Diversity Pre-Accelerator Program

The NSW Innovation Blueprint 2035 highlights the importance of enhancing diversity and equity within our innovation ecosystem. Despite evidence showing that diversity improves organisational performance, many groups remain underrepresented across NSW's innovation landscape. Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, people with disabilities, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) individuals, and those living in regional Australia face significant barriers to accessing funding and participating in innovation-intensive businesses.

To address these gaps, Investment NSW is launching the Diversity Pre-Accelerator Program. This initiative aims to provide training and mentoring to help participants refine their ideas, grow their businesses, seek investment, and prepare to apply to an accelerator program. The program is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and intersectional, ensuring it meets the specific needs of the participants it aims to support.

Achieving diversity in NSW's innovation ecosystem

Investment NSW is committed to delivering the Diversity Pre-Accelerator Program with the following goals:

• Enhancing diversity: Increase participation from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and knowledge in the NSW innovation ecosystem.
• Sustainable pipeline: Create a lasting pipeline of entrepreneurs and innovation-active professionals who reflect the diversity of our community.

How we plan to achieve this

• Reducing barriers: Make it easier for diverse founders to access knowledge, networks, and investment opportunities to support their business growth.
• Supporting innovation: Help diverse founders secure NSW Government funding to drive effective innovation.
• Increasing participation: Boost the number of diverse startups entering advanced accelerator and incubator programs in NSW.

Expressions of interest

Expressions of Interest have now closed. We appreciate the insights and experiences shared to help inform the Diversity Pre-Accelerator Program.