UQ Momentum Accelerator Program – Australia

Throughout the 15-week program, each qualifying business receives expert guidance to enhance business skills, grow networks, and boost scaling plans to help participants prepare for significant fundraising. They’ll determine if raising capital is right for you and act accordingly. The program concludes with a pitch to top investors, offering direct funding opportunities via the partnership with Queensland Investment Corporation’s Venture Capital Development Fund (VCDF) and other investment groups.

Hosted by UQ, it’s open to all and not limited to UQ students or university affiliates.

Program Structure

• Momentum Accelerator for Digital Business and SaaS will run for 15 weeks from 8 April to July 2024 at UQ’s Long Pocket dedicated Ventures Studio.
• Program commitment required:
  • 1 day each week of structured program content and on-site UQ Ventures Studio Long Pocket (Brisbane)
  • 1 session each week (in-person or virtual) to support cadence and founder health and wellbeing
  • founder updates and talks from industry experts, innovators, and Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) will be scheduled regularly throughout the program.
• Throughout the program your team will have access to:
  • 24/7 co-working space and makerspace
  • regular seminars and talks from speakers, industry specialists, investors, and successful founders
  • a dedicated entrepreneur who has successfully navigated the startup-to-exit journey, along with a world-class EIR
  • partnership benefits from Google, Microsoft, AWS, Hubspot, Matlab, Makerspace and more.
• The program will culminate in Pitch Event, where selected enterprises will have the chance to present their business to venture capitalists and investors. The program’s unique collaboration with the Queensland Investment Corporation’s Venture Capital Development Fund enhances the potential for investment by providing significant support to accelerator business growth.

Funding

• UQ’s Momentum Accelerator offers access to capital through established venture capitalists as well as potential access to angel investors.
• While being part of the accelerator significantly enhances your visibility to investors and the Venture Capital Development Fund (VCDF), funding is not guaranteed. It remains merit-based and competitive. UQ Ventures will provide the guidance and support to put your most compelling pitch together as you seek investment.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications for the Momentum Accelerator will open shortly to any Queensland or Queensland-based business in the digital, SaaS, or hybrid SaaS space.
• They are looking for passionate and committed founders, co-founders, CEOs, owners, and directors with businesses that have experienced initial growth and are now poised to elevate their operations to new heights.
• You do not have to be a UQ student or affiliated with any other university to apply. Applicants must:
  • have a registered ABN/ACN
  • have an office in or be based in Queensland
  • have a digital business or be focused on SaaS (or hybrid SaaS)
  • have market traction with growth, either in the form of active users or in revenue/sales
  • have a business with significant growth potential
  • have a business with a defendable competitive advantage
  • be strongly considering raising capital to facilitate growth.

For more information, visit The University of Queensland.