Across Western Australia, there is a growing number of founders building ventures designed not just for profit, but for social and environmental impact. Yet while ambition is strong, pathways to support early-stage social entrepreneurs, particularly those navigating complex social challenges, have been limited.
Through Catalyst funding from Meshpoints, powered by Spacecubed and supported by Lotterywest, the WA Social Enterprise Council (WASEC) delivered WA’s first dedicated Social Impact Incubator, designed to support early-stage founders to turn purpose-driven ideas into sustainable, scalable ventures.
Filling a Critical Gap in the Ecosystem
The WASEC Social Impact Incubator was created to address a clear gap in WA’s innovation ecosystem; the need for structured, early-stage support specifically tailored to social enterprise.
Over six months, the program brought together a cohort of emerging founders to build both the impact and commercial viability of their ventures.
"WA is facing real pressures - and social innovation is a practical response. It brings together business thinking and lived experience to create solutions that work. Yet until now, early-stage social entrepreneurs in WA have had nowhere to turn. That's the gap we're closing,” shared Olivia Chapman, CEO of WA Social Enterprise Council.
The program attracted 43 expressions of interest, ultimately selecting 20 participants, with 18 founders graduating from the program. Participants came from a diverse range of sectors, tackling some of WA’s most pressing challenges, from family and domestic violence support, to NDIS navigation, migrant legal services, sustainability and circular economy initiatives, and women-led trades.
A Program Designed for Real-World Impact
The incubator combined in-person and online delivery, running 11 sessions. The program model focused on practical, applied learning, supported by 15 guest speakers sharing real-world experience, 8 mentors providing ongoing guidance in small groups, a structured framework to develop impact and business models, and a final showcase event connecting founders with the broader ecosystem.
Rather than focusing solely on ideation, the program supported participants to test, refine and progress their ventures in real time.
Participant Tharanga De Silva shared, “Initially I thought social enterprises were just for anglo saxon people, but when I actually joined the incubator program I realised actually that was not true as I met a very diverse cohort. I congratulate WASEC for choosing such a cohort. I felt immediately that I was part of it."
From Ideas to Action
The impact of the incubator was immediate and tangible. Participants reported stronger clarity of vision, more robust business models, and increased confidence. Several founders tested their concepts with customers during the program, with:
- Two ventures launching products or services during the program
- At least one participant securing a $15,000 community grant
- Ongoing conversations with funders, industry and government partners
Beyond individual ventures, the program reached over 190 people, including mentors, speakers and a 130-person showcase audience, signalling strong demand for this kind of initiative across the ecosystem.
Reflecting on her experience in the program, Kirsty Gallagherm Director of Safe Call Up shared, "Before joining WASEC’s Social Impact Incubator, I had already launched Safe Call Up and participated in other incubator programs. What WASEC offered was genuinely different. The program helped me build on my existing work, strengthen the impact of my innovation and think more strategically about scale and sustainability."
Lessons for the Future
The pilot provided valuable insights for future iterations of the program and for the broader ecosystem. Key learnings included:
- The value of mixed-experience cohorts in strengthening peer learning
- The importance of flexibility in delivery and communication
- The need for more targeted approaches to regional participation
- Opportunities to strengthen mentoring integration and financial capability content
The success of the incubator has created strong momentum for what comes next. WASEC is now preparing to deliver a second cohort, with the program set to begin in June, 2026 (learn more here!)
Their longer-term vision is to establish the Social Impact Incubator as a recurring, scalable program that continues to grow WA’s pipeline of purpose-driven ventures.
The WASEC Social Impact Incubator demonstrates how targeted ecosystem investment can unlock new pathways for founders, particularly those building solutions to complex social challenges.
By supporting early-stage social entrepreneurs to move from idea to action, the program is helping to strengthen a more inclusive, connected and impact-driven innovation ecosystem in WA.
Meshpoints is now inviting new initiatives through our Resilience & Wellbeing Challenge, supporting projects that strengthen founder wellbeing and build more sustainable ways of working across WA’s innovation ecosystem. We also accept proposals year-round through our Open Challenge for ideas addressing other ecosystem needs. Explore funding opportunities via our website here!