We offer need-based scholarships for those who are unable to pay due to financial hardship.  

At Startmate, we’re committed to building and growing an inclusive and accessible startup ecosystem in Australia and New Zealand. We recognise that those facing financial hardship are at a disadvantage - we don’t want that to be the case with Startmate. As part of our commitment, we offer scholarships to those who find the cost of our programs prohibitive. 

You can apply for a scholarship as part of your program application, where you will be prompted to provide more information about your circumstances.

Scholarships are awarded based on financial need and are assessed separately to the remainder of your application. Scholarships are not awarded based on merit.

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Scholarship selection criteria 

If you are experiencing financial hardship for circumstances not detailed below, please still apply. The following are not exhaustive criteria, and we review scholarship requests on a case by case basis.

• Receiving government income support payments (such as Centrelink Benefits or Work and Income NZ Benefits).
• Being from a low-income household and unable to access government support (e.g. because you are a non-citizen).
• Demonstrating other financial need that is impacting the individual’s ability to meet their basic needs, such as unexpected medical expenses, family crisis, or job loss.
• A person who faces financial hardship as a result of carer’s responsibility: 
  • A person who provides another person’s ongoing support because of a long-term medical condition, a mental illness, a disability, frailty or the need for palliative care. You may be in receipt of a Centrelink Carer Allowance or Carer Payment.
• A person who faces financial hardship as a result of sole parent’s responsibility:
  • A person of any age who is single and has at least one dependent child under 18 who is wholly or primarily in their care and who is living in Australia/ New Zealand.
• A person who faces financial hardship as a result of long-term medical conditions/disability: 
  • A person whose ability to work is being affected by the long-term and ongoing effects of one of the following: 
    • A severe and long-term (or a severe and recurrent) medical/psychiatric condition or illness.
    • A learning, sensory, physical, psychological or other disability/disorder
    • Trauma or abuse.

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