Recently, we brought together Meshpoints partners at our latest Town Hall; a session focused on what’s next for innovation in WA. The morning saw the announcement of initiatives funded through our first Promotion & Storytelling Challenge, with $152,550 invested into projects that will strengthen how the ecosystem is seen, understood and valued.
We also launched our annual Innovation Ecosystem Survey, inviting the broader community to share their perspectives and help shape future programs, funding and ecosystem priorities (read more here!).
But the key focus of the session was what comes next.
Introducing the Resilience & Wellbeing Challenge
We’re now inviting expressions of interest for our second Meshpoints Challenge of 2026, focused on Resilience & Wellbeing.
With $150,000 in grant funding available, including up to $20,000 per initiative, this Challenge is designed to support ecosystem-led solutions that strengthen the wellbeing, resilience and long-term sustainability of founders, teams and the broader innovation community across WA.
The Challenge is shaped by recent insights from StartupWA’s founder survey and Mental Health & Wellbeing Roundtable, which highlighted the scale of pressure founders are currently experiencing. See the full report here.
Head of Ecosystem Engagement, Charlie Gunningham shared, “founder wellbeing is not just a personal issue, it’s an ecosystem issue. I would encourage everyone to read the latest StartupWA report, as it lays out the situation on the ground and provides clear recommendations for how we can respond as a community.”
The findings reinforce a clear need for more proactive, practical and connected approaches to supporting founders, not just in moments of crisis, but throughout their journey.
During the Town Hall, attendees took part in a hands-on workshop where they began developing real ideas in response to the Challenge question, ‘How can the innovation ecosystem build resilience and wellbeing among founders and their teams?’
Supported by the Meshpoints team, participants worked through early concepts, explored potential solutions, and began shaping ideas into fundable initiatives.
We’re seeking initiatives that strengthen resilience and wellbeing across WA’s innovation ecosystem, helping founders and their teams better navigate pressure, reduce isolation, and sustain themselves over the long term.
This could take many forms, from structured programs and community-led support models to tools, partnerships or new approaches to delivering support. Importantly, we’re looking for ideas that are practical, collaborative and designed with founders in mind, with the potential to create meaningful, lasting impact across the ecosystem.
Open to Meshpoints partners, if you’re a not-for-profit with an idea that could strengthen founder resilience and wellbeing, we encourage you to apply. Learn more and express your interest here by June 4, 2026.
Meshpoints, powered by Spacecubed and supported by Lotterywest, exists to build a stronger culture of innovation in Western Australia. Our goal is to create a thriving, resilient ecosystem where any innovator or idea can succeed, regardless of sector, stage or postcode.
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