Fuelling Growth. Shaping the Future of Food with our FaBA Growth Hub Program.
The FaBA Growth Hub is a 12-week program built to accelerate Australian food and beverage SMEs and startups ready to innovate, scale, and meet the demands of a changing market.
Designed as a one-day-per-week commitment, the program provides access to a powerful support system that helps founders de-risk their venture, refine their product, and get investor-ready.
Participants receive tailored, in-kind support including expert mentorship, industry workshops, and strategic introductions to investors and partners. Working closely with Entrepreneurs in Residence, they also benefit from shared learning alongside a cohort of ambitious founders tackling challenges across ingredients, packaging, nutrition, and more.
By the end of the program, ventures are positioned for real commercial growth — ready to raise capital, grow confidently, and lead the transformation of Australia’s food and beverage sector.
Sectors may include:
- Analytics & data services for F&B
- Digital F&B platforms & software
- Food safety & traceability tech
- F&B Manufacturing improvements
- Novel food & beverage (B2C)
- Novel ingredients (B2B)
- Packaging innovations
- Processing tech
- Supply‑chain & logistics solutions
The Program will be delivered virtually on Tuesdays for 12 weeks (Tuesday, 5 May 2026 to Tuesday 21 July, 2026).
Apply now for the 2026 FaBA Growth Hub
Applications close on Monday 20 April 2026 at 9.00am AEST.
FaBA Growth Hub is a 12-week program.
Key dates:
Applications open: Monday 9 March, 9:00 am AEST
Applications close: Monday 20 April, 9:00 am AEST
Program Manager Onboarding Calls: Monday 4 May 2026
Week 1–12: Tuesdays 5 April to 21 July 2026
Pitch Night: Early August 2026, Brisbane (date and venue TBC)
Weekly Sessions
Two structured sessions per week:
Core Workshop (Required) - Tuesdays, 9:00 – 10:30 am AEST
Delivered online via Zoom. Includes founder updates, workshops delivered by the Facilitator and Entrepreneur in Residence, guest industry talks, and structured mentoring.
Working Lunch (Optional, recommended) - Wednesdays or Thursdays, 12:00–12:45 pm AEST
Topic deep-dives, guest founder firesides, partner clinics (legal, financial, regulatory, manufacturing), and pitch coaching sessions.
Throughout the program your team will have access to:
- 24/7 co-working space at UQ Ventures Studios, 74 High Street, Toowong
- 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
- Track-specific programming tailored to your business type (recipe/physical product or digital/software)
The FaBA Growth Hub Showcase will be held in person in Brisbane in August 2026 (exact date and venue to be confirmed), where program participants (by invitation) will present to the ecosystem and investor network.
Book a free 1:1 Application Consultation
Not sure if you're eligible or want to talk through your application before submitting?
Book a free consultation with the FaBA Growth Hub Program Team.
Book a consultation
FaBa Growth Hub Information Session
Date: Tuesday 17 March 2026
Time: 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm AEST
Venue: Online via Zoom
Register for info session 2
We are looking for passionate and committed leaders 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.
To be eligible, your business must:
- Have a registered ABN/ACN
- Have primary operations based in Australia
- Be focused on scaling innovative food and/or beverage products aligned with evolving consumer demands
- Be able to demonstrate market traction and/or growth - through consistent sales, strong customer demand, or active distribution channels
- Have significant commercial growth potential
- Have a defendable competitive advantage
- Be strongly considering raising capital to facilitate growth
Program participants are expected to attend at least 90% of required Core Workshops. Lower participation may result in the team being removed from the program.
Program Overview View Agreement
Program Participants are expected to participate in at least 90 percent of the provided workshops and accountability sessions. Lower participation may result in the team being removed from the program.
Application Process
Entry into the FaBA Growth Hub is highly competitive. Only the most promising ventures make it through the selection process and earn their place in the program.
Applications close on Monday 20 April 2026 at 9.00am AEST.