UNSW launches plan to help Aussie startups scale overseas
UNSW Launches Global Innovation Foundry to Scale 100 Australian Startups Internationally
New initiative provides startups and spinouts with direct access to investors, R&D partners and talent networks globally
UNSW has today launched the Global Innovation Foundry, a university-wide initiative designed to support 100 high-potential Australian startups to scale internationally in 2026 and provide a landing pad to international ventures aiming to enter the Australian market/APAC region.
Australia’s founders often struggle to scale beyond the domestic market as they are faced with capital constraints, a thin local customer base and distribution bottlenecks. The Global Innovation Foundry addresses this challenge by leveraging UNSW's unparalleled global network to equip founders with the commercialisation expertise, stakeholder networks and market access needed to scale offshore with confidence.
Australia's startups are seeing a resurgence - with $5.1 billion in total funding in 2025 - but scaling globally remains a persistent challenge. Only 24% of Australian startups plan to hire overseas. The issue isn't a lack of ambition, but founders lack the connections, networks, and on-the-ground expertise to break into international markets.
The Global Innovation Foundry connects Australian founders to global opportunities, delivering the practical playbook for international expansion through direct access to UNSW's network of in-market partners, investors, and operators across global markets. Delivered through UNSW Founders in partnership with the Office of Global Affairs, the initiative provides founders with tangible market access while also supporting international companies entering the Australian market.
“Scaling internationally is where many Australian startups hit a wall,” said David Burt, Director of Entrepreneurship at UNSW Founders. “The Global Innovation Foundry is about giving founders what they actually need - direct access to the right people and networks in-market. Whether that’s connecting to R&D partners in India, navigating investor networks in Singapore or understanding how to hire and attract talent in the US, we’re creating practical pathways for Australian startups to win global deals.”
To mark the launch, UNSW Founders will host the UNSW Global Launchpads Summit, a one-day event bringing together startup founders with global investors and government partners from the nine priority international markets. The summit will feature market-specific sessions, one-on-one office hours with market experts, and keynote presentations from founders and global experts.
The event will showcase UNSW Founders portfolio companies, including Breaker Industries and Hullbot, while featuring market insights from international experts, including Trena Blair, CEO of FD Global Connections (US), and Jasmine Batra, Board advisor of AICC (India).
“The Global Innovation Foundry represents UNSW’s commitment to building globally competitive companies that can scale from Australia to the world,” said Atilla Brungs, Vice Chancellor and President at UNSW.
“By leveraging our international networks and partnerships, we’re creating impactful pathways for Australian innovation to reach global markets and for international startups to establish themselves here. This is about positioning Australia as a destination for founders worldwide.”
The Global Innovation Foundry builds on UNSW’s track record of supporting high-growth startups. Since 2017, UNSW Founders has invested in over 135 companies, with its portfolio raising more than $265 million, creating over 650 jobs, and achieving an enterprise value of over $1 billion.
For more information about the Global Innovation Foundry, visit here.
