InvestorYour partner in banking and financial services.
Melbourne startup ecosystem
Explore documented companies, programs, research institutions, and investors connected to Melbourne. Superscout does not promise local investment access.
About
Located in Australia, Melbourne has a thriving start-up and VC ecosystem. It is home to a diverse range of start-ups, from tech to health, and education, to name a few. This city is supported with a strong network of founders, investors, and entrepreneurs that help facilitate new ventures.
A noteworthy success story from Melbourne's start-up ecosystem is Envato. Founded by Collis Ta'eed, Cyan Claire, and Jun Rung in 2006, Envato operates a group of digital marketplaces that sell creative assets for web designers, including themes, graphics, video, audio, photography, and 3D models. Envato has achieved global success and is considered a pioneer in its industry.
Another inspiring company, Culture Amp, was founded in Melbourne in 2009 by Didier Elzinga, Rod Hamilton, Jon Williams, and Doug English. Culture Amp, an employee analytics platform, has gained worldwide recognition and has been backed by prominent international investors. These two examples show the global impact start-ups from Melbourne can have, and the scale they can reach when they find the right product-market fit.
Melbourne’s venture capital scene is also active, with funds like Square Peg Capital, Rampersand, and AirTree Ventures supporting local start-ups. Noteworthy is also the Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) at the University of Melbourne, which provides funding, office space, and mentoring for start-ups. It has been ranked as the 8th best university business accelerator in the world.
Government initiatives such as LaunchVic further strengthen Melbourne's start-up ecosystem. Run by the Victorian Government, LaunchVic supports the development of a globally-connected start-up community by offering funding, sharing resources, and fostering local and international connections.
To conclude, Melbourne has integrated efforts from both the government and private sector to foster a vibrant and globally-connected start-up community resulting in numerous success stories and making it an attractive destination for start-ups and venture capitalists.
This month
On in Melbourne this month
27 startup events in the next 30 days, 6 this week, 19 free. The city as a calendar, with the hosts and venues that keep it full.
Today, Sunday, Nov 1
Melbourne Tech Guilds
Meetup · Mick Havill · Library at The DockFreeWednesday, Nov 4
Couch Conversations: The Community View
Cremorne Digital Hub · Cremorne Digital HubFreeThursday, Nov 5
Clay Club MEL Meetup: How are operators using Clay today?
Meetup · Lucy Kirke · 6 Adolph StFreeFriday, Nov 6
Retail Women in Tech Melbourne: Women & Allies in Coffee Catch-Up ☕
Meetup · RWIT · Serotonin EateryFreeSaturday, Nov 7
Melbourne | AI Founder Co-working Day x StartSpace
Meetup · Jacob · State Library VictoriaFreeRegular hostsAmber Main💎💎 · 4Cremorne Digital Hub · 3Megan - Aussie Founders Club · 3KindsMeetups · 7Workshops · 5Fireside Chats · 2
Startup ecosystem standing
Where Melbourne ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Global Cities Index (Kearney) | 2016 | #15 | No prior edition | B | Competitiveness, Performance, Talent, Business Climate |
 Global Cities Index (Oxford Economics) | 2026 | #16 | Down 7 | B | Performance, Growth, Talent, Competitiveness, Business Climate |
 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) | GSER 2026 | #30 | Up 2 | C | Ecosystem, Performance, Finance, Talent, Innovation |
 Global Financial Centres Index | GFCI 40 | #32 | Down 1 | B | Finance, Competitiveness, Business Climate |
 Global Startup Ecosystem Index (cities) | 2025 | #42 | No prior edition | B | Ecosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate |
 Global Innovation Index: Innovation Cluster Ranking (formerly Science and Technology Clusters) | 2026 | #53 | Down 1 | B | Innovation, Research, Activity |
259 organizations with a profile
Who's based in Melbourne
Investors 177
Investor
InvestorInvesting in ambitious founders and technology innovation.
InvestorRetirement savings solutions for the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The 3 most prominent of 177. Browse all investors
Accelerators 39
AcceleratorReview Startmate's documented accelerator identity, programs, and sources.
AcceleratorMedTech Actuator is a MedTech accelerator and incubator based in Melbourne, Australia, with additional locations in Singapore and Osaka. It focuses on…
AcceleratorAutomate Accelerator is a Melbourne-based organization specializing in B2B lead generation through manual outreach methods on platforms like LinkedIn,…
The 3 most prominent of 39. Browse all accelerators
Incubators 23
IncubatorSupporting entrepreneurs in Melbourne's inner northern suburbs.
IncubatorAustralia's first biotech incubator.
IncubatorSupporting food entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
The 3 most prominent of 23. Browse all incubators
Venture studios 20
Venture studioYour permanent home for software solutions.
Venture studioVenture studio enhancing sustainable agrifood systems.
Venture studioEmpowering startups with integrated legal and accounting services.
The 3 most prominent of 20. Browse all venture studios
Based here, most-ranked first
Universities in Melbourne
UniversityListed in 8 rankings
Pick what describes you
Your way in
Raising in Melbourne
Investors based here, and the programs that take teams at your stage.
Get investor introsFinding startups in Melbourne
Accelerators and incubators here see the earliest teams first.
Get startups that fitScouting in Melbourne
Campuses and communities are where teams form before anyone funds them.
Start scoutingFrom public sources
What the sources say about Melbourne
MEC has served as the university’s entrepreneurship entry point since 2018.
Source: Melbourne Enterprise Review 2025The University of Melbourne reports 13 new startups and A$1.4 million in proof-of-concept awards for 2025.
Source: Melbourne Enterprise Review 2025LaunchVic reports a statewide early-stage funding gap and 17% seed-to-Series-A progression.
Source: LaunchVic Annual Report 2024-25LaunchVic estimates about 180 Victorian university spinouts, with a stated A$2.9 billion value contribution.
Source: LaunchVic Annual Report 2024-25LaunchVic highlights deep tech, biotech and advanced manufacturing in Victoria.
Source: LaunchVic Annual Report 2024-25LaunchVic identifies statewide concentrations in enterprise software, healthtech and fintech.
Source: LaunchVic Annual Report 2024-25
Questions about Melbourne
How does Melbourne rank as a startup ecosystem?
Melbourne is #42 of 1,473 in StartupBlink Index (cities) (2025). It appears in 6 published rankings; the table above lists each one.
How many startup investors are based in Melbourne?
177 investors based in Melbourne have a profile here, including NAB, Blackbird and Hostplus. The real number is higher.
Are there accelerators or incubators in Melbourne?
Yes. Melbourne has 39 accelerators, 23 incubators and 20 venture studios on record, including Startmate, Melbourne Innovation Centre and Outroll.
Which universities are in Melbourne?
One university has a profile: University of Melbourne.
Geographic proximity
Nearby cities to Melbourne
Superscout Pro
Find faster. Show up verified. Keep your deals private.
$99a year, or $12 a month
Get Pro- Search that narrowsInvestors, programs, accelerators, incubators and studios, by stage, sector and place.
- A verified profileThe people you reach know you are who you say you are.
- A private deal vaultThe startups you are watching, with your notes and your reasons. Nobody else's eyes.
Is this page right?How the research works