{"id":31082,"date":"2026-04-30T09:51:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T01:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=media-release&#038;p=31082"},"modified":"2026-04-30T09:51:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T01:51:28","slug":"curtin-program-sees-next-generation-of-aussie-startups-accelerate-ahead","status":"publish","type":"media-release","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/media-release\/curtin-program-sees-next-generation-of-aussie-startups-accelerate-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Curtin program sees next generation of Aussie startups Accelerate ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Some of Australia\u2019s most exciting new startups have received a major boost, with Curtin University\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/engage\/entrepreneurs\/accelerate\/\">Accelerate<\/a> program helping the next generation of entrepreneurs secure investment, commercial deals and rapid market traction in a matter of weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Running since 2013, Curtin Accelerate is a free program providing business owners the skills and networks needed to quickly and effectively take their innovative product or service to market, thanks to guidance from world-leading innovators and startup founders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In just 12 weeks, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/media-release\/curtin-accelerate-to-propel-wa-businesses-to-new-heights-in-2026\/\">2026 cohort<\/a> has translated ideas into real-world ventures with funding, product launches and industry partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year\u2019s successes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two startups securing investment funding during the program;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suss Beauty developing a proprietary waterless skincare formulation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.safecallup.com.au\/\">Safe Call Up<\/a> winning a pilot contract with a major Western Australian hospital for its discrete safety-monitoring app for family and domestic violence survivors;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aisembl\u2019s design-to-documentation platform for homeowners and professionals progressing from an idea to being customer-tested in-market.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Safe Call Up founder Kristy Gallagher said the program had been instrumental in helping the company reach key milestones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s clear the program is deeply invested in founder success and being surrounded by a cohort of high-calibre startups makes it an even more powerful experience,\u201d Ms Gallagher said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sunfish Robotics co-founder Nikki Staltari said Curtin Accelerate had been incredibly valuable for the company at this stage of its journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe quality of mentors and presenters, who all bring real, lived experience, is exceptional and the resources available during and after the program are unmatched,\u201d Ms Staltari said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Curtin University Director of Entrepreneurship <a href=\"https:\/\/staffportal.curtin.edu.au\/staff\/profile\/view\/danelle-cross-49e5a677\/\">Danelle Cross<\/a> said the results showed how Accelerate was a direct pipeline from innovation to commercial success, by helping founders build scalable, investment-ready businesses at speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re seeing Western Australian founders turn strong ideas into serious commercial ventures, attracting investment and gaining real traction in market,\u201d Ms Cross said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCurtin Accelerate is about giving entrepreneurs the tools, networks and confidence to grow quickly \u2014 and the outcomes this year show just how powerful that support can be and are a clear signal of investor confidence in WA entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese are the kinds of businesses that have the potential to scale, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to the State\u2019s economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several of this year\u2019s ventures progressed from early-stage concepts to viable products deployed in-market within the program\u2019s 12-week timeframe \u2014 the fastest progression recorded to date \u2014 while others generated pre-sales and early revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ms Cross said the results reinforce Curtin Accelerate\u2019s role in backing founders who are building the State\u2019s future industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is about backing people with the ambition and capability to build the next generation of WA businesses,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re not just supporting startups \u2014 we\u2019re helping founders create companies that can grow, compete globally and deliver long-term impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Curtin Accelerate is part of Curtin University\u2019s broader commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and strengthening WA\u2019s innovation ecosystem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some of Australia\u2019s most exciting new startups have received a major boost, with Curtin University\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4457,"featured_media":31083,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_category":1115,"wds_primary_research-areas":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1115,116,49],"tags":[],"research-areas":[],"class_list":["post-31082","media-release","type-media-release","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-business-and-innovation","category-business-innovation-and-law"],"acf":{"experts":false,"post_options":{"":null,"additional_content":{"title":"","content":"","image":false},"related_courses":[{"title":"","qualification":"","link":"","description":"","faculty":""}],"credits":{"author":"","photographer":"","media":[22646,24388]},"display_author":true,"banner":{"image":false}}},"featured_image":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Curtin_AccelerateDemoNight26_260429_HiRes_003-1920x500.jpg","author_meta":{"first_name":"Sam","last_name":"Jeremic","display_name":"Samuel 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