Take your venture to the next level with our ilab Accelerator program.
The ilab Accelerator is UQ’s flagship program designed to fast-track UQ student, staff, and alumni startups.
Over 12 weeks, participants will access a structured curriculum with expert-led sessions on business strategy, product development, go-to-market planning, and investor readiness. Founders will also benefit from experienced Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EiRs), mentoring, and access to Queensland’s startup and investor networks.
ilab Accelerator is for early-stage ventures, typically at or near product-ready stage and pre- or early revenue. Participants receive a $15,000 SAFE note investment from UniQuest and access the full accelerator experience, including weekly sessions, community benefits, and EiR support. The focus is on refining value propositions, building go-to-market strategies, and preparing for early funding opportunities such as grants and angel investment.
ilab is open to teams with at least one UQ-affiliated founder (current student, staff, or alumnus). Startups should have a clear solution, validated value proposition, and evidence of early market research or traction. A minimum viable product is ideal but not required.
Applications close 12pm (AEST) 27 January 2026.
2026 ilab is powered by:
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The ilab Accelerator 2026 program runs for three months.
Program Highlights
- 12 structured sessions
- Dedicated EiR support and mentor access
- Weekly founder standups and check-ins
- Networking with founders, investors, and experts
- Pitch event
Key dates
Orientation Week: 24 Feb 2026
Week 1–15: Tuesdays, 3 March to 19 May
Pitch Event: 28 May 2026
Weekly contact days include
- Founder updates to the cohort
- Talks from industry experts, founders and Entrepreneurs in Residence e.g. IP, agreements, marketing, team building, partnerships, founders’ stories.
- Structured program and mentoring with Entrepreneurs in Residence and industry mentors
- Founder health and wellbeing
Throughout the program your team will have access to
- 24/7 co-working space and makerspace
- Regular seminars supporting early-stage startups
- Mentors, our Entrepreneur in Residence and a network of professionals and potential investors
- Partnership benefits from Google, Microsoft, AWS, Hubspot, Matlab, Makerspace and more.
Investment
Each accepted startup on the iLab track will receive a $15,000 SAFE note investment from UniQuest. One standout venture in the Momentum track will be selected to receive a $100,000 investment through UniQuest at the ScaleUP Festival, subject to due diligence.
Get ready for ilab and Empower 2026 - In-person information session
Date: Wednesday 17 December 2025
Time: 4:30 - 5:30pm
Venue: Ventures Space, Ground Floor, Global Change Institute (Building 20), St Lucia Campus
Get ready for ilab & Empower 2026 - Fireside Chat with program alumni & EiRs
Date: Thursday 15 January 2026
Time: 12 - 12:45pm
Venue: The Atrium, Room 223, UQ Brisbane City
Get ready for ilab and Empower 2026 - Online information session
Date: Thursday 22 January 2026
Time: 12 - 12:45pm
Venue: Online
We are looking for passionate and committed founders who have validated their value proposition, an initial sustainable business model, and a solution.
When you apply you will need to provide evidence of customer interviews, market research and business modelling. Having a minimum viable product is ideal, but is not required to join the program.
At least one of the startup's founders must be part of the UQ community by either being a:
- current UQ student
- UQ alum
- UQ staff member or researcher
Overview and Terms and Conditions View Agreement
You will be required to sign the ilab Accelerator Agreement to participate in the program. Please review the agreement document. Participating in the Accelerator program is a full-time commitment.
Founders are expected to participate in at least 90 percent of the provided workshops and accountability sessions. Lower participation may result in the team losing their funding and being removed from the program.
Application Process
Places in the Accelerator program are highly competitive. Founders must complete a four-stage application process to be accepted into the program.
Each selected team will receive $15,000 in funding from program partner UniQuest via a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE agreement).
A Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) is a flexible agreement between an investor (UniQuest) and the startup where in exchange for upfront money, the investor gains a contractual right to convert that amount into shares in the future when a pre-agreed trigger event occurs.
This funding will be made up of a series of three (3) tranche payments throughout the program aligned to achievement of monthly milestones. Startups are required to make continual progress against regularly reviewed milestones to receive tranche payments. Should a startup be terminated from the program, their tranche payments will immediately cease.
Please seek your own independent advice before entering into this agreement. UQ is not responsible for you and/or your companies’ independent financial situation.
Hear the pitches live
Pitch night for ilab chapter one 2026 will be occuring on 28 May 2026.
More details will be provided close to this date.
2023 Winner: Herik Labs
Listen to Co-founders of HerikLabs, Simone Wilson, Isaiah Stook, and Jason Storey as they talk about their ilab Accelerator experience.