Launch Club

Validate your idea, gain early traction and learn to pitch your startup

PROGRAM DATE:

SEPTEMBER 8–OCTOBER 31

Applications close:

July 28, 2025

Validate a problem

You’ll focus on listening and learning from customers to validate whether the problem you’re solving is something a customer would pay for.

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Build a solution = MVP (Minimal Viable Product)

You’ll use your customer insight to build a product that your customers really, really want and you’ll test this with users.

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Get ready for growth

You’ll fast-track your learning in key areas like product-market-fit, pitching, and fundraising to move faster than you thought was possible.

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23%

of Accelerator companies have come through Launch Club.

Who is Launch Club for?

You've found a problem you want to solve.

If you've got a startup idea and are wildly ambitious to launch it. Launch Club will help you validate whether it is a real customer problem, develop a solution and get it into customers’ hands at lightning speed.

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You've built an MVP and want to improve it.

If you've been working away at your startup and want the mentorship, accountability and guidance to accelerate your growth, you've come to the right place.

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‍You're seeking technical understanding of what it takes to grow a company.‍

You'll be flooded with highly practical content and workshops that will demystify the founder journey and set you up for success.

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Hear from our alumni

I loved the community aspect and how willing everyone was to help and give advice!

Aishwarya Hirve

Autumn 25 Cohort

Launch Club is the place to be if were wanting to get a taste of what real start-up world feels like. Startmate does a good job picking your brains!

Andres Lombana

Autumn 25 Cohort

It was so great! I loved meeting other founders and connecting with other people within the startup space. The content sessions were incredible and ordered extremely well - It allowed us all to develop our startup ideas in a logical way!

Carly Shaw

Autumn 25 Cohort

My favourite part by far was meeting the other Founders, Startmate team and mentors. Hugely energising and educational.

Dan Borthwick

Autumn 25 Cohort

Launch Club gave me the clarity, confidence, and community I needed to take real steps forward with my startup. I’ve most enjoyed the founder community and sense of momentum. Being surrounded by ambitious people helped me stay motivated.

Elmira Alimohammadi

Autumn 25 Cohort

It was so great to meet other entrepreneurs in the cohort. And I really valued the ideation and validation of our problem and solution space in the first few weeks.

Lisa Deng

Autumn 25 Cohort

Launch Club prepares you with the knowledge and environment to validate and launch your dream business. A fantastic experience for those looking to jump into the deep end with their idea. Louisa is an extremely helpful and engaging cohort leader!

Evan Rosin

Autumn 25 Cohort

Launch Club gave me the clarity and confidence to turn my idea into a real business. The accountability, feedback, and founder community made all the difference.

Kuldeepak Sharma

Autumn 25 Cohort

The connection and community - it’s amazing how much connection can be created in just 6 weeks with a virtual cohort!

Olivia Matis

Autumn 25 Cohort

I loved it! Especially, the mentors and the honest conversations. The advice they gave was incredibly helpful.

Shevy Eisman

Autumn 25 Cohort

Was great to be surrounded by like-minded people all on a very similar journey.

Ollie Penn

Autumn 25 Cohort

I love how I started with an idea that felt too complicated to even know where to begin, but it’s now a real thing with a landing page, social media, and an MVP all built within a couple of months.

Derek Orbaugh

Autumn 25 Cohort

The community of founders was incredible. Everyone genuinely wanted to see each other win, and it created a culture of support, accountability, and high standards. I also loved how structured and momentum-driven the program was.

Danielle Marple

Autumn 25 Cohort

I loved the accountability of Launch Club. Seeing other founders building was highly motivating.

Asaph Hoi

Autumn 25 Cohort

What do you get?

Launch Club is a springboard to bring your idea to life. From Day 1, you'll be driven by customer obsession, surrounded by mentors and have access to resources every founder dreams of. It gives you the momentum, connections, and guidance you need to turn a problem into a business solution with serious potential - and fast.

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Founder peers on the journey with you

The most powerful thing that will happen to you at Startmate is that you’ll work alongside ambitious founders who can help solve the challenges you’re facing. You’ll get a squad of 6 founders that will become some of the most important people in your journey. Those in major cities will be able to access regular in-person events and coworking days.

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Mentors to unblock you

You’ll be able to access the right type of mentors at the right time to unblock you. Each squad will have a dedicated mentor. There will be office hours with a wide range of mentors you can book with weekly. You’ll be put in front of early-stage investors for practical feedback on your startup and guidance for your pitches.

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Take your startup from zero to one at speed

In 9 weeks, you’ll fast-track launching your startup by gaining the practical skills and ruthlessly focusing on putting them into practice. Launch Club curates world-class speakers to lead masterclasses to upskill you with what you need to launch a successful startup - from how to nail a customer interview to landing your first customers to building your MVP. The program concludes with a pitch night where there is a chance to gain a $25K investment in your startup.

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Stand on the shoulders of the best startup community in ANZ

Startmate has curated a community of 4000+ of ANZ’s best founders, operators and investors. You’ll plug into the very centre of this universe. Your unfair advantage is that you can ask for warm introductions to potential customers, cofounders, VCs and angel investors.

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Past speakers

Sean Grealy

Sales Expert & Founder @ Sell Anything

Jarrod Webb

Founder & CEO @ Blinq

Zac Hardman

Senior IT & Project Analyst @ Blackbird

Hamish McKay

Co-Founder & CEO @ OrderEditing.com

Oliver Berger

Product & Strategy Advisor

Jason Ming

Investor & Co-Founder @ Trampoline

Ajay Prakash

Growth @ Superpower

Angela Catalan

Product Marketing Expert & Founder @ AltMonday

Are you ready to move fast? Launch Club is for you.

Whether you’re still pre-launch or already have a product in market, the program is built to push you toward real traction - faster.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE:

28/7/25

PROGRAM DATE:

8 WEEKS

SEPTEMBER 8–OCTOBER 31

Cost:

1100

(INCL. GST)

SCHOLARSHIPS

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Frequently asked questions

Who is this for?

The program is designed for aspiring or early-stage founders who have identified a problem they want to solve, but have yet to start a company.

What is the time commitment?

Launch Club runs for 8 weeks, designed to spark real momentum without derailing your day job or studies.

Live sessions run on Mondays, Tuesdays, and occasionally Wednesdays
Can’t make one? All sessions are recorded
Expect 5–7 hours/week of core content sessions
Beyond that, what you put in is what you get out. Founders often spend extra time talking to users, building, and testing ideas

This isn’t passive learning, it’s hands-on, high-energy, and built to push you forward.

What is the cost of the program?

Launch Club costs $1,100 (incl. GST).

This isn’t just a fee, it’s your skin in the game. Everyone in the cohort has made the same commitment, which means you’ll be surrounded by founders who are serious about showing up, building momentum, and backing themselves.

PS: If cost is a barrier, talk to us. We don’t want money to be the reason you don’t start.

What is the application/selection process?

Here’s how it works:

Stage 1: Online Application

You’ll answer 3 short written questions (max 250 words each) and submit a personal elevator pitch — either as a 1-minute video or written answer.

We’re looking for ambition, insight, and momentum. We don’t care if you have an MVP — we care if you’re ready to start.

Short Answer Questions:

Why are you hungry to be a founder — in general, and right now?
What’s one thing you believe that not many others do?
Tell us about something you’ve done that you’re proud of.

Elevator Pitch (Video or Written, Max 1 Minute or 250 words):‍

You’re stuck in an elevator with Michael Batko (Startmate CEO). You have 60 seconds. What do you tell him about yourself? Go.

Stage 2: Speed Interview

If your application stands out, you’ll be invited to a 15-minute call with the Startmate team. It’s fast, fun, and focused on your goals and why Launch Club is right for you.

Stage 3: Outcome

We’ll let you know if you’re in. If selected, you’ll join a powerful community of early-stage founders ready to go from idea to launch in just 8 weeks.

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Do I need to be full time on my startup or for the program?

No, you do not need to be full time on your startup.

However, based on previous cohorts, we do recommend that you are in a position to want to start something now and commit the time to validating your idea. You will get much more out of the program.

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Catapulting into founderhood: My Launch Club journey

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August 15, 2025

Reflecting on my 11-week rollercoaster through Startmate's inaugural Launch Club fellowship, I can't help but marvel at how pivotal the experience has been. Shaking off the cocoon of my solo venture, I found a vibrant community that championed honesty, vulnerability, and camaraderie. Startmate, “the Y Combinator of Australia” as I affectionately dub them, has crafted an experience that makes the daunting task of starting and founding a startup feel accessible, inspiring, and exciting.

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Startmate Launch Club is the ultimate catalyst for early-stage startups, offering unparalleled opportunities to kickstart and propel your venture forward. It demystifies the startup journey and makes it accessible to aspiring entrepreneurs. Ultimately, the indispensable insights from each of the sessions and speakers provide you with business knowledge that is adaptable and beneficial for any career path.

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From big idea to big impact: How Olivia took Empathix from Launch Club idea to a Startmate Accelerator company

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Ever had an idea that you were irrationally obsessed with? A brainchild so brilliant, it held the key to solving a big, hairy audacious problem, yet left you wondering: how do I start? Olivia Dyet found herself here. Then she decided to apply to Startmate’s Launch Club program. In a whirlwind of weeks, she validated and breathed life into their idea for Empathix, an AI-powered recruitment platform, and secured a highly coveted spot in Startmate’s upcoming Accelerator cohort. Here’s here extraordinary journey.

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Hitesh Mehta has a vision to create a better and more equitable healthcare system, and offers valuable insight into the value of persistence when it comes to chasing your dreams.

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"I wasn’t expecting anything; I was sure we had a horrible application."

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