We’re excited to announce that through the Western Sydney Startup Hub, powered by Spacecubed, we’ve signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding with WSTI (Western Sydney Tech Innovators), commencing 1 June 2026. The partnership formalises WSTI as the exclusive AI meetup and hackathon event delivery partner for WSSH, and marks a significant step forward in making Western Sydney a destination for founders, innovators, and changemakers working at the frontier of artificial intelligence.
Founded by Lailei Huang, WSTI has grown into Western Sydney's largest AI community, with a network of more than 3,600 innovators, builders, and technologists across the region. Since its founding, WSTI has become the go-to home for people who want to learn about, experiment with, and apply artificial intelligence in real-world contexts. WSTI's work has shaped the national conversation on AI adoption, with its contribution recognised at the launch of the National AI Plan. Most recently, the WSTI AI Summit and Hackathon, supported by Investment NSW, engaged 102 participants in learning AI and guided 22 teams to launch their AI products.
Through regular meetups, hackathons, and hands-on sessions, WSTI has built a reputation for bringing people together across skill levels and industries, from early-career technologists to experienced founders and enterprise leaders. That energy and expertise is now formally rooted at WSSH.
What the Partnership Means for the Community
The MOU establishes a structured, ongoing program of AI-focused events and community activations at WSSH. From 1 June 2026, the community can expect:
- WSTI AI Project Hub, running every Thursday evening, four sessions per month, giving participants dedicated time to work on and advance their AI projects in a collaborative environment.
- AI Impact Fellowship co-delivery, including cohort lunches, AI Build Sessions, workshops, and pitch nights, co-branded and co-promoted with WSSH.
- Fortnightly WSTI AI Office Hours, offering the community direct access to expertise and support.
Shuoyan Zhu, WSSH Manager shared, “Numbers tell part of the story. For me, the impact is always on the people — the small business owner trying AI for the first time, the young engineer finding her first client, the migrant founder who walks in and feels like she belongs. Working across both communities, I see every day that these connections don’t just happen on their own, and this MOU is designed to compound over time to accelerate support for founders in AI adoption. From 1 June, this becomes part of everyday life at the Hub — creating a space where people can keep showing up, learning AI, and building together.”
Lailei Huang, WSTI Founder expressed, “This MOU supports WSTI to provide an inclusive, accessible AI learning and innovation space for our 3,600+ diverse members across Western Sydney. It also forms critical infrastructure — space and programs — to support local SMEs' AI transformations, bringing community, capability, and commercial ventures under one roof.”
To find out more about upcoming WSTI events at Western Sydney Startup Hub, click here, or to explore memberships and learn about the AI Impact Fellowship, visit our website here.