Plus Eight Accelerator Founders Go Global in Austin Ahead of Demo Night

Last week, our Plus Eight Accelerator cohort travelled from Perth to Austin, the beating heart of the US startup scene, for a week-long international immersion designed to sharpen their strategies, expand their networks, and prepare them for the biggest stage of the program: Demo Night at the Regal Theatre on October 13.

The international immersion has long been a cornerstone of the Accelerator experience, with past cohorts venturing to leading global hubs including Singapore, London, and San Francisco. Each destination offers founders a unique lens into international markets while opening doors to world-class investors, mentors, and partners. In 2025, Austin with its reputation as one of the fastest-growing startup, venture capital, and technology ecosystems in the US, provided the perfect backdrop for our cohort’s global immersion.

Juliette Lucas, Plus Eight Accelerator Lead shared, “Austin offered the cohort an unparalleled view of what it takes to scale internationally. From pitching to local investors to learning from founders who’ve successfully entered the US market, our teams returned inspired, with practical strategies to grow their businesses, and, of course, got to enjoy a few unforgettable Texan experiences along the way.”

The week began with a warm Texan welcome on Sunday, including a BBQ, live music, and an introduction to Austin’s vibrant innovation ecosystem. Hosted by Q-Branch and Invest and Trade Western Australia, this first evening set the tone for a packed week of investor sessions, mentorship, and meaningful connections across the city.

Across the week, the cohort took part in a high-impact agenda designed to spark growth and global connections, including:

• Market Insights: In-depth sessions at the Invest and Trade Western Australia office explored the Austin and Texas business climate, while K&L Gates provided practical legal advice on scaling across borders.
• Investor Engagement: At Capital Factory, one of Austin’s most influential innovation hubs, founders pitched to local investors and mentors, gaining valuable feedback to sharpen their business models.
• Tailored Strategy: 1:1 growth and go-to-market sessions at Q-Branch gave each startup the space to refine their expansion plans and test new strategies.
• On-the-Ground Inspiration: Visits to BK Beauty, Shop LC and the Austin Technology Incubator highlighted the realities of scaling globally, while conversations with Aussie expats like Jaxon Liebeck (Firefly Aerospace), Alex Bertram (Greenroom robotics) and Accelerator alumni such as Sean Barry (Lily and Fox) offered first-hand lessons on breaking into the US market.
• Community Connections: Fiesta hosted an inspiring panel featuring global startup founders who had relocated to Austin, sharing their journeys and lessons learned. This was followed by a dynamic networking session, connecting our cohort with local mentors, entrepreneurs, and key players across the Austin startup ecosystem.

This dynamic mix of sessions, strategy, and serendipitous connections provided the cohort with both practical tools and global inspiration.

The international immersion marks the final step before the culmination of the Accelerator, being the end of program Demo Night, set to take place on Monday, October 13 at the iconic Regal Theatre in Subiaco.

At Demo Night, Einsen Innovations, GenLearn, THF Engineered Solutions, GlowDry, The Khüsh Place, Relait, Law Captain, and InPsync will take the stage to showcase their startups to an audience of 300+ investors, founders, industry leaders, and the wider WA innovation community (read more about each of them here) .

Don’t miss your chance to be in the room for an evening of bold ideas, big opportunities, and inspiring innovation. Tickets are selling fast — click here and secure your spot today for just $16.50 and be part of the magic.

Plus Eight Accelerator is made possible thanks to the support of our program partners, BetterLabs, the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, Kaizen West, Hawaiian, CFC Group, K&L Gates, DFK Gooding Partners and the City of Subiaco.