Over the last two years, we’ve seen our programs continue to evolve.
What started as a focused initiative has grown into something much clearer: if we want to see more students building in food innovation, we need to support them earlier and for longer.
In 2026, we’re excited to announce that the FaBA Food Stream will now run across both Curiosity and Validate, spanning the entire year.
Alongside this expanded commitment, funding available to students has increased from $10,000 in 2025 to $18,000 in 2026.
Previously, FaBA supported a single semester. From this semester, students will be able to engage with food innovation from their very first exposure to entrepreneurship right through to validation and early market testing.
“This expanded commitment shows what’s possible when we support food innovators earlier and for longer, empowering student ventures to progress from campus ideas to international success and meaningful impact.”
- Dr Chris Downs Director, FaBA
Starting with Curiosity
Curiosity is a student’s first opportunity to explore the challenges facing different industries and begin to understand how innovation can create impact.
Bringing food innovation into Curiosity creates a clear entry point for students who are curious about reshaping our food systems, improving supply chains, increasing sustainability, and building new products that meet the needs of a changing world.
In 2026, $6,000 of dedicated funding will sit within Curiosity to support early-stage ideas tackling challenges across our food supply.
It’s about giving students permission to explore — and the backing to test.
Building Momentum in Validate
From there, ideas roll directly into Validate.
Across the full year, $12,000 in funding will support teams ready to move beyond exploration and into structured testing, customer validation, and early market traction.
The goals are simple:
- More funding.
- Clearer pathways.
- Stronger progression from idea to market.
We don’t want food innovation to be a one-off opportunity. We want it embedded in the journey.
“Building on past success, the expansion of the FaBA Food Stream across Curiosity and Validate in 2026 creates a year-long pathway that backs students from first idea to real market traction.”
- Professor Nidhi Bansal FaBA Training Centre Program Lead
Why This Matters
Food is one of the most important industries in Australia and globally — touching sustainability, health, supply chains, technology, and community.
Off the back of the success of Pollinate, part of the first FaBA cohort and now in San Francisco as part of Y Combinator, it’s clear what’s possible when students are supported early and backed properly.
We’re already seeing strong momentum. For Semester 1, 25% of enrolled students have expressed interest in food innovation. The appetite is there.
Our role is to build the pathway.
The success of the program
The strength of this pathway is already clear. Pollinate, a hospitality technology startup that first engaged through the FaBA Food Innovation Challenge before progressing into the 2025 ilab Accelerator cohort, has been accepted into the Y Combinator Winter 2026 cohort. One of the world’s most competitive and globally recognised startup accelerators.
Founded by UQ co-founders Adeep Mitra and Corey Berther, Pollinate has grown from early-stage experimentation into a venture reshaping hospitality procurement through automated ordering, integrated communication and AI-driven insights. Their progression from challenge-based learning to accelerator support, early-stage investment through the UniQuest Extension Fund, and now global validation reflects exactly what a connected, year-round pathway can unlock for food innovators.
Thank You, FaBA
We’re incredibly grateful to FaBA for their continued support of UQ students and for what this partnership has already brought to our community.
This expansion signals a shared belief: If we want to see the next generation of food innovators step forward, we need to create clearer entry points, deeper support, and stronger bridges to market.
2026 is the next step in that journey.
Get involved with the FaBA stream in 2026, and find the best program for you.
