Diverse founders lead the way in launch of Techstars Accelerator Program
12 innovative startup companies spanning industries from housing to healthcare this week commenced a NSW Government-supported accelerator program in the heart of Sydney’s Tech Central.
Delivered in partnership with renowned global startup accelerator Techstars, the Techstars Tech Central Sydney Accelerator will see 12 startups guided through a three-month program with expert mentors and tailored training to help scale their businesses.
This round’s cohort reflects the NSW Government’s work to build a more inclusive and solutions-driven innovation ecosystem, as outlined in the Innovation Blueprint 2035.
A third of the teams are led by female CEOs, five feature founders from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and all of them are integrating AI into their ventures. Their innovations span industries including music, legal, finance, real estate, health, crypto, marketing, sport and veterinary.
Two teams are tackling accessible housing, one of NSW’s most pressing challenges, with tech-driven solutions that align with the priorities of the NSW Industry Policy.
Delivery of the world leading accelerator from the heart of Tech Central reinforces the precinct as Australia’s leading innovation district, ensuring NSW remains a magnet for talent, investment, and world-class ideas.
Investment NSW Deputy Secretary Rebecca McPhee said:
“The NSW Government is proud to support the Techstars Accelerator Program with a new diverse cohort that reflects the future of innovation.
“These startups are tackling real-world problems with creativity, technology and ambition, and that’s exactly the kind of innovation we want to see thrive in NSW.”
“It’s great to see the Techstars Accelerator Program delivered in the heart of Tech Central, contributing to a thriving innovation economy in NSW.”
Techstars Managing Director Christie Jenkins said:
"Ultimately we're backing incredible humans, and trusting them to build incredible companies.
"We had 560 applications - a huge uplift from 390 last year. This is a testament to the growth of the ecosystem, as well as the innovation happening in Sydney. We were also excited to see the diversity of applicants. Of the founding teams who made it to interview stage (the top 150 applications), 43% had women in the founding team, and 47% had racial diversity.
"Our focus is helping founders build for the world stage. Techstars is unique in that we have 100 local program mentors who are leaders in the Australian ecosystem. But we also have access to the 3100 global Techstars mentors and 3500 active alumni companies."
Muse AI Founder Jad Al Masri said:
"I'm excited to be part of the Techstars program because it represents a rare intersection of opportunity and the right people to realise it. By backing early-stage companies across diverse disciplines, the NSW Government and Techstars are not only strengthening innovation at home, but also helping us craft impact globally.
“I chose Techstars for its founder-first approach. As someone who is multi-faceted but also deeply founder-driven, I value their willingness to believe in early visions and provide the frameworks, systems, and networks that help those visions grow.”
Zipline AI Founder Michelle Reeves said:
"I’m thrilled to be back in the Techstars ecosystem, it’s so much more than a program that drives business growth, it’s about shaping leaders and empowering visionaries whose impact endures well beyond a single venture.
“The leadership, culture, and ethics Techstars instilled in me years ago continue to shape everything I do today as a founder and innovator."
The 12 companies selected for the 2025 Techstars Accelerator Program are:
| Startup Name | Description |
| CorFin.AI | An AI native platform for finance teams to control, process, and analyse every expense in one place. |
| Crystal aOS | Simplified crypto legal, risk and compliance management so crypto innovation can thrive. |
| Juxtabyte | A new way for large enterprises to compliantly manage their data, and improve data discoverability internally. |
| MuseAI | AI assistant for organising musicians' notes and audio clips. |
| OncoRevive | Rapid, affordable, and precise cancer diagnostics with a new liquid biopsy testing method. |
| Onsite | Helps run buildings. It's an all-in-one platform for building management with real-time issue tracking. |
| Our Leg Up | Creating a new investment product for homeowners to get a return on their built up equity, and using those funds to help banks lend to new homeowners who don't have a 20% deposit. |
| Slice | The first platform that guides home buyers through the process with integrated financial and legal services. |
| Briefcase | Legal tech creating the digital courts and tribunals of the future. |
| SurfLab | Personalised surfing coaching platform with AI-powered coaching, community, and commerce to guide surfers through every stage of their journey. |
| VetNotes | Automatic clinical note taking for veterinarians |
| Zipline AI | Empowering brands to co-design new products and content with their customers using AI. |