Swinburne Initiate Program

The program is delivered in person, as we’ve found this creates a richer, more engaging learning experience through hands-on activities, collaboration, and real-time feedback.

All workshops are held on campus and are not recorded, so in-person attendance is required to participate fully in the program.

We’re continuing to evolve our offering. From 2026, we’ll be expanding our online resources, including additional content and learning materials, so stay tuned for updates.

To ensure a high-quality, personalised learning experience, each round of the program accepts up to 40 participants. Keeping the cohort size limited allows us to provide meaningful support, foster strong peer connections, and deliver maximum value to everyone involved.

Yes, both solo founders and groups are invited to apply for the program. 

No, you do not need to have a team or a fully-formed idea to participate. The program is designed to help you explore entrepreneurship, develop your skills, and test concepts in a supportive environment. While you can join with just curiosity, the program is structured to guide you toward emerging with an idea that has real potential by the end, whether that means refining an existing concept or identifying a new opportunity.

There are no formal prerequisites for the program. All Swinburne staff, students, and alumni can apply, regardless of their level of entrepreneurial or business knowledge.

Participants will get the most value from the program if they have an interest in exploring or launching a startup. The program is designed to guide you through the fundamentals of building a venture, so curiosity, motivation, and a willingness to engage with the activities will help you make the most of the experience.

The program is designed for early ideation phase startups or individuals looking to learn more about the entrepreneurial journey.

If your startup company is advanced enough to have received funding for commercialisation and growth, please look at our other programs to help you on your way.

If your startup is based on research that has received funding for the basic science but not the commercialisation plan, you may apply for this program. 

The program is tailored for very early-stage startups or those interested in learning the foundations of launching a business venture, therefore no financial support, such as grants or prizes, is offered. 

The program does not provide dedicated workspaces for individual participants. However, Level 1 of the Fire Station offers a variety of shared amenities, including tables, chairs, screens, and a kitchen, available for use by all participants. There are also other collaborative working areas across the Swinburne campus that you can use to develop your ideas.

The program does not offer free services as its primary focus is on providing foundational education for launching a venture. However, our later-stage startup programs, Luminate and Elevate, do include access to complimentary services.

Yes, there will be some activities and reflection exercises to complete between sessions to help you progress your idea. Sessions themselves are not full-day, they typically run for 90 minutes on Tuesday mid-afternoons, so the program is designed to be manageable alongside other study or work commitments.

We require participants to attend all sessions or to inform us in advance of the session start time if they are unable to attend any sessions due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances.

No, the Initiate Program is free for all Swinburne staff, students, and alumni. You can access all workshops, resources, and support without any fees.