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)
🚨 Cohort 10 applications are open. Spots are limited.
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First Believers blends two days of in-person connection and theory with 7 weeks of real, hands-on learning and investing online.
Join a two-day, in-person conference in Melbourne (27-28 Oct) or Sydney (3-4 Nov), 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.
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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.
Arguably the best part of the program is the people you will meet. At the conference and online, you’ll join a community of wildly successful individuals who are passionate about investing in the next wave of founders. Never invest alone. Early-stage investing is a team sport and First Believers is your team for life.
First Believers
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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 - making real investment decisions on real companies with real outcomes.
Build your investing team directly with your 60 cohort members, while also tapping into our 300 strong alumni network of ex-founders, operators, investors and experts.
Review 500+ startups during the cohort, then get access to 1,000+ per year as an alumnus. We make it easy to see, review and decide on the best deals and founders.
Learn from experienced VCs and angel investors, vote on hundreds of investment decisions, and meet founders throughout the cohort.
Startmate will catapult you to the centre of the ecosystem. You’ll see more deals than ever before, learn how to better invest and mentor and massively increase your impact.
First Believers are exclusively invited to help Startmate write cheques into the earliest of companies via the Spark Fund. Deal leads and referrers of successful deals earn carry in the fund (even if they’re not investors in the fund).
Throughout the program you'll meet and learn from ANZ's top investors, founders and operators who are experts in angel investing.
Do you believe that great founders and great startups are the key to building a better future? If so, First Believers is for you. Whether you’re looking to write your first cheque, have already started investing, keen to mentor startups, or a founder ready to give back and be on the flipside of the coin, you’re in the right place.
We believe startups are the single most powerful way to build a better future. If you do too, then come learn the theory of investing and put it into practice.
First Believers have front row seats in helping us select, mentor and invest in the next gen of Accelerator founders.
Get insider access to Startmate’s deal flow, as well as opportunities to connect with founders.
Startmate gives virtually unlimited opportunity to see deal flow and build pattern recognition. Best education in the space you could imagine. Even seasoned investors would benefit.
Wharf Road Investments - Director
Beyond expectations. First Believers provided an inclusive, expansive community to share and explore how to get involved in angel investing. The SM team were awesome. No BS, no egos, just great people. Would highly recommend!
Co-founder @ LVLY
I’ll be honest as a woman in my 20s, I found the idea of getting into angel investing a bit intimidating. But the Startmate team completely changed that! Amazing people, brilliant content, and such a great way to build your network while learning the foundations of investing.
Senior Change Manager @ Commonwealth Bank
I couldn't recommend the First Believers program more highly - First Believers was not just an angel investing course, it was an invitation (with open arms) into the Australian angel investing and startup eco-system.
Head of Mergers & Acquisitions - International FINEX @ WTW
The enthusiasm of Ben, Brady, and Sam was brilliant; honestly, I think the community is the best thing.
Managing Partner @ Calitii
The hands on experience is next level. Super. Super Super good. I don't think we'll get this level anywhere else. Other friends who took "angel investing" courses never had this hands on experience.
Head of Growth @ The Bakery
I found the content especially strong in areas like the selection guide, the in-depth founder meeting guide, and the breakdown of legal terms. These provided clear, practical frameworks that really helped shape the thinking when assessing startups.
Commercial Finance Manager @ SEEK Investments
Fantastic program, with a well thought out schedule to help you in navigating the start up landscape. The facilitators were amazing - super enthusiastic, approachable, humble … whilst also pushing you to get hands on and lean into the experience.
GTM APJ @ Legora
If you want to build confidence in making early-stage startup investments, better understand the investor lens, and put theory into practice alongside other ambitious investors and founders, First Believers is the place for you.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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