The Minns Labor Government has officially opened the first round of a $4 million Diversity Pre-Accelerator Program aimed specifically at supporting female founders in New South Wales.
Program Design and Delivery
The announcement comes via an official ministerial media release, which details that the program will offer training and mentoring designed to help early-stage, women-owned startups refine ideas, develop business models, prepare minimum viable products, and pursue investment. This initiative is now open for applications.
Delivery partners include two key tertiary institutions:
- University of Newcastle (Integrated Innovation Network – I2N) will deliver a two-stage program supporting up to 188 women founders across NSW, including an intensive pre-accelerator phase and showcase opportunities over the next few years.
- University of NSW (UNSW Founders) will support at least 20 women and culturally diverse health innovators across Greater Western Sydney and regional NSW, focusing on foundational skills, tailored coaching, and pathways to scale-up.
Addressing Underrepresentation
The media release highlights that, despite evidence that diversity boosts organisational performance, women remain significantly underrepresented in NSW’s innovation landscape. The program is intended to redress this imbalance by expanding access to skills, networks, and confidence for women entrepreneurs.
Statements from Government and Partners
“There is no shortage of brilliant ideas among the women of the Hunter – what’s been missing is the backing to turn them into businesses,” said Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley.
Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Anoulack Chanthivong, noted that diversity is essential to building a resilient innovation ecosystem, observing that women-owned startups receive as little as seven per cent of venture capital, and that the program aims to equip them with foundational skills for market entry and growth.
UNSW Founders’ Senior Manager, Dina Titkova, described the program as playing a critical role in broadening participation in health innovation, particularly for women and culturally diverse founders developing impactful health solutions in Greater Western Sydney and regional areas.
Significance and Outlook
This initiative reflects a strategic push under the NSW Innovation Blueprint to embed diversity across the state’s innovation ecosystem. By explicitly targeting female and culturally diverse founders, particularly within health sectors and regional communities, the program is poised to create a more inclusive and sustainable pipeline of innovation leaders.
Given the scale—supporting nearly 200 women entrepreneurs through I2N and an additional cohort via UNSW—the program may meaningfully shift representation in the early-stage startup space. It also signals the NSW Government’s growing commitment to equity in entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
The launch of the $4 million Diversity Pre-Accelerator underscores an important move by the Minns Labor Government to empower women entrepreneurs across NSW. By combining funding, mentorship, and institutional delivery, the initiative offers a substantive step toward a more diverse, inclusive, and dynamic startup ecosystem.