Melbourne · Pre-Seed–Seed · 11 people tracked
Investment thesis
Startmate's Accelerator is a 12-week hybrid program open to founders anywhere in Australia and New Zealand, combining three in-person weeks (kickoff in Melbourne, mid-program, and Demo Day) with remote work. It invests AUD $120k, typically at a $1.5m post-money valuation for founders who haven't previously raised (matching the latest valuation otherwise). The program centers on customer obsession, product growth, and fundraising readiness, plugging founders into a community of 4000+ ANZ founders, operators, and investors, plus mentor support and warm investor introductions. Select cohort companies travel to San Francisco to meet US VCs and access global capital. It backs companies across many sectors and stages, including idea-stage and pre-revenue teams.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.
Team · 11 people
from the firm's website & public directories
Founder mafia
The Startmate mafia →9 people who came through Startmate went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 7 of 8 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×4Data & Infrastructure ×2Healthtech ×2Robotics ×2Circular Economy ×1Cleantech ×1Cloud Computing ×1Enterprise Software ×1
HQs:Australia×3United States×1
Portfolio companies · 8 tracked
alumni founders can tell you what the program is really likeBy year:2026 · 12025 · 67 dated
Andromeda operates a marketplace connecting AI teams with GPU compute providers, enabling buyers to source distributed compute capacity at scale and sellers to monetize spare infrastructure through a standardized platform with automated benchmarking and unified contracting.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingData & Infrastructure
Co-investorsParadigmArtesianForerunner VenturesNFDGPurpose VenturesRethink Impact
Dromeda designs empathetic companion robots intended to reduce loneliness and social isolation, primarily for aged care and assisted living facilities.
AI & Machine LearningHealthtechRoboticsMelbourne, AU
Grace Brown(Founder)in
Co-investorsForerunner VenturesGalileo VenturesRethink ImpactArtesianPurpose VenturesVisible Ventures
Andromeda builds a "digital knowledge twin" that combines knowledge graph, vector, relational, and search infrastructure with LLM-powered interfaces to deliver auditable, source-attributed answers.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise Software
Manish Modh(Founder)in
Co-investorsCapital FactoryThe Veteran FundArtesianForerunner VenturesNFDGParadigm+2 more
Andromeda Robotics builds Abi, a personalised robot companion that adapts to residents' personality, ability, and language to provide companionship and connection.
AI & Machine LearningHealthtechRoboticsSouth Melbourne
Grace Brown(Executive Officer, Director)Yanqiu Chen(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardDerek Gerrard(Director)Eurie Kim(Director)
Morse Micro is a fabless semiconductor company that designs Wi-Fi HaLow (IEEE 802.11ah) chips for long-range, low-power wireless connectivity across home, industrial, agricultural, city, and infrastructure applications.
HardwareIoTSemiconductors
Co-investorsBlackbird VenturesMain Sequence VenturesRight Click CapitalSpringCapital InvestmentStoic VCVirescent Ventures+1 more
Autonomous robots for pipe inspection, mapping, and repair.
Startup Daily is a subscription-free news and media outlet covering the Australian and New Zealand tech and startup ecosystem, publishing daily news, analysis, advice, and podcasts for founders, investors, and the broader community.
Media & Entertainment
Co-investorsAura VenturesBlack Sheep CapitalRampersandAntlerArchangel VenturesAussie Angels+8 more
Uluu develops plastic alternatives made from sustainable materials as a replacement for fossil fuel-based plastics, addressing plastic pollution at its source.
Circular EconomyCleantechNew Materials
Dr Julia Reisser(Co-founder)Michael Kingsbury(Co-founder)
Co-investorsAlberts Impact VenturesBurda Principal InvestmentsMain Sequence VenturesPossible VenturesTrinity Ventures
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Startup Daily · alleywatch.com · Aug 17, 2026
Andromeda · financemagnates.com · Jun 23, 2026
Andromeda · financemagnates.com · Jun 23, 2026
Andromeda · financemagnates.com · Jun 23, 2026
ULUU · smartcompany.com.au · Apr 15, 2026
Morse Micro · computerweekly.com · Sep 23, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Startmate invest at?
- Startmate invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Startmate's typical check size?
- Startmate typically writes checks of $78K.
- What sectors does Startmate focus on?
- Startmate focuses on Climate Tech, EdTech, Fintech, Healthtech, LegalTech, PropTech, Sector Agnostic, Space Tech.
- Where is Startmate located?
- Startmate is headquartered in Melbourne, AU.
- Who does Startmate co-invest with?
- Startmate most often shares deals with Alberts Impact Ventures, Burda Principal Investments, Forerunner Ventures, among 6 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
from their channelElena Tsalanidis, Deeligence | Summer'26 Demo Day
Startmate
Jamie Brownlee, Brainwaves | Summer'26 Demo Day
Startmate
Bodhi Hawken, Lockii | Summer'26 Demo Day
Startmate
Sai Naicker, CrossCourtAI | Summer'26 Demo Day
Startmate
Zander Schweitzer, Alloovium | Summer'26 Demo Day
Startmate
Hailey Mason, Evatto | Summer'26 Demo Day
Startmate
Images
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Co-investors · 8
Insight Partners is an investment firm focused on accelerating revenue and profit growth in software companies, providing capital and operational support through its Insight Onsite team.
Everywhere Ventures is an early-stage venture firm that backs founders globally, supported by a community of founders and operators as LPs.
Goat Capital is a venture capital firm. Its public homepage lists its founders and a contact email but provides limited additional detail.
Pioneer Fund is a venture capital firm investing in the top Y Combinator startups.
Earl Grey Capital is an early-stage venture fund founded by operators who previously built Clearbit, an API-first data company acquired by HubSpot in 2023.
Alpine Ventures is a solo-GP fund led by Edward Suh that uses a quant-heavy, data-driven approach to find "hidden gem" founders in consumer, prosumer, and SMB software, specifically targeting companies that are post-product but pre-revenue and pre-growth. Despite operating from a tiny base in Alameda, Alpine routinely backs global founders across overlooked geographies like the U.S. Midwest, Europe, LatAm, and Southeast Asia with concentrated $500k-$3M seed checks.
Stage 2 Capital is a venture capital firm backed by a network of go-to-market and revenue executives, focused on helping B2B software companies scale their revenue.
EVP is an investment firm that builds concentrated, actively managed portfolios and aims to be a founder's first point of contact, backing category-defining software companies.
Firms observed investing alongside Startmate, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Startmate's recorded portfolio.
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