StartupAUS

StartupAUS
Name	StartupAUS
Formation	2013
Type	Non-profit advocacy group
Headquarters	Sydney, Australia
Region served	Australia
Key people	Bill Bartee, Alan Noble, Michael Schwab

StartupAUS

StartupAUS was an Australian advocacy organization active in the 2010s that promoted technology entrepreneurship, early-stage investment, and startup policy reform across Australia. It engaged with figures and institutions from the Australian Capital Territory to state capitals, liaised with lawmakers and regulators, and collaborated with accelerators, incubators, venture capital firms, and university research centres. The organisation operated amid debates involving industry groups, parliamentary committees, and international startup hubs.

History

StartupAUS formed in 2013 following meetings among entrepreneurs, investors, and policy advocates in Sydney and Melbourne. Founders and advisors included technology entrepreneurs who had collaborated with entities such as the National Broadband Network discussions, interacted with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and engaged with state innovation strategies in New South Wales and Victoria. During its existence StartupAUS published reports and submissions to parliamentary inquiries, provided testimony before committees, and worked alongside universities like the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, and Australian National University. It intersected with networks and events associated with groups such as Stone & Chalk, Fishburners, and the Australian Information Industry Association while leadership engaged with international interlocutors from Silicon Valley, London, Tel Aviv, and Singapore.

Mission and Activities

StartupAUS stated a mission to accelerate startup formation, scale-ups, and capital flows by influencing public policy, building community infrastructure, and amplifying entrepreneurial success stories. Activities included producing research and white papers, convening roundtables with representatives from venture capital firms, angel networks like Sydney Angels, and superannuation fund advisers, and publishing data on startup exits and investment trends. The group collaborated with accelerators including Startmate and Y Combinator alumni, connected founders to corporate partners such as Atlassian and Canva, and highlighted comparisons with ecosystems in the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, and New Zealand.

Policy Advocacy and Government Relations

StartupAUS engaged in sustained advocacy with federal ministers, shadow ministers, and parliamentary committees to influence policy levers such as tax incentives, innovation visas, and investment structures. The organisation made submissions to reviews involving the Australian Taxation Office, Treasury, and the Productivity Commission, and participated in consultations regarding the Research and Development Tax Incentive and the Australian Innovation Investment Fund frameworks. It sought reforms akin to policy shifts seen in the United States with the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, in the United Kingdom with Enterprise Investment Scheme changes, and in Israel’s startup-support measures. StartupAUS liaised with state governments in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory on regional startup strategies and incubator funding.

Programs and Events

StartupAUS organised events that brought together founders, investors, corporate innovators, and public servants. Programming included pitch nights, policy forums, investor summits, and research briefings held in collaboration with coworking hubs and incubators such as Tank Stream Labs and Cicada Innovations. The organisation partnered with conference organisers and international delegations similar to those attending Collision, Web Summit, SXSW, and Slush, and facilitated delegations to counterpart ecosystems including Silicon Valley accelerators, London Tech Week delegations, and Israel Innovation Authority delegations. StartupAUS also ran mentorship initiatives drawing on experienced operators, serial founders, and angel investors from networks like AngelList and the Global Entrepreneurship Network.

Funding and Partnerships

StartupAUS secured funding through sponsorships, philanthropic support, and corporate partnerships with technology firms, law firms, and professional services networks. Partners included venture capital firms, accelerator programmes, and corporate innovation divisions from companies comparable to Telstra, Commonwealth Bank, and global firms that run corporate venture capital arms. Philanthropic and foundation partners, university research centres, and chambers of commerce also provided project funding and in-kind support. The organisation worked alongside peak bodies such as the Business Council of Australia and industry associations while collaborating with overseas trade offices and diplomatic missions to promote startup exports and inbound investment.

Impact and Criticism

StartupAUS contributed to raising the profile of Australian startups, influencing policy debates on startup visas, tax incentives, and early-stage capital formation, and helping spotlight successful exits and unicorns. Supporters credited it with convening stakeholders, producing influential policy papers, and improving access to networks for founders outside major capitals. Critics argued its advocacy sometimes reflected the priorities of well-funded investors and urban ecosystems rather than regional founders, small businesses, or manufacturing entrepreneurs, and questioned its representativeness compared with industry peak bodies and labour organisations. Debates mirrored tensions seen in other ecosystems involving regulatory reform, concentration of capital in venture hubs, and the balance between public subsidy and private investment.

Category:Australian startup ecosystem