A startup accelerator helping founders

build momentum faster

Apply now

MAP  is home to ambitious founders building scalable, high-impact startups. 

For over a decade, the Melbourne Accelerator Program has helped founders navigate the challenges of early-stage growth by creating the conditions high-performance teams need to succeed. 

Every team receives $20,000 in equity-free funding, dedicated desk space and Claude team accounts for the duration of the program. 

Founders are immersed in a high-performance environment with access to Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs), mentors, and the wider MEC ecosystem, designed to help exceptional teams move faster and think bigger. 

$300m+

Investment Raised

$250m+

Revenue Generated

1,500+

Jobs Created

Why MAP?

Because high-performance requires the right environment.

We provide support when it matters most - helping teams navigate uncertainty, strengthen decision-making and build momentum.   

Key Dates

Applications close

14 June

Accelerator dates

28th July - 24th October

Applications open

20 May

Benefits

01

$20,000 equity-free funding

02

Claude team account

03

Weekly 1:1 coaching from experienced founders 

04

Dedicated office space in  Melbourne Connect 

05

Access to the MEC alumni and mentor network

Our MAP Accelerator Program has three eligibility pathways:

1 - You're University of Melbourne affiliated OR
‍‍
2 - Your startup has social impact at its core (sponsored by Cameron Foundation) OR
‍
3 - Your startup is working to address the urgent challenges of the climate crisis (sponsored by Melbourne Climate Futures)

Apply for the 2026 MAP Accelerator

Apply now

The MAP application process

Stage 1

Written application

Stage 2

Interviews

Stage 3

Final panel interview (Pitch your startup + Q&A) 

Frequently asked questions

Eligibility

  • That’s ok, there still may be a way to connect with us.  In the first instance, we recommend that you check out our MEC Communities that host numerous events and get you connected with our ecosystem.

    Want to speak more about your specific situation? book some time with one of our team to discuss your eligibility and alignment to our other programs.

  • Yes, it is a requirement of participation in the accelerator that you work from our office for the duration of the program. This is because we believe in building strong network and connections in our cohort by encouraging regular in-person interactions.

    ‍
    For startups that are already too large (in terms of employee count) or need to work from dedicated offsite facilities due to the nature of their work, we are flexible, but active participation is still required to be eligible.

  • Revenue isn’t necessarily the only sign of traction nor potential of a startup applying to the accelerator. Whilst our judges look highly on market traction (sales), it is certainly not a requirement for entry into the program. What our judges are looking for are proof points of readiness to fully engage and apply the accelerators teachings and resources, connections and support. MAP accelerator is optimised for startups which have the potential for high growth, high impact and the team has the capability to build and scale the company.

  • Absolutely. We are agnostic about business model and strongly encourage not-for-profit startups to apply. We look closely at a not for profit startup’s potential to set up a sustainable revenue stream that does not heavily rely on government or philanthropic grants and funding for its success.

  • MAP programs require in-person participation. You can certainly apply for the program if you are currently based overseas and meet the eligibility requirements. However, for the duration of the program, you will be required to relocate to Melbourne, Australia. The reason we do this is because you will receive the greatest value from the program if you’re a part of our cohort.

Selection

  • No you don’t. We advise against it as demos are notoriously difficult to set up, don’t perform well, and take too much time in a high pressure situation. It also depends on the stage of the selection process, as to whether or not it is an appropriate thing to include (we’d be willing to entertain it in stage 2 or 3). If you’re confident your product or service will perform, please reach out to the MAP team to assess whether it is appropriate to do so.

  • You can certainly apply and we can accomodate remote presentations, however we would encourage you to find a way to be present at each part of selection process to give yourself the best possible chance of engaging with the key stakeholders who form part of this process. Historically it’s proven more challenging for those who’ve tried to achieve the same impact remotely.

  • At each stage of the process we will endeavour to inform all applicants of whether they’ve been successful in progressing to the next stage, so you will be notified within a few days of those key stage dates. Review the application timeline for more details. 

    To ensure you don’t miss any communication please be sure to keep an eye on your inbox (and junk mail folder) and put map-program@unimelb.edu.au on your safe list.

  • We make every effort to provide each unsuccessful candidate with feedback about their application. Unfortunately due to the volume of applications, we can’t guarantee your startup will receive feedback from stage one (online application). If we are able to, feedback may come in the form of a follow-up phone call, or a meeting in person with one of the team.

Application

  • Yes, you can chat to one of our team by booking in an Office Hours call. This can be done via the apply page or by expressing your interest.

  • As part of our online application, you will be required to answer a range of founder and startup questions, produce some due diligence documents and upload a pitch video.

  • We do not have an investment mandate and we consider companies from a broad range of industries. We look for startups which have the potential for high growth, high impact and the team has the capability to build and scale the company.

  • Starting a business is a big undertaking. Conversations between you and your co-founders about a shareholders agreement needs to happen as early as possible. We do ask for a cap table, a shareholders agreement, and other documents during the selection process and strongly advise that these are in place before you begin any accelerator program.

Program

  • MAP is rather unique amongst the Australian startup accelerators, for the following reasons.

    •  We are the first university based accelerator in Australia (est. 2012) so we have a dense network of alumni who are fast becoming Australia’s next generation of leading business minds.

    •  We provide $20,000 of equity-free funding to our startups which is a founder friendly prospect.

    • We make resources, research and expertise from the University of Melbourne available to our startups.

    • Our mentors have real-world experience and are carefully selected based on the needs of your startup. 

    • We are one of the few accelerators that offer equal consideration to social impact startups and provide the necessary resources and networks to support such founders.

    • Our sizable office space has created a strong family environment where many of our alumni startups continue to work from. Upon completion of the accelerator, you may be invited to stay in the MAP office to contribute to our culture of paying it forward and support other founders who come into the space.

  • A startup accelerator program is a short time bound experience designed to help early-stage startup businesses find their feet and pursue explosive growth.

    Our program involves a mix of mentoring, equity-free funding, office space, and access to some of the most brilliant business minds in Australia to help accelerate your growth. We also put teams on the biggest startup stages in the country to share their vision and gain support for how to get there.

  • No. Unlike many other accelerator programs, MAP does not take any equity or ownership in your company.

    However, we do expect a cultural return. The best way you can do this is to support the next generation of startups in our program by becoming a great ambassador and mentor for MAP. This could mean running a workshop, mentoring a startup in the next cohort or even making a helpful introduction to a budding founder in the program.

  • No. You retain full ownership of all intellectual property (IP) your startup creates.

  • A typical week for a MAP founder is spent working on your business with support from the MAP team, mentors and founder cohort. The objective is to surround you with the knowledge, support, expertise and networks to help you make decisions for your business as quickly as possible.

    You will kick off the week by sharing your goals and challenges for the week with your fellow founders, and attend a meeting with the MAP team and Entrepreneurs in Residence to review your wins, discuss tactics, or analyse issues you foresee in the coming week. As you’ll be running your business out of the MAP office you’ll quickly find that your proximity to founders will be invaluable as they will help you understand how they’ve approached and overcome obstacles you’re now facing.

    In addition you will attend tailored workshops with your cohort that cover topics such as legal essentials, fundraising, hiring etc. You’ll probably catch up with a MAP mentor or two for coffee (or over the phone) to get their industry specific guidance and feedback on your business. You might spend an afternoon with your cohort at a lunch hosted by one of our community partners to find out about how they can support your startup’s growth e.g. Microsoft, IBM, Stripe etc. We’ll spend quality time with you at a mentor dinner for a candid, strictly off the record insight into the entrepreneurial journey of a mentor in our network and invite them to share their advice with you.