Twelve startup companies across a diverse range of industries from health to sustainable fashion have been selected for a NSW Government-supported accelerator program run by Techstars - the world's largest pre-seed investor.
The startups - 10 of which have at least one female founder - will go through a 13-week program at Sydney's startup and innovation hub Tech Central. They'll receive training and access to a network of mentors to grow their entrepreneurial skills and set their businesses up for future success.
This is the second group to go through a Techstars accelerator after it brought its world-leading program to Sydney in 2023. The program provides funding and fundraising opportunities, workshops and curated resources as well as numerous opportunities for startup founders to learn from their peers.
SeenCulture took part in last year's Techstars accelerator. The workplace talent management platform helps managers in their decision making around employee issues, including performance, pay reviews and promotions. After completing the accelerator, CEO and Founder Nikki Tugano raised $1 million in capital, with its growing customer base including tech giants Atlassian and Culture Amp.
Startup "Jaimee" is one of the new group selected for this year's Techstars accelerator. Led by two female founders, the business is developing an AI companion for women to assist with stress management, confidence building and relationships.
Jaimee's co-founders will join other startups who have started the accelerator today. The program will conclude with a Demo Day on December 5 to celebrate the founders and their progress.
For more information about the accelerator program at Tech Central visit Techstars.
Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong said:
"The NSW Government is proud to support Techstars with its world leading accelerator program at Tech Central, which will foster the next generation of entrepreneurs in our innovation system.
"I'm delighted such a diverse group has been selected for this accelerator with 10 female-led startups to go through the program. Fostering greater diversity among founders was one of the issues to emerge during consultation on our Innovation Blueprint."
Techstars Managing Director Kirstin Hunter said:
"I'm excited to welcome the 2024 founders to the Techstars Tech Central Sydney accelerator. These founders are the most diverse group ever seen in a generalist accelerator in Australia - not just in who they are, but in the type of problem they are solving, and the scale of impact that they will deliver through their businesses."
SeenCulture Founder and CEO Nikki Tugano said:
"Being a part of the Techstars program was without a doubt the best thing that has happened to SeenCulture and has been instrumental to laying the foundations for our early-stage startup to succeed.
"Techstars helped us build such a strong and credible reputation that lowered our barriers to funding, which was a big contributor to our ability to raise our $1 million in investment."
Jaimee Co-Founder and CEO Sreyna Rath said:
"Meeting the other founders, I was impressed by the high quality of commercial thinking and the diverse range of ideas, from support for disadvantaged groups to sustainability, and in our case, addressing the gender data gap in AI. We're honoured and excited to be part of this ecosystem to refine our strategy and launch Jaimee internationally."
The 12 companies selected for the 2024 Techstars Accelerator Program are:
Canopy - An AI-enabled misconduct and psychosocial safety reporting platform.
Dispute Buddy - Creates searchable timelines of texts and messages to resolve legal disputes quickly.
Earthletica - Australian-designed activewear utilising cutting edge sustainable materials and practices, co-founded by Paris Olympics gold medallist Bronte Campbell.
Female Startup Club - Connects female entrepreneurs with the training and resources they need to build their businesses.
Gether - An AI-assistant that frees working parents from their mental load.
Heatseeker - An AI-enabled platform to help companies grow through quick and easy market tests.
Jaimee - An AI companion for women to assist with stress management, confidence building and relationships.
NEVAM CX - Empowers brands to perfect their customer experience across every channel.
OD-AI - Supports organisations to implement the policies, processes and training to create best practice compliance.
Shutterspeed - An automatic time/cost tracker and business assistant to make content creation more efficient and profitable.
Understanding Zoe - Supports parents and carers of neurodivergent children to apply therapist recommendations at home, school and beyond.
Visuo - Delivers AI powered personalised video experiences to enable brands to drive better customer acquisition, loyalty and retention.
