UNSW startup accelerator offers $200K to the next generation of Australian deeptech unicorns
UNSW Founders, Australia’s most recommended startup accelerator, has partnered with fund manager Luminary Partners to invest $200,000 each into 18 startup companies in 2025.
This is the biggest public-private collaboration between a university-based accelerator and venture capital firm, where the VC fund will make 18 investments into early-stage deeptech startups. This scale of partnership makes UNSW Founders the best-funded accelerator program in Australia.
Every startup selected into the award-winning 10x accelerators will now receive $200,000 in investment—providing the capital and commercial backing needed to build world-class ventures in health, climate and sovereign capability.
This capital injection aims to uncover the next generation of global deeptech leaders, following in the footsteps of standout UNSW startup alumni including High Earth Orbit, Forage, DeCarice, evidentli, GonGlobal, Hullbot and Breaker.
“As a philanthropically funded accelerator, UNSW Founders depends on partnerships like this to turn groundbreaking ideas into high-growth ventures,” said David Burt, Director of Entrepreneurship at UNSW Founders. “Physical product innovation needs more than just capital–it needs access to infrastructure like prototyping labs, clean rooms and testing facilities. Together with Luminary Partners, we’re building an ecosystem that helps transform breakthroughs into scalable businesses that will improve both Australia’s prosperity and security.”
Founded in 2025 through the merger of HappenCo and Banksia, Luminary Partners brings significant capital, industry expertise and a vast investor network to help deeptech startups scale globally. Most importantly, Luminary Partners isn’t afraid to back breakthrough innovations. As part of this collaboration, the new capital partner will deliver not just funding, but tailored advisory, mentorship and commercial connections to UNSW Founders’ top startups.
The announcement arrives at a pivotal moment for the Australian innovation landscape. While the Australian Government’s $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) has rightly prioritised Health, Defence and Climate as key investment areas to diversify and transform the economy, more private capital is needed to spark the commercialisation of breakthrough technologies.
The investment will supercharge three of UNSW Founders’ flagship, mission-led programs:
Health 10x: In partnership with The George Institute for Global Health and Virtus Health, accelerating ventures addressing major unmet health needs, with a dedicated stream for Women’s Health innovation.
Defence 10x: Backing startups and scaleups building Australia’s national security and sovereign capabilities, in partnership with the Defence Trailblazer initiative.
Climate 10x: Supporting startups tackling decarbonisation, clean energy, and circular economy challenges, with the Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy.
These three verticals align directly with the NRF’s priority areas—proving how public goals can be achieved through bold private sector partnerships.
This partnership builds on years of successful collaboration between UNSW and the Luminary Partners’ team over the past 2 years. UNSW Founders has a strong track record of impact, having invested in more than 120 new startups that have a combined enterprise value of over $750 million.
