UNSW Founders is Australia’s leading university-based entrepreneurial program, transforming groundbreaking research into impactful solutions. It offers comprehensive services to empower students, staff, researchers, and alumni. Programs like Health 10x and Climate 10x address global challenges through affordable health solutions and climate tech innovations. With strong industry partnerships, extensive mentorship, and a supportive ecosystem, UNSW Founders has enabled startups to raise over $175 million, create 500+ jobs, and achieve a total enterprise value of $0.67 billion. The support provided by UNSW Founders is free and philanthropically backed, offering guidance and opportunities to the entire UNSW community. In 2023, the program facilitated over 12,850 events and skill-building workshops and delivered more than 2,300 free business coaching sessions, supporting 618 unique teams. Additionally, 300 new companies were incorporated, with 48% having at least one female co-founder, surpassing the national average of 22.3%. Partnerships with organisations like Westpac provided $75,000 in grants and sponsorships to women and non-binary founders. The Liverpool Entrepreneurship Program, a $700k initiative, drives entrepreneurship in Southwestern Sydney, supporting founders from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in delivering social impact solutions. The New Wave program, dedicated to women’s entrepreneurship, provided a safe space for over 123 female participants in 2023 to share ideas and learn, underscoring UNSW Founders’ commitment to fostering inclusive innovation.

David Burt
Director of Entrepreneurship
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Dina Titkova
Senior Manager of Entrepreneurship (Startups)
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Kristen Phillips
Senior Manager of Entrepreneurship (Ideas)
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Nina Juhl
Senior Manager of Entrepreneurship (Curiosity)
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Beste Onay
Portfolio Manager
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Caitlin Co
Program Coordinator
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Sasha Whittle
Program Manager 10x All Industries
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Joseph Po
Program Manager Health 10x
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Maddison McCoy
Program Manager Bio 10x
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Eléonore Cluzel
Program Manager Health 10x
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Eleni Assargiotis
Program Manager Climate 10x
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Julie Pham
Program Manager Climate 10x
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Shuoyan Shu
Program Manager Liverpool Innovation Precinct Health Entrepreneurship Program
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Zac Rafidi
Business Analyst
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Victoria-Rose Tucker
New Wave Program Manager
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Georgia Lyons
Peter Farrell Cup Program Manager
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Priscilla Tan
Prototypes Manager
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Hayden Moore
Bits & Atoms Program Manager
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Bryony Tottey
Bits & Atoms Program Manager
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Rita Wu
Startup Year Program Manager
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Matt Macdonald
Michael Crouch Innovation Centre Operations Manager
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Hamish McFarlane
Michael Crouch Innovation Centre Makerspace Coordinator
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Mariana Luis Castillo Patron
Comms & Engagement Officer
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales



Arash Atashnama
Investment Analyst
Division of Research & Enterprise,  The University of New South Wales

• In 2015, Michael Crouch’s generous donation and vision to “find a better way” led to the creation of a unique space at UNSW - the Michael Crouch Innovation Centre (MCIC). Today, as the heart of the Founders Program, the MCIC is a bustling hub where student entrepreneurs, innovators, and makers learn to use state-of-the-art Makerspace equipment, from laser cutters and 3D printers to a variety of shop tools, facilitating the prototyping of start-up ideas and entrepreneurial ventures.

• In 2017, Dr. FF Wong and Maha Sinnathamby's visionary contributions were instrumental in establishing our flagship Founders 10x Accelerator program. To date, this initiative has supported and provided seed investment to 107 high-impact startups.

• The ongoing support from Peter Farrell and the Farrell Family Foundation is another cornerstone of our success. Their generosity powers the annual Peter Farrell Cup (PFC), UNSW’s most prestigious student-led, team-based competitive ideas program. Now in its 21st year, the Peter Farrell Cup is fast-tracking the next generation of entrepreneurs by providing access to the knowledge, tools, expertise, and learning environment essential for their ideas to thrive.

• Chris Baxter, Managing Director of Baxter IP, has been a steadfast supporter of the UNSW Founders program. His involvement helped establish the Entrepreneurial HDR program (eHDR), a comprehensive suite of workshops designed to equip higher-degree research students with essential entrepreneurial skills.

• In 2022, we welcomed veteran entrepreneur Gary Zamel as our Entrepreneur-in-Residence, succeeding UNSW’s 2021 Entrepreneur-in-Residence Trevor Folsom. Zamel’s contributions are aimed at directly supporting the startups emerging from our program, all of which are dedicated to solving real-world challenges in health, education, security, and beyond.

• This year we were thrilled to announce our partnership with Westpac for 2024. This sponsorship provides crucial financial backing for promising founders through dedicated pitch prizes and scholarships. This non-dilutive funding support is designed to address barriers that women founders may experience when pursuing their startup full-time, including those who may struggle to balance family and work commitments and access capital for business growth. It can also help cover their cost of travel or supplement income when undertaking the 10-week 10x Accelerator program.

• Finally, we acknowledge UNSW and Vice-Chancellor Attila Brungs for embracing entrepreneurship among the top three strategic priorities. This rare and courageous commitment has fostered a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem at UNSW, empowering countless innovators to transform their ideas into impactful solutions. Their visionary support highlights UNSW’s leadership in solving society’s most pressing challenges through innovation and creativity.