Startmate
Startmate is a prominent startup accelerator and community hub based in Australia and New Zealand. It focuses on accelerating the growth of ambitious founders, operators, and investors through various programs. Over the past decade, Startmate has invested in over 250 startups, with a collective portfolio value exceeding $3.5 billion. The organization offers an accelerator program for founders, fellowships for individuals seeking to work with startups, and the "First Believers" program for aspiring investors. Startmate is supported by a network of mentors, angels, venture funds, and tech startups, aiming to foster startup ambition in the region.
- Sector
- Startup accelerator
- Business model
- Venture fund / accelerator
- Founded
- 2010
- Founders
- Niki Scevak
- Headquarters
- Sydney
- Offices
- Sydney
- Markets
- Australia, New Zealand
Sources: startmate.com.au, startmate.com, blackbird.vc
The team on Day One
Hear from the team
Milestones
- 2010 Startmate founded as an ANZ startup accelerator startmate.com
- Mar 2025 Shared A$4.1m with 5 Victorian accelerators startupdaily.net
What others say about Startmate
Moments from other conversations on the network where Startmate comes up.
you've got Startmate's new continuity fund as well, which is a similar idea to this. It's not, I don't think it's an open fund like this one is, but the mentality of we want to back our high-performing assets, no questions asked”
I remember Mick coming into the office at Colonizer and saying, hey, we've just started this thing, Startmate. You guys better come down and let's just talk to them about everything we know.”
Startmate hadn't been running for a couple of years and they were able to persuade people that there was good deal flow there, that they had curated their own source of great deal flow”
Alan JonesCo-Founder & Managing Partner, M8 Ventures The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series · Alan Jones: Can we talk about smartphones? · 47:32 ▶ One thing we started to say at Startmate, you know, culture eats strategy for breakfast, right?”
Alfred LoChief Commercial & Product Officer, Harvest B The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series · Alfred Lo compares startup ecosystems in… · 33:27 ▶ Portfolio on Day One
Companies Startmate has backed whose teams have been on the network.
Alumni on Day One
People who worked at Startmate before, and what they're doing now.
James Tynan Was: CEO, 2020 Now: Square Peg 
Kirstin Hunter Was: Director & Accelerator Mentor Now: Birchal 
Kylie Frazer Was: Mentor Now: Flying Fox Ventures 
Lauren Capelin Was: Principal Now: Amazon Web Services (AWS) 
Michael Batko Was: CEO (joined as Head of Operations), 2018–2025 Now: Hourglass AI 
Mick Liubinskas Was: Co-founding investor & mentor Now: Climate Salad 
Niki Scevak Was: Co-founder, 2010 Now: Blackbird Ventures 
Rachael Neumann Was: Partner Now: Flying Fox Ventures More operator companies on Day One
Spot something wrong? Suggest a correction Updated 25 September 2026