Application for Swinburne Initiate Program

Have you always dreamt of starting your own business venture? Equip yourself with the foundations to successfully launch a startup with the Swinburne Initiate Program.

By participating in our four-week Initiate Program, you'll be surrounded by a valuable community of like-minded individuals and gain access to weekly workshops and mentors to set your venture up for long-term success.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 4 February 2026.



Fields marked with an * are mandatory.

    A little bit about you

    Name*

    Email*

    Which most closely describes your gender?

    What is your association with Swinburne?*

    Which Swinburne school / area are you part of?*

    *Please specify if you answer "other".

    When will / did you graduate from Swinburne (if applicable)?

    Are you of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent?

    How did you hear about this program?*

    *Please specify if you answer "other".

    Please list any team members or collaborators who would be participating in the program with you (e.g. their name, email, and connection to Swinburne). Please note you do not need a team to apply.

    A little bit about why you want to do this program

    It's OK if you don't have a name for your startup yet – just give us two to three words that best describe your idea. If you're applying without an idea to learn more about entrepreneurship in general, please put 'Future Founder'.

    What is the name of your startup?*
    If you don’t have a startup name yet, please enter a working title or “TBC”.

    Please tell us in 200 words or less the main premise of your startup idea, or if you are applying without an idea, why you want to participate in this program.*
    Word count: 0 / 200

    The Swinburne Initiate Program is for ideation-phase startups or individuals who see themselves as Future Founders. If you're a bit further along, we suggest applying for one of our other programs later in the year.

    What stage is your startup at?

    Does your startup or idea have any online presence (e.g. website, social media)? If yes, please provide details. If no, please leave blank.

    Have you received any funding for your startup?

    Do you consider your startup or idea to be a social enterprise? A social enterprise seeks to generate positive social or environmental impact, whether nonprofit or for-profit.

    Have you or any of your team members participated in any innovation program before (Swinburne or Externally)?*