Startmate’s First Believers program isn't just theoretical, it's practical.
You’ll learn from the best early-stage investors in Australia and New Zealand, then have the exclusive opportunity to make real investment decisions with your own funds or through the Startmate Funds. Plus learn how to become the kind of startup mentor every founder wants – adding value beyond the funds you invest.
📌 Questions? Watch this overview with Ben (Investment Manager @ Startmate)
Join a two-day, in-person conference in Melbourne (27-28 Oct) or Sydney (30-31 Oct), that slingshots you into the epicentre of the ANZ startup ecosystem. You’ll hear directly from the best investors in ANZ – from pitch deck tear-downs to live interviews masterclasses. Learn how to become the kind of mentor every founder wants, not just an investor. Dive into investment frameworks, legals, and early-stage portfolio-building. All while building your network of mentors, founders, and future co-investors.
This part is all about doing the reps to build your investor muscle. Over 7 weeks (4 Nov – 16 Dec), you'll be a core component of Startmate's intensive online selection for the Summer 2026 Accelerator – as we invest in the top 2% of startups that apply for funding. Nothing is off limits as a First Believer. You'll get direct access to the most exciting startups in ANZ – reviewing decks, interviewing top founders, and making real investment decisions alongside the region's most active early-stage investors.
Startmate is the most active early-stage investor in Australia and New Zealand. We invest at the very beginning of a founder's journey, making us best-placed to help budding angel investors. We help founders to realise their bold ambitions every day. We’ve been accelerating founders for more than a decade and we want to open this world to you.
Join a community obsessed with backing and believing in the next generation of great founders.
You'll learn the craft of investing from world-class investors through the Startmate network, while simultaneously being exposed to 700+ early-stage startups. This is not about passively learning abstract concepts. It's about learning by doing and making real investment decisions on real companies with real outcomes.
Alongside other First Believers, you'll refine and develop your investment strategy, establish clear next steps in your journey to investing, and be supported in realising them.
Investing is a decade-long journey. We’re building a community to be there with you every step of the way. You'll develop deep relationships with First Believers and be a part of a community for life.
If you want to build confidence in making early-stage startup investments, better understand the investor lens, or build life-changing relationships with other ambitious investors and founders, First Believers is the place for you.
You don’t have to be a sophisticated investor. You don’t need to have money to invest today. You can join with or without any prior investing experience.
First Believers come from a range of backgrounds, including past founders, corporate venture capitalists, high-growth technology company employees, and ecosystem champions.
You might be:
- An exited founder or high-growth operator
- A family office lead, VC scout, or emerging fund manager
- A senior exec looking to expand into venture
If you are not sure that it’s the right fit, you can book a quick 15-min call with Ben Simai, our First Believer's Lead and Investment Manager, to talk it through.
The program runs twice a year.
Each cohort is made up of the top ~70-80 people who apply. These people come from a range of industries, locations and levels of experience.
First Believers requires a time commitment of 2 full days in-person (in either Sydney or Melbourne), then 3 hours a week online, for the next 7 weeks.
The First Believers program fee is $5,500 including GST. This fee will only be invoiced after program acceptance. The fee can be paid upfront or via instalments.
We're committed to seeing better representation in the startup ecosystem, and we don't want financial limitations to be a prohibiting factor from participating in First Believers. Startmate offers full and part scholarships for the First Believers program.
NZGCP proudly sponsor mutliple positions per cohort