Entrepreneurs and Scaleups

Wollongong is where entrepreneurs, startups and scaleups build momentum, supported by a connected founder community, strong innovation ecosystem and affordable workspace just one hour from Sydney.

Enjoy the hustle, without the big city grind

Wollongong is a proven launchpad for ambitious founders and entrepreneurs to build globally relevant businesses. With a supportive startup ecosystem, flexible workspace that grows with you, access to skilled talent and strong connections to industry, Wollongong offers startups and scale‑ups a place to build momentum without the cost pressures and churn of a capital city.

Startup ecosystem A strong track record of startups commercialising ideas, raising capital and scaling into national and global markets

Access to smart talent Industry-ready graduates and experienced professionals across technology, engineering, advanced manufacturing and energy

Lower barriers to growth Affordable workspace, less competition for staff and faster access to partners, mentors and decision makers

iAccelerate: Wollongong's start-up incubator

Located at the UOW Innovation Campus, iAccelerate is one of Australia’s largest and longest running incubators and accelerators. They provide affordable support for start-ups and scale-ups at any level of development or sector, including tech, clean energy, AI, health and social enterprise.

Leveraging top tier university research, future workforce and world class facilities, iAccelerate provides founders with a supportive, low‑risk environment to build and grow their business. Entrepreneurs are surrounded by mentors, advisors, investors and peers who understand the challenges of early growth, creating a strong safety net as companies scale. In the last decade, they have helped support over 600 startups and scaleups and create over 1,300 jobs.

iAccelerate provides hands-on programs for founders at any level:

ACTIVATE: perfect for startups. Designed for aspiring startups, this three-month pre-accelerator program provides mentorship, resources, tools and knowledge to validate your idea and pitch to customers and investors. Learn more about Activate.
ACCELERATE & ADVANCE: Take your business to new heights with our Accelerate and Advance programs. Tailored for scaling startups, this incubation program offers expert guidance, networking opportunities, and access to investors to fuel your expansion and achieve sustainable growth.

Explore some of the startups who leveraged iAccelerate as their launchpad:

Scalapay is the #1 buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider in Southern Europe. Named a ‘unicorn’ valued at over $1.9B in 2022, Scalapay services 8 million customers across Europe and employs 220 staff globally. With their technology headquartered in Wollongong, Scalapay is a magnet for tech talent in the region and is dedicated to the ongoing growth of the sector.

Green Gravity has developed innovative technology that repurposes disused mineshafts to store renewable energy. Their Gravitational Energy Storage System (GESS) converts gravitational energy into electricity, offering a cost-effective solution for long-duration renewable energy storage. Green Gravity leverages Wollongong’s pipeline of skilled engineers, and UOW graduates to drive innovation and expansion.

Founded by Paul Fenech and Rylan Kolb during their final year of Mechatronic Engineering at UOW, V-DAQ is a rapidly growing transport technology company providing transport operators greater fleet visibility, improved productivity, and a simplified approach to managing regulatory and compliance obligations. Based entirely in Wollongong at the Innovation Campus, V-DAQ has built both its team and its proprietary technology locally. The company continues to create and support high growth career opportunities for top talent, including UOW students and alumni

Office space for all levels of growth

To support increasing demand, Wollongong has a growing number of smaller, boutique coworking spaces across the city that foster creative, collaborative and founder‑led communities.