Female-led startups shine bright in this year’s New South Wales-government backed Techstars accelerator cohort, with 10 of the 12 startups accepted into the program having at least one female founder.
Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong on Monday revealed the 12-strong group of companies that will take part in the 2024 Techstars Accelerator Program.
The program, now in its second year, targets emerging technologies across artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, fintech, quantum computing, cybersecurity and climate tech.
Techstars is one of the world’s largest pre-seed investors. It set up its flagship mentorship-driven accelerator program in Sydney last year after receiving a three-year support package from the state government.
The startups will undertake a 13-week program at Techstars Tech Central Sydney Accelerator, where they will receive training and access to a network of mentors to build their entrepreneurial skills.
A demo day will round out the program in December, with past companies to complete the accelerator like workplace talent management platform SeenCulture going on to raise $1 million.
All but two of the new class of startups are based in Sydney. The majority are using artificial intelligence in their products and services, including for safety reporting, market testing and stress management.
Mr Chanthivong said it was fantastic to see female-led startups spanning health to sustainable fashion heavily represented in the startups accepted to the accelerator program.
“Fostering greater diversity among founders was one of the issues to emerge during consultation on our Innovation Blueprint,” Mr Chanthivong said in a statement on Monday.
Last year, the state government scrapped its $10 million venture capital fund for female-led startups as part of a broader expenditure review that also trimmed other grants programs.
Techstars managing director Kirstin Hunter has welcomed the class of 2024, describing the accelerator cohort as the “most diverse group ever seen in a generalist accelerator in Australia…”.
“… Not just in who they are, but in the type of problem they are solving, and the scale of impact that they will deliver through their businesses,” Ms Hunter, a former co-founded, added.
The 12 companies selected for the program are:
- Canopy (Sydney): An AI-enabled misconduct and psychosocial safety reporting platform
- Dispute Buddy (Tauranga, New Zealand): A platform for creating an accurate record of digital communication between two parties during legal disputes
- Earthletica (Sydney): a sustainable activewear designer co-founded by Australia swimmer and Paris Olympics gold medalist Bronte Campbell
- Female Startup Club (Sydney): Entrepreneur network offering podcasts and eLearning to connect female founders
- Gether (Sydney): An AI-powered app helping busy parents to gather and manage family events, appoints and other tasks to reduce mental load
- Heatseeker (Sydney): AI-enabled platform to help companies grow through quick and easy market tests
- Jaimee (Sydney): An AI companion for women to assist with stress management, confidence and relationships
- NEVAM CX (Sydney): A digital marketing discoverability tool that empowers brands to perfect their customer experience across digital channels
- OD-AI (Canberra): An AI assistant to help organisations craft personalized policies and procedures
- Shutterspeed (Sydney): An automatic budget/time/cost tracker and business assistant to make content creation more efficient and profitable
- Understanding Zoe: Supports parents and carers of neurodivergent children to apply therapist recommendations, including at home and school
- Visuo (Sydney): A startup delivering AI-powered personalised video experiences to improve brand acquisition, loyalty and retention
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