong potential and credibility.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be a great fit for the program, applicants should meet the following criteria:
  • System-change Innovation: You are working on a fundamentally new way of solving a major social problem. Your solution must be based on breakthrough technology that has high potential to scale to create meaningful system-level change.
  • Evidenced Impact: You have evidence of meaningful impact, such as customer outcomes, environmental benefits, social change, and alignment with specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • Commitment to Growth: At least one founder must be committed to working a minimum of three days per week in-person from the Activator co-working space. The venture must now be the primary focus of the founding team, rather than a part-time or side project.
  • Validated Traction: You have moved beyond the idea stage and show significant market validation. This could include paying customers, pilot programs, recurring users, early revenue, investment, or commercial partnerships. The venture should be approaching or working toward product-market fit.
  • RMIT Connected – At least one majority shareholder must be an RMIT student, staff member, or alumni.

For more information, visit RMIT University.