Startmate Women Fellowship

Land your dream job

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. This community-driven program will be the jet fuel to your career pivot. Your 1-1 coach, squad of hand-picked peers, and curated workshops will supercharge you to land your dream job quicker than you thought was possible.

Our Fellows come from all backgrounds, experiences and walks of life. Whether you’ve worked in corporates, come from hospitality, a mother returning to the workforce or don’t quite fit the mould - we want to unleash your potential. 

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Program Dates: 8 WEEKS, OCT 14–DEC 6

Program Dates:
8 WEEKS, OCT 14–DEC 6

✏️

Applications Close: 11:59PM, SEPT 15

Applications Close:
11:59PM, SEPT 15

💸

Cost:
$3,000 (incl. GST)

Cost: $3,000 (incl. GST)

Scholarships

⭐️

Rating: $3,000 (incl. GST)

Program Dates:
8 WEEKS, OCT 14–DEC 6

W22

Raised $1.3M Pre-Seed to roll out insurance-at-checkout vision.

SM12

Raises $72 million Series B to help property managers, lenders and investors make better management decisions.

NZ20

Raises Series A to take its electric boat motors global.

SYD17

Raised $170M Series B to accelerate the manufacture and distribution of its energy efficient, long-range WiFi chips.

S21

Raised $24M Series A to end the world's reliance on petroleum-based plastic packaging.

SM12

Raised $25M Series B to provide comprehensive cyber security risk assessments.

MEL19

Raised $1.28M Seed to make the fashion industry more sustainable with their unique circular wardrobe.

SM13

Raises $30M in Series D to expand its bug bounty platform.

S21

Raises $8M Seed to replace plastics with seaweed.

MEL18

Raises $17.8M Series A helps people with chronic conditions learn to manage their health.

8/10 program rating
from 1000+ alumni reviews.

8/10 program rating

Melanie Booth

Community Organiser @ Nature Conservation Council NSW

Melanie Booth

Community Organiser @ Nature Conservation Council NSW

"I gained such a well-rounded, realistic insight into the Startup eco-system and what it’s like to run or work in a startup. If you’re at all curious, I couldn’t recommend this program enough."

Shelley Blankfield

Senior Manager Corporate Strategy @ Transurban

Shelley Blankfield

Senior Manager Corporate Strategy @ Transurban

"Amazing opportunity to meet new people and to learn and grow out of my comfort zone!"

Nicole Tesler

Broker Assistant @ MGA Insurance Group

Nicole Tesler

Broker Assistant @ MGA Insurance Group

"I had such an incredible experience doing the women fellowship. It was such a supportive, caring, enthusiastic community that I feel very lucky to be part of. "

Samantha Wilson

Head of Strategy @ Woolworths Group

Samantha Wilson

Head of Strategy @ Woolworths Group

"I read my list of reasons why “I am remarkable” before interviews and it definitely reminds me how far I’ve come and how much I have to offer. Thanks Startmate for helping me get my mojo back!"

Isabella Roulstone

Lawyer @ Slaughter & May

Isabella Roulstone

Lawyer @ Slaughter & May

"Not only did the fellowship equip me with skills and confidence to pivot my career into the startup ecosystem, it also introduced me to an incredible cohort of incredible,  ambitious women. The startup ecosystem attracts some brilliant people, many of whom I have been lucky to meet."

Lara Antoniolli

Lead Cloud Infrastructure Engineer @ Ericsson

Lara Antoniolli

Lead Cloud Infrastructure Engineer @ Ericsson

"I came into the Fellowship quite lost and not sure what I wanted to do. I left the Fellowship with a great new network of amazing women and with a much clearer picture of what I wanted to do with my life in the startup ecosystem. It really helped my clarify what I wanted, what was important to me and build my confidence.
"

Leah Lucas

Program Manager @ CSIRO

Leah Lucas

Program Manager @ CSIRO

"The Startmate Women Fellowship was a rocket ship to developing my next career pivot. Great network, generous mentors and a kickass community of amazing women!"

Keenzia Wilde-Budd

Community Support Specialist @ Hireup

Keenzia Wilde-Budd

Community Support Specialist @ Hireup

"The Women’s Fellowship over delivered!  You can become a freaking genius about entering into the startup ecosystem but only if you DO THE WORK in the fellowship.  And oh how it is worth it.  The rewards are priceless.  Make the Women’s Fellowship apart of your daily habits for 8 weeks and you will be amazed.  No joke."

Victoria Tran

Client Associate @ Carat Australia

Victoria Tran

Client Associate @ Carat Australia

"I've met so many amazing, ambitious and inspiring women in this program. Would highly recommend."

Bailey Thomas

Relationships Manager @ One Girl

Bailey Thomas

Relationships Manager @ One Girl

"This fellowship was eye opening to the opportunities around us where we can make an impact. In particular it has motivated me to join the power-force Climate Tech community who are creating positive solutions to the climate problem!"

Meet some of the
incredible fellows from past cohorts

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Applications close 11:59PM, SEPT 15 for the next Women Fellowship cohort

Register interest for the next Women Fellowship cohort

Apply nowRegister interest

Meet our Launch Clubbers
who went onto the Accelerator

What is the
Women Fellowship?

The Women Fellowship is an 8-week program designed to demystify startups and empower women to pursue a career they love.

With the help of your 1-1 coach, squad of hand-picked peers, and actionable workshops you'll be job-ready.

Startmate’s powerful network will put you in front of startups that are hiring and give you direct introductions to your dream companies.

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Land your dream job in a startup

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Gain a technical understanding of startups; stage, investment, salary and how to negotiate like a boss

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Leave with confidence in yourself and your career trajectory

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Join ANZ's largest startup community

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Make lifelong friends who raise your ambition

67%

of women land a job in the next six months through the women fellowship

Proudly supported by

NZGCP is a New Zealand Crown entity that provides investment support for Kiwis building world-class technology companies. They also back programmes like Women Fellowship to help encourage capability-building for both founders and investors.

Tattarang is the private investment group owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest. Tattarang invests across a wide variety of sectors and asset classes, including in real assets, public and private markets. They are a values-based team that believes in using capital as a force for good with an investment focus on generational businesses that create value.

LaunchVic is Victoria’s startup agency, building the capability and confidence of Victorians so they have the skills to start, grow, invest in, or work for globally impactful tech startups. They have been a proud supporter of the Startmate Women Fellowship since 2020, and their funding has seen close to 120 Victorian women participate in the program.

Are you a wildly ambitious founder and pre Series A fundraise?
The Accelerator is for you.

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We're industry agnostic.

We've invested in companies spanning an insanely diverse range of industries. From ed-tech, health-tech, prop-tech and climate-tech to space-tech, fin-tech and legal-tech.

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You're never too early.

67% of Accelerator companies had no revenue when they appliedand every cohort has had at least one company that is idea-stage and pre-MVP.

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We strive for equal representation.

Diversity builds smarter solutions. Since 2021, 40% of our companies have 1 or more women co-founders.

Ready to land your dream job and thrive in a startup?
Women Fellowship is for you.

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Bored in your current job and looking for a new challenge?

If you’re curious about working in a startup within the next 6 months, this is the program for you.

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Highly driven but not moving in a direction that feels right for you

We’re looking for hungry and daring women who want to solve tough problems.

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Seeking inspiration, confidence and mentorship in your career?

This program is for those with an inner-belief that they were made for greatness.

Program Syllabus

Week 0
Set up for success

In Part 1 of the program, we’ll provide you with the guidance, knowledge and tools to identify and land your dream startup job. Think of this as your startup bootcamp, immersing you in the world of startups.

You’ll leave this week with some exciting new connections and the basics in place to hit the ground running.

This week is all about setting you up for success. Take this time to tick through your onboarding checklist and begin connecting with other Fellows & members of the community.

Week 1
Welcome to the Fellowship & Startups 101

You’ll leave this week ready to make the most out of the Fellowship and the Startmate community, along with an understanding of the startup and investment landscape in ANZ.

We’ll kick off the program by walking through some essentials to help you thrive in the program. We’ll also help you understand how to grow and leverage your network the right way, and help you navigate the startup ecosystem. During this week, we’ll also be running a Speed Coaching event so you can meet all the amazing startup founders, operators, and leaders who will be coaching you during the program. This week will primarily be run in-person in major cities across ANZ, with the option of joining remotely.

Week 2
Refine your values and tackle imposter syndrome

You’ll leave this week with inspiration and greater clarity around taking your next steps. In the Women Fellowship, we challenge you to ask for more from your personal and professional lives. We’ll kick off Week 2 by unpacking what’s really important to you, and how a career in startups might align with your individual values and objectives. We recognise that networking and self-promoting is often easier said than done, so this week is all about building confidence and tackling imposter syndrome to help you feel comfortable building your social capital and going after the career you deserve.

Week 3
Find your fit and land your dream job

You’ll leave this week with an understanding of where your skills and values could fit into the startup ecosystem and the tools you need to land that dream job - from finding the right opportunity, to connecting with the right people, to nailing applications and interviews. In Week 3 you'll be paired with your coach (think founders, COOs, VCs, and more across ANZ's leading startups) and coaching buddy based on your interests - they'll be there to guide you through the rest of the program, meeting with you fortnightly. They'll help you unlock your goals and introduce you to the right people.

Break week
Before diving into Part 2, there will be a break week for you to catch your breath… And to prepare for the next four weeks!
Weeks 4-7:
Land the Dream Job

In Part 2, you’re in the driver’s seat. Equipped with all the learnings from the bootcamp, time to put your learnings from part 1 into action: putting yourself out there, building your network, applying for jobs, and ultimately landing your dream job. There will be weekly content and community sessions in Part 2, but fewer than in Part 1.

Each week, we’ll host All Hands sessions with bitesize learnings, community building and collaboration, and time to put into action your learnings from part 1. Alongside this, we’ll be putting you directly in front of startups that are hiring - through site visits and speed interview nights. 

Week 8
Beyond the Fellowship

Along with our weekly All Hands where we’ll set you up for the next chapter, we’ll wrap up the Fellowship with a bittersweet wrap-up session, which will walk you through the next steps (including how to stay involved in this Community For Life!).

Apply for the upcoming
Startmate Women Fellowship

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. This community-driven program will be the jet fuel to your career pivot. Your 1-1 coach, squad of hand-picked peers, and curated workshops will supercharge you to land your dream job quicker than you thought was possible. Our Fellows come from all backgrounds, experiences and walks of life. Whether you’ve worked in corporates, come from hospitality, a mother returning to the workforce or don’t quite fit the mould - we want to unleash your potential. 

📆

Program Dates:
8 WEEKS, OCT 14–DEC 6

Program Dates: 8 WEEKS, OCT 14–DEC 6

✏️

Applications Close:
11:59PM, SEPT 15

Applications Close: 11:59PM, SEPT 15

💸

Cost: $3,000 (incl. GST)

Cost: $3,000 (incl. GST)

Scholarships
What you’ll get out of the Accelerator 
  1. Investment: We invest AUD 120k in each company so that all your energy is focused on building your startup.
  2. Founder friends: You’ll be surrounded by a cohort of equally ambitious founders on the same journey.
  3. Pitch perfect: We’ll tear your pitch deck to shreds and by the end of the Accelerator you’ll have a bulletproof deck ready for investors.
  4. Launch your startup to the world: Pitch your startup to an audience of thousands at Demo Day.
  5. A product people want: You’ll spend 12 weeks laser-focused on your customer, how you can improve your product and the results to drive meaningful growth
  6. Mentorship: You’ll be partnered with ANZ’s most successful founders, operators and investors who have skin in the game and will run through brick walls to see you succeed 
  7. SME: We’ll connect you with subject matter experts who can provide tailored industry advice on how to approach your business
  8. Community: You’ll gain access to ANZ’s largest startup community of founders, operators and investors who are ready to support you on your journey.  
  9. World-class talent pool: Within our 2000+ startmate fellowship alumni are the hires you need to take your startup to the next level at your fingertips: pre-vetted, upskilled, and hungry to join a high-growth startup. 
  10. The best platform in ANZ to raise capital: Having the Startmate brand behind you will be a stamp of approval to every potential investor or employee you meet.

Frequently asked questions

I don’t know if the program is right for me

The best way to gauge if the program is right for you is to check out the Program Overview outlined above and have a look at what will be covered. If you believe that content might be beneficial to you, I would absolutely encourage you to apply.

It’s also worth noting that the session content is only one part of the program. The other main component of the Fellowship is the community.

You will be joining a cohort of other ambitious and inspiring women who are here to support you on your journey.

You will also be joining the ‘Startmate Community’, which is a powerful network of some of the best startup operators, founders, and investors in Australia and New Zealand.

If you think you would benefit from being a part of this community, I would also encourage you to apply.

Is the program virtual or in-person?

The program is mostly virtual. All of the content is delivered in a virtual format (and will be recorded if you can’t attend live). However, we will also be hosting a few in-person events in the major capital cities as we find this helps facilitate stronger connections.

Scholarships and discounts

Startmate offers a range of discounts and scholarships.

Our discounts include, but are not limited to:

  • 10% past Startmate fellows, mentors, coaches, and first believers
  • 50% founders of Startmate-funded companies (i.e. Accelerator or Small Bets Fund)
  • 10% employees of Startmate-funded companies
  • 20% if signing up as team of 3 or more from the same company

For more information about scholarships, click here.

What is the time commitment?

On average, 2-5 hours per week. Sessions will primarily take place on Mondays (evening), Tuesdays (lunchtime), and Thursdays (evening). Sessions are recorded in case you can’t attend any sessions! There will also be some optional in-person activity throughout the program.

Join a community that will help you go from idea to IPO

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Hiring

We have over 3000+ of ANZ’s most talented operators in our community. Our incredible Startmate fellows are hungry to join a high-growth startup and ready to support you on your journey.

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Investors

We have built an army of over 250 early stage investors who are inspired by your commitment to changing the world. They are here, ready to be your First Believers, and invest.

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Funding

We invest in you from day one and continue to believe in you forever after. This is a unique fund in ANZ that automatically invests all Startmate pro-rata for our alumni, which means you can go into your fundraising conversations already knowing you have the Startmate pro-rata committed

Essential Reading

Apply for the upcoming
Startmate Accelerator

If you’re ready to move faster than you ever thought possible, build a better product with more users, and get the best platform in ANZ to raise capital, apply for the Startmate Accelerator. 

📆

Program Dates: JAN 20–APRIL 18 2025 (12 WEEKS)

✏️

Applications Close: 11:59PM NOV 3

What you’ll get out of the Accelerator 
  1. Investment: We invest AUD 120k in each company so that all your energy is focused on building your startup.
  2. Founder friends: You’ll be surrounded by a cohort of equally ambitious founders on the same journey.
  3. Pitch perfect: We’ll tear your pitch deck to shreds and by the end of the Accelerator you’ll have a bulletproof deck ready for investors.
  4. Launch your startup to the world: Pitch your startup to an audience of thousands at Demo Day.
  5. A product people want: You’ll spend 12 weeks laser-focused on your customer, how you can improve your product and the results to drive meaningful growth
  6. Mentorship: You’ll be partnered with ANZ’s most successful founders, operators and investors who have skin in the game and will run through brick walls to see you succeed 
  7. SME: We’ll connect you with subject matter experts who can provide tailored industry advice on how to approach your business
  8. Community: You’ll gain access to ANZ’s largest startup community of founders, operators and investors who are ready to support you on your journey.  
  9. World-class talent pool: Within our 2000+ startmate fellowship alumni are the hires you need to take your startup to the next level at your fingertips: pre-vetted, upskilled, and hungry to join a high-growth startup. 
  10. The best platform in ANZ to raise capital: Having the Startmate brand behind you will be a stamp of approval to every potential investor or employee you meet.