Startmate’s new Founders Fellowship programme aims to find and support the next generation of founders to enter Australia and New Zealand’s start-up ecosystem.

Commencing in July 2021, the 20-week long programme provides budding founders with the knowledge, guidance, and networks they need to launch a successful company. It is targeting those who want to found a company, rather than work for one.

“We’re really looking for those ambitious people who have an idea that keeps them awake at night but needs someone to share the ride with, guide them through and expose them to the ingredients needed to turn the idea into reality,” says Head of Startmate’s Accelerator programme Sascha Kerbert.

“Regardless of whether you’ve dabbled with entrepreneurship, worked at a big corporate, worked at a startup, or have a technical background if you have a deep-burning desire to build a business, we want to help you unleash your potential.”

The Founders Fellowship will be focused on maximising the number of opportunities participants have to identify problems to solve, test ideas and relationships, and accelerate early progress on traction, hires, and funding.

The launch of the Founders Fellowship marks a continued expansion of Startmate’s Fellowship programming, which aims to help talented, driven people from a multitude of backgrounds gain the network and skills needed to thrive in the startup world.

Kerbert says Startmate’s goal is to become the best place across ANZ to build a company, whether you’re at the idea stage or scaling to tens of millions in revenue.

“The Founders Fellowship program serves a uniquely hard-to-reach identity of talent.

“Scouting the founders of tomorrow, surrounding them with a group of equally talented and ambitious peers, and giving them the network and tools they need to succeed lays down the groundwork for the future success of our start-up ecosystem.”

The first Founders Fellowship cohort will commence alongside Startmate’s first formal Student Fellowship. The free two-week virtual bootcamp for university students, which ran in beta last year, is designed to give them a taste of start-up life and access to Startmate’s global community plus access to paid internships with one of Australia’s or New Zealand’s top start-ups.

Apply for the Founder Fellowship here by 6 June 2021.