Velocity is currently closed for applications! Click the button below to submit an expression of interest for 2024.
The Velocity program helps early-stage founders pressure test their startups - speeding up their discovery of first customers and pathway to product-market fit. Open to both for-profit and impact startups, it is important to us that both types of founders influence and motivate each other to succeed in business and in impact.
Over 10 weeks the Velocity program will support you with evening workshops that include expert speakers, founder stories, and group activities to challenge and inspire you. Starting with a focus on customer validation and defining your value proposition we guide you through the process of signing your first customers. The Velocity program aims to give you clarity and guidance that will help you make the decisions that increase the probability of your success. We do this through our carefully designed program, and by surrounding you with a cohort of high-potential founders.
In 2023, we are running two Velocity Programs. Our first program for the year will run from late April to early July, and our second program will run from September to early December. Both programs will be delivered in person at our offices in Melbourne Connect.
Both programs will run on Thursday evenings, from 5.30 to 8.30pm.
The program costs $500 per founder, and no University of Melbourne affiliation is required for this program.
We are grateful for LaunchVic's support of the MAP Velocity Program through 2021 and 2022.
Each workshop is a mixture of theory, group activities and networking to improve your knowledge and keep you on track.
Our mentors have been there and done it, and are excited to share stories and listen to your challenges to help you grow your startup.
Founders from different startups at Velocity work with each other, sharing skills and experience to help each other solve their biggest challenges.
The Velocity Showcase is your opportunity to pitch to a large audience and debut your startup to Melbourne's ecosystem.
The MAP team are here to help you, and we encourage you to visit our team page and connect with us if we can help in any way. For instant answers, browse our comprehensive FAQ section below.
The program is industry-agnostic and is open to both for-profit and impact startups. This is because we believe in creating an environment where startup and impact founders can influence and support each other with their business, technical and impact acumen. You are not required to be affiliated with the University of Melbourne to take part.
MAP defines startups as organisations that are scalable, have potential for high growth and or high impact, that use innovation and or address scalable markets.
Unfortunately, to be eligible for Velocity programs, the participating founder must be located in Victoria.
Applications for the second cohort of 2023 close Sunday 27 August 2023 at 11:59pm.
First-time founders
Yes. We have had many first-time founders in the Velocity program. We support you by surrounding you with people running companies at similar stage to yours and founders who run similar companies to share networks and expertise.
Sole founders
Yes. While we focus on a startup's team, we do take solo founders who have deep knowledge of the problem they are solving and the ability to deliver it.
Non-technical founders
Whilst we certainly like to see startups lead by teams with strong technical talent, it is not a requirement to be accepted into Velocity. If you don’t have a technical co-founder or employee, we encourage founders to seek out that talent while in the program.
Our Velocity Program supports early stage startups that are at problem-solution fit where startups are focused on validating whether they are solving a meaningful problem and pressure test the biggest assumptions in their business model. We accept startups with innovative solutions, transformative ideas and scale for impact. To be competitive, you will need to have a clear concept, and done some early validation prior to entering the program. We also need to see a strong commitment from you and your team - demonstrate an ability to execute.
Applications for the second cohort of 2023 close Sunday 27 August 2023 at 11.59pm.
There are two stages in the selection process. The first is submitting an online application, which involves submitting a 3 minute video of your startup and answering a few short questions about your startup and team. The second is a 20 minute interview with members of the MAP team and/or alumni. You can read the full list of questions on the online application here. Please see above for dates.
Our online application process involves you submitting a 3 minute video and answering simple questions about your startup and founding team. If you'd like to see the questions asked and to help you prepare, please have a look at this document for details.
Office hours are currently closed while we are between programs. In future, office times can be booked here.
Absolutely not. All information you submit to us throughout the selection process will remain strictly confidential and private.
You are welcome to submit more than one application if you want to submit multiple startups for consideration, but please note that we will ask you to select only one if both make it past the second round of applications (MAP Team Interview).
Unfortunately we can’t accept applications past the deadline.
The interview stage is for the MAP team to better get to know you and your business, and understand how the Velocity Program could help you. We don't expect you to prepare a pitch; just be ready to have an open and honest conversation about your business and be yourself.
Our Velocity Program supports early stage startups that are at problem-solution fit where startups are focused on validating whether they are solving a meaningful problem and pressure test the biggest assumptions in their business model. We accept startups with innovative solutions, transformative ideas and scale for impact. To be competitive, you will need to have a clear concept, and done some early validation prior to entering the program. We also need to see a strong commitment from you and your team - demonstrate an ability to execute.
No you don’t. We understand that you may not be at this stage just yet. Even if you do have a demo ready to go, we encourage you to chat to our team about when in stage two (the in-person interview) if it would be most appropriate to show it off.
We understand that you will be very keen to hear back about the status of your application, and we will endeavour to process applications as soon as we can. At each stage of the process you will be notified about when you can expect a response by.
Yes. All startups who make it to the second stage of selection process will go through light due diligence facilitated by members of the MAP team. Due diligence is nothing to be worried about, we’re simply looking to confirm the accuracy of information in your application, and to ensure you’re the right fit.
We make every effort to provide each unsuccessful candidate with feedback about their application. This will come in the form of an Office Hours meeting. Unfortunately due to the volume of applications, we can’t guarantee your startup will receive feedback.
The second cohort program will run over 13 weeks from 21 September to 14 December, with the program culminating in a program showcase on Tuesday 12 December. Evening workshops run online on Thursday evenings from 5.30pm - 8.30pm.
Equity or ownership
No. MAP does not take any equity or ownership in your company. Instead, we expect MAP founders to join our community, which means giving back by supporting the next generation of startup founders, and being a mentor and ambassador for MAP. This may include contributing to workshops, mentoring a startup in a future cohort, or making a helpful connection to a fellow founder in our community.
Intellectual property
No. You retain full ownership of all intellectual property (IP) your startup creates.
It is $500 per founder to participate in the program. If you have a multi-founder team, we recommend at least 2 founders participate and/or set up a process to feedback information to the rest of the team so key learnings are shared.
MAP operates on a culture of respect. We require that all founders hold themselves at the highest standards as ambassadors in our community. We have not had to ask anyone to leave yet, and our values and code of conduct (which will be covered during inductions) ensure that we hopefully won’t have to do so in the future!
The MAP office is located at Melbourne Connect, Level 1, 700 Swanston Street, Carlton 3053.
Within reason, yes. We have dedicated space for light prototyping work during your co-working times, however any work that produces significant noise or smells will have to be done offsite. Please ensure that you discuss any physical prototyping requirements in your application if needed.
Yes, we have multiple meeting spaces available that you can book for free, as well as video conferencing facilities as well. The MAP office is also surrounded by some of the best cafes and restaurants in Melbourne, a secret list of which will be provided to startups during induction.
Yes. We have a co-working space that we can provide to founders in the Velocity Program on a hot-desking basis.
