[NEXT] Founder Community Day

​Your compass to navigating Victoria's startup ecosystem

​Day: Tuesday, 28th October

Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm

Where: Cremorne Digital Hub

​Melbourne's startup ecosystem is bursting with support for founders, accelerators, government programmes, investors, and community builders. But knowing who does what (and when to reach out) can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded.

​[NEXT] Founder Community Day brings the ecosystem to you.

​Spend the day at Cremorne Digital Hub meeting the organisations that can actually help you move forward. From early-stage validation to scaling challenges, funding pathways to market access, hear directly from the people behind Victoria's most valuable founder resources.​

​Each session cuts through the noise:

✅ Who they are – no jargon, just clarity

​✅ How they help founders – real support, not just theory

​✅ When to reach out – so you know exactly when to make the call

​✅ Actionable insights – take away something you can use immediately

​Whether you're pre-revenue or scaling fast, wrestling with product-market fit or planning your next raise, this is your chance to understand the ecosystem landscape and connect with the people who can help you succeed!

​The day includes:

• ​Founder circles to share challenges and learn from peers
• ​Sessions with ecosystem leaders
• ​Live deck breakdown with Antler's Leila Oliveira & Alan Tsen – watch real pitches get honest VC feedback in real-time

​Then stick around: The programming leads straight into The Start Up Network Pitch Night at 6:30pm – see founders pitch live, meet investors, and keep the momentum going over drinks.

​Spots are limited. RSVP now to map your ecosystem advantage!

Agenda

10:00am - 10:45am - Session 1: Founder Circle with Desmond John
Start the day connecting with fellow founders. Share challenges, swap insights, and hear what support others are tapping into across the ecosystem.

11:00am - 11:45am - Session 2: Ecosystem partner session: LaunchVic with Josh Lipscombe & Elle Phillips

12:30pm - 1:15pm - Session 3: Breakthrough Victoria Ecosystem partner session: Nazieh Fazli

1:30pm - 2:15pm - Session 4: Aussie Founders Club Ecosystem partner session: Megan Lutrell

2:30pm - 3:30pm - Session 5: Deck Breakdown with Antler Leila Oliveira & Alan Tsen
Watch real pitch decks get broken down live. Hear honest VC feedback and see the decision-making process in action.