We’re excited to announce that five Western Australian founders and innovation ecosystem leaders will be sponsored to attend SOUTHSTART, taking place in Adelaide across 17 - 19 March.
Backed by Meshpoints, this support is designed to strengthen connections between Western Australia and the national innovation landscape, providing WA founders and ecosystem leaders with the opportunity to engage with peers, partners and ideas shaping the future of entrepreneurship across Australia.
Since 2018, SOUTHSTART has hosted more than 600 speakers, attracted over 10,000 attendees, welcomed investors managing more than $30 billion in funds, and facilitated more than 100 industry partnerships. Recognised as South Australia’s leading startup and innovation events, SOUTHSTART brings together founders and scale-up leaders, investors, policymakers, educators and ecosystem builders to explore how innovation systems can better support people, ideas and impact.
The 2026 program will feature bold keynote conversations, curated networking, industry summits and community-led masterclasses, offering a unique opportunity to step outside state boundaries and learn from diverse innovation ecosystems across the country.
Through this Meshpoints-supported cohort, we aim to expose WA founders and ecosystem builders to national best practice and emerging models, build stronger cross-state relationships, and bring new insights, frameworks and ideas back to WA to strengthen how we collectively support founders, innovators and entrepreneurs.
Selected participants will receive:
While Meshpoints will cover the cost of SOUTHSTART tickets, selected delegates will be responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation.
Who should apply
This opportunity is open to both founders and ecosystem leaders who are actively contributing to WA’s innovation and entrepreneurship landscape. We’re interested to hear from individuals and organisations working in:
We strongly encourage applications from regional WA, First Nations organisations, and women working in innovation and entrepreneurship.
To learn more and apply to attend SOUTHSTART 2026 with Meshpoints support, submit your expression of interest here by February 13, 2026.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via info@spacecubed.com