Startup & Innovation Hubs for Climate Impact
Explore Australia’s climate-focused startup and innovation ecosystem. This directory highlights key accelerators, incubators, and networks that are driving tech innovation toward a net-zero future.
Energy Lab
Energy Lab is Australia's largest climate tech startup accelerator and innovation ecosystem dedicated to reaching net-zero emissions. Founded in 2017, they support high-impact founders deploying low-carbon solutions by connecting them with mentors, advisors, partners, peers, and investors.
Focus Areas and Supported Projects
EnergyLab runs a suite of specialised programs designed to equip clean energy and climate tech founders with the support, expertise, and networks they need to reach their next growth milestone.
Key programs include:
• Women in Climate and Energy Fellowship;
• Climate Tech Ignite Program;
• Climate Tech Lab to Market Program;
• Climate Tech Charge Program;
• Climate Solutions Accelerator;
• Energy Scaleup Program;
• Going International Bootcamp;
• Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge #2: Retrofit Nation;
• Supercharge Australia Incubator;
• Investment Ready Program (Queensland).
Contact Information
Location
Chippendale, NSW
Melbourne Climate Network
The Melbourne Climate Network is an industry-led cluster leading economic growth in the climate sector. Founded in 2023, the Melbourne Climate Network empowers individuals to connect, innovate, and invest, driving the growth of green jobs and advancing the evolution of the climate sector. Leveraging Melbourne's status as a global centre for climate innovation, they catalyse transformative change through their commitment to a zero-carbon economy.
Focus Areas and Supported Projects
By bringing together the expertise of diverse stakeholders, academics, researchers and industry leaders, to inform decision-making and facilitate partnerships for Melbourne to be the globally competitive centre for climate innovation creating commercial opportunity and delivering outcomes for our city.
Contact Information
Location
Melbourne, VIC
Stone & Chalk
Stone & Chalk is Australia's largest innovation community with four tech hubs across Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Founded in 2015, Stone & Chalk’s mission is to transform Australia into a sustainable technology driven economy. They foster a community of founders, mentors, experts, corporates, partners, collaborators, and more. working together to help entrepreneurs and businesses build, grow, and commercialise ideas—providing everything they need to adapt and thrive.
Focus Areas and Supported Projects
- Workspace (hot desks, dedicated desks, offices);
- Mentoring and advisory;
- Investor connections and pitch opportunities;
- Stone & Chalk’s scholarships;
- Supporting the cyber security community;
- Venue hire.
Contact Information
Location
–Adelaide Startup Hub
– Melbourne Startup Hub
– Sydney Startup Hub
– Sydney Tech Central
RMIT Activator
Activator is RMIT's home of entrepreneurship, founded in 2016. They build entrepreneurial capabilities by fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among staff, students, and alumni, and by supporting venture creation and growth. Through face-to-face workshops, online learning and accelerator program, they help community prepare for the future of life and work.
Focus Areas and Supported Projects
- Awarded over $3.1 million in pre-seed funding to startups through Activator Capital Fund and Jacques Nasser Fund for Innovation.
- Launched over 170 startups into market through their programs. With 49% founded/co-founded by females.
- Partnered with over 19 industry and government organisations on projects focused on building more sustainable communities across APAC.
Contact Information
Location
Melbourne, VIC
Startup Bootcamp Australia
Startupbootcamp was one of the first European acceleration platforms, founded in 2010, and now operates across 4 continents with over 80 startup accelerators. At Startupbootcamp, they supercharge startup growth – providing capital, world-class mentorship, and direct access to investors, corporate partners, and industry experts.
Focus Areas and Supported Projects
Since 2010, Startupbootcamp has run over 150 accelerators across more than 20 countries. Ongoing Startupbootcamp accelerator programs include the Health & Life Sciences Program, the DeepTech & Robotics II Program, and the Energy & Climate Program.
Contact Information
Location
Amsterdam, North Holland
LaunchVic
LaunchVic is Victoria’s startup agency, established by the Victorian Government in 2016. It builds the capability and confidence of Victorians, so they have the skills to start, grow, invest in, or work for globally impactful tech startups.
Focus Areas and Supported Projects
LaunchVic fund a variety of programs and networks to support development across the ecosystem, including:
- Pre-accelerator programs: provide aspiring entrepreneurs with networks, support and mentorship to test out their startup ideas.
- Accelerator programs: help early-stage startups find product market-fit and secure seed funding.
- Angel Networks: allow sophisticated investors to form syndicates and invest in startups.
- VC Funds: allow scaling startups to access investment.
Contact Information
Location
Melbourne, VIC
The Startup Network
The Startup Network, founded in 2014, is Australia’s largest startup community, with over 70,000 members nationwide. It is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation funded by its members, allowing it to remain independent and founder-focused. The organisation supports entrepreneurs at every stage — from aspiring founders to scaleup leaders — through world-class programs, events, and resources.
Focus Areas and Supported Projects
Pitch Events: Regular live pitch nights that give founders the opportunity to present their startups and gain support from the community.
Founder Connect: Social networking sessions designed to help startup founders meet, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.
Virtual Events: Online webinars covering a wide range of topics to help founders strengthen their skillsets and industry knowledge.
Workshops: In-person workshops and seminars that provide founders with practical tools and strategies to grow their businesses.
Programs: Structured programs and training sessions of varying lengths that support startup development across different stages.
Contact Information
Location
Melbourne, VIC
Climate Salad
Founded in 2021, Climate Salad is a community of Australian climate tech entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, mentors, corporates, and government organizations dedicated to boosting climate tech companies through tools, content, and community support. It helps these companies grow by finding talent, building products, acquiring customers, and meeting investors.
Focus Areas and Supported Projects
• Insights is Climate Salad's new data platform with live data on the state and growth of the Australian Climate Tech Industry.
• Hosted the Australian Climate Tech Connect & Awards in 2022,2023 and 2024. The event facilitated hundreds (dare we say, thousands! ) of meaningful conversations between climate tech founders and investors, sparking potential partnerships and collaborations.
• Global Growth Program: A 9-month program. Tailored 1:1 advisory service to craft and refine your global expansion business plans. Monthly cohort calls connecting you with peers and experts around the key program components. 2-3 high-value in-person events to connect with peers, investors and partners.
• International Trade Missions: Climate Salad's International Trade Missions provide access to top climate tech conferences, customer introductions and mentorship for ventures to succeed on a global scale.
Contact Information
Location
Sydney, NSW