Startups in action

The University of Queensland’s 2024 Ventures ilab Accelerator: Chapter 2 program has awarded 12 startups with $15,000 funding to help launch their early-stage ventures.

The University of Queensland’s 2024 Ventures ilab Accelerator program has awarded 10 startups with $10,000 funding each to help launch their early-stage ventures. Now in its 18th iteration, Ventures ilab is one of the longest-running accelerator programs in Australia and has supported more than 230 startups, creating 1,500 jobs and attracting around $206 million in investment funding.

The inspiring startups and small-to-medium sized businesses will share in more than $1.42 million to help them tap into new markets and attract investment in new products and services developed in Queensland. One of these startups is 2023 ilab Accelerator participant, ExtrasJar.

The University of Queensland’s inaugural Ventures Empower Women's Accelerator program has awarded 6 teams with $10,000 equity-free funding to launch their early-stage startups.

The unfolding stories of two innovative startups in Queensland appear to intersect in orbit, like the rings of Saturn. Cofounders from two companies, Valiant Space and Herik Labs, identified our state as the ideal location to launch their careers. Each took the small step of enrolling in aerospace engineering at the University of Queensland, before making the giant leap to debut their out-of-this-world designs.

Naajihah Mahmood is a true Ventures superstar. She’s completed the full suite of Ventures opportunities, from the introductory Curiosity program, all the way to the penultimate ilab Accelerator where she presented her startup to 350+ people at the annual Pitch Night event earlier this year.

A team of University of Queensland (UQ) engineers who designed a sustainable and affordable 3D-printed rocket engine has won two awards for their invention.

Brisbane startup Herik Labs is on a mission to make the space industry kinder to planet Earth through reduced carbon emissions from launches, courtesy of intellectual property its founders hope will allow for the scalable and affordable 3D printed manufacturing of rocket engines powered by green hydrogen.

A team of University of Queensland engineers which has designed a sustainable and affordable 3D printed rocket engine has won two awards at an annual event celebrating entrepreneurship.

A software startup developed by two the University of Queensland graduates has raised $200,000 in a Seed round backed by Melbourne VC Skalata Ventures.