Accelerators explained: how they fuel early-stage startups

Starting a company is exhilarating, but it’s also lonely, messy and full of blind corners. An Accelerator exists to speed up that journey, giving founders a structured environment to learn faster, avoid common pitfalls and unlock opportunities that are almost impossible to access alone.

The basics of an Accelerator

At its simplest, an Accelerator is a time-bound program where early-stage startups receive funding, mentorship and access to a powerful network. The goal is to help you do in weeks what would normally take months, and in months what would normally take years. It’s about acceleration in the truest sense: compressing the messy early stages of company building so you can reach your next milestone sooner.

In practice, this support usually comes in three forms:

1) Capital

First, capital. Accelerators typically invest a set amount of money in every company in exchange for equity, giving founders both the runway to experiment and the signal that serious backers believe in them. 

In Australia and New Zealand, there are 69 active Accelerators, BUT only 4 that actually invest money.

• UNSW
• Techstars
• Antler
• Startmate (Fun Fact: Startmate is the only investing Accelerator in NZ 🥝)

2) Mentorship

Second, mentorship. Instead of relying on guesswork, founders gain access to seasoned operators and investors who’ve been there before and can point to shortcuts and red flags. Check out Startmate mentors here. 

3) Community

Third, community. The cohort of founders you join becomes a sounding board, a source of accountability and, often, lifelong allies in the startup trenches.

How Startmate does it

Every founder accepted into the program receives an upfront investment of AUD 120,000. For many, this is the first external capital they raise, and it’s designed to give breathing room to focus full-time on building the company. The investment also acts as a clear signal to future investors: you’ve been backed by one of the most selective programs in the region.

Check out our investment terms here. 

The program itself runs for 12 weeks. It kicks off with an in-person immersion where you’ll meet mentors, your fellow cohort and the Startmate team. From there, the weeks are structured to push you towards rapid customer discovery, iteration and clarity on your path forward. Along the way, you’ll tap into a mentor community of some of the most accomplished founders, operators and investors across Australia and New Zealand.

Meet some Alumni companies that have done the Accelerator and gone on to great success

Some of the most exciting startups in Australia and New Zealand first took shape inside this structure. 

Heaps Normal 

Heaps Normal used the Accelerator as a launchpad to rethink how a beer company could thrive without alcohol, now leading a cultural shift in drinking habits. ​From a scrappy 2020 launch to a certified B Corp in 10,000+ venues and with Robbie Williams on board as an investor, Heaps Normal is one of Australia’s fastest-growing beer brands! 

Propeller Aero

Propeller Aero turned its vision for drone mapping into a global business, transforming industries from construction to mining. They have since raised $22M and have offices throughout the world. 

Mindset Health

Mindset Health built one of the most impactful healthtech companies in Australia. After joining the Accelerator, they went through Y Combinator, raised $18M and have helped nearly 200,000 people tackle their mental and physical health. 

Each of these founders arrived at Startmate with energy and ambition, and the program helped them translate that into momentum and scale.

What happens at the end

At the very end of the program, you’ll pitch your startup at Demo Day. ​​This is your chance to showcase your progress throughout the program to an audience of 1000+ investors, operators, and founders. You’ll get media as well as customer, investor, and hiring leads obtained on the night. For many founders, this moment is the launchpad to a successful seed or Series A round. But Demo Day isn’t the end of the journey; it’s the start of a long-term relationship. Startmate continues to back its alumni with community, introductions and follow-on capital.

Check out the video from our last Demo Day. 

The big picture

So what does an Accelerator do? It takes the raw energy of a founder at the earliest stage and channels it into momentum. 

It gives you money to get moving, mentors to guide the way, and a community to remind you that you’re not building alone. 

At Startmate, it’s not just about speed; it’s about unlocking the trajectory that turns a scrappy idea into an enduring company.

Check out the Startmate Accelerator